June 2013 Hike List

This hike schedule is a supplement to the club's monthly newsletter, which includes other important information regarding club business and activities.  All club members should at least review the newsletter when it comes out each month so they can participate more thoroughly in club activities.

Here is a list of the scheduled club hikes for June 2013.  Hikes scheduled during the week are of varying difficulty levels to accommodate the different skill levels of club members.  The very strenuous Tuesday hikes are only open to existing club members.  In addition, Tuesday participants should have completed at least two of the Thursday hikes, which are generally rated moderately strenuous or strenuous.  Two hikes are usually offered each Saturday during the seasons at Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead.  The earlier Saturday hikes will generally be rated either moderate or moderately strenuous and will be conducted at a moderate pace.  The later hike on Saterday is intended for the general membership, is rated no more than moderate, and is conducted at a leisurely pace.  During the summer season in the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains, only one hike is scheduled on Saturdays and it is intended for the general membership.  Hikes on other days of the week may vary significantly depending on who has volunteered to serve as coordinator.  Please pay attention to the difficulty ratings for each hike offered and do not attempt hikes that are beyond your abilities.  New hikers without recent hiking experience MUST begin with a later Saturday hike or an equivalent weekday hike before attempting any of the more difficult offerings.  No reservations are required for any of the hikes unless specified below.  Cancellation due to weather may occur without prior notice the morning of a hike.  Whenever possible, e-mails will be sent out through Yahoo! Groups informing of any changes or cancellations.  If you have any questions or comments about any of the hikes contact Chris Dempsey at dempseylv@aol.com or at (702) 823-2355.

All hikes in the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains (commonly referred to as the Mount Charleston area) use a pre-hike assembly point on the south side of the 3rd level of the southeast parking garage at Santa Fe Station.  This garage can be accessed either from Lone Mountain Road on the south side of the property or from Rancho if driving in a southbound direction.  DO NOT expect to find the group in the parking garage on the north side of the casino.  Times indicated for each hike are departure times and are strictly observed.  Usually the group will begin assembling as much as one-half hour prior to the scheduled departure time.

On Wednesdays through the month of June and into July we are glad to once again offer a series of hikes that will train people to make their initial summit on Mount Charleston, at 11,918 feet the highest peak in southern Nevada.  This series is primarily sponsored by Lone Mountain Hiking Club from Sun City Summerlin, but is also being offered to members of Around the Bend Friends as joint hikes.  The series actually starts this month with Cathedral Rock scheduled for May 15, a May 22 hike up Trail Canyon to Cave Springs and a May 29 hike along the Bristlecone Loop.  Participation in any or all of these hikes will count toward club mileage.  If you would like to participate in any of these outings, contact Chris Dempsey for details.  Otherwise, the June and July portion of the series will be listed in the Around the Bend Friends schedule.  The 17-mile trek to the top of Mount Charleston is currently scheduled for July 17.

Saturday, June 1 - Deer Creek & Robbers' Roost.  Explore the early days on the slopes of the Spring Mountains on this moderate two-part hike starting from Highway 158, also known as Deer Creek Road.  The first part of this outing is a moderate 3-mile out-and-back hike with 800 feet of elevation gain that follows the creek toward its origin below Mummy Mountain and passes a number of historic structures and sites.  After returning to the vehicles, there will be an optional stop on the way back to Las Vegas at the Robbers' Roost parking area for a short out-and-back climb of less than one mile to an old west hide-out for horse rustlers.  Departure time for the group from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Sunday, June 2 - Mummy Springs Loop.  Starting from near the eastern end of the North Loop Trail, the group today will be focusing on a strenuous 6-mile loop hike that follows Deer Creek farther upstream that the previous day's hike and climbs a fairly steep ridge to the trail past Mummy Springs before heading on toward Raintree.  The highest elevation on the hike occurs on the return section just before a series of twelve switchbacks that lead to North Loop Meadows, where the group will take a side trail down Wild Horse Canyon to the starting point.  Net elevation gain is around 1,600 feet.  Meet the other participants at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, June 3 - Trail Canyon.  By the end of the summer many of us will be wishing we don't have to deal with this particular trail again for the year, but in June it's fresh and new.  The moderately strenuous out-and-back trek from the recently constructed trailhead near the community of Echo gains 1,400 feet of elevation over a total distance of 5 miles, with lots of steep uphill on the trail in the canyon through the woods.  The snack break will be taken on a ledge above the top section of Fletcher Canyon that offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and lower Kyle Canyon.  The group will assemble at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Tuesday, June 4 - Mummy's Tummy via Trail Canyon.  The new trailhead off Echo Road will be the starting point for club hikes two days in a row, but the destination for this outing is much more impressive than that of the previous day.  It's also much more difficult as the total gain on this very strenuous 10-mile out-and-back hike is 3,900 feet to the top of the mountain at 11,532 feet above sea level.  After hiking up Trail Canyon and heading west on North Loop Trail, the real work begins with a scramble up an extremely steep scree field to a ridge west of the peak.  Although the rest of the route to the top is mostly on trail, it also crosses rock ledges and climbs through a Class 3 notch to the summit.  Meet the coordinator and the rest of the group at Santa Fe Station for a departure at 7:15 AM.  Coordinator - Laszlo Heredy.

Wednesday, June 5 - Raintree via North Loop Trail.  Part of the Mount Charleston training program, this moderately strenuous out-and-back hike to a 3,000 year old bristlecone pine covers a distance of 6 miles and gains 1,500 feet in the process.  The toughest part of this route involves the dozen switchbacks that come right after getting to the open meadows area halfway to the tree.  Once on the final ridge, however, there are some great open views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.  Participants can either meet at Desert Vista Community Center in Sun City Summerlin for a 7:00 AM departure or at Santa Fe station for a 7:15 AM departure.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinski & Larry Shahan.

Wednesday, June 5 - Cathedral Rock.  If you would like to do something a bit shorter and more laid back, consider this moderate 3-mile out-and-back hike to the top of a rock outcropping partially up the eastern slopes of the ridge between Griffith Peak and Mount Charleston.  Elevation gain is 950 feet and the open views of the entire area surrounding Kyle Canyon are stunning.  Along the way you will be able to see the remaining evidence of a massive avalanche that occurred late in the winter of 2005.  We are also anxious to see how the new construction of parking and picnic facilities has turned out at the top of the canyon.  Departure from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:00 AM for this hike.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

Thursday, June 6 - South Loop 1st Overlook.  We get another opportunity to view the results of a two year closing of the Upper Kyle Canyon Picnic Area when we tackle this moderate 5-mile out-and-back route to the first overlook ledge along the South Loop Trail.  Elevation gain is close to 1,400 feet with some steep straight sections of the trail leading to a crossing of the canyon that spawned the 2005 avalanche, followed by a series of fourteen switchbacks to the turn-around spot where the snack break will occur.  As usual when getting to higher elevations, the views are pretty impressive.  The group will meet at Santa Fe Station for a departure at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, June 7 - Kyle Canyon Wash to Harris Slot Canyon.  Options abound for this moderate two-part point-to-point hike in Kyle Canyon.  The entire hike will cover a distance of 10 miles between the starting point at the top of the canyon and the slot canyon that comes back out to Highway 157 near Harris Springs Road.  The first part of the trek will cover 4 miles down to the Resort at Mount Charleston, where the group will be stopping for lunch.  After the optional meal, the group will continue down to the vehicles below the slot canyon, with this segment covering a distance of 6 miles.  Initial departure from Santa Fe Station will be at 9:00 AM.  Vehicles can be spotted at the Resort for those who only want to hike the opening section and possibly eat lunch with the group.  If driving to the Resort for lunch, plan on 11:30 AM.  The hike will resume around 1:00 PM, so anyone interested in the afternoon segment should show up ten or fifteen minutes prior to that.  If doing only the afternoon segment, please e-mail the coordinator at keithandbeth67@yahoo.com so he can expect you and possibly wait for you.  Return to Santa Fe Station should be around 4:00 PM.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

Saturday, June 8 - Mary Jane Falls.  There currently isn't any water coming over the the 100-foot multilevel waterfall draining a significant section of the ridge east of Mount Charleston, but the hike is still a good challenge for those trying to acclimate to the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains and provides some really good views of upper Kyle Canyon.  The moderate out-and-back hike covers a total distance of 3 miles and gains 920 feet of elevation in the process.  Just beyond the base of the waterfall is a short trail of about 200 feet that leads to a shallow cave that shows plenty of evidence of previous campfires.  The group will assemble at Santa Fe Station for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lorraine Stalians.

Sunday, June 9 - Fletcher Peak via Wild Horse Canyon.  The distance is close to 8 miles for this partial loop hike that will start climbing on the trail through Wild Horse Canyon, head up the dozen switchbacks above North Loop Meadows, and finish with the partial trail, partial scramble route to the 10,200-foot peak on the eastern edge of upper Kyle Canyon.  Total elevation gain is 1,800 feet and the hike carries a strenuous rating.  The group will follow North Loop Trail all the way to the eastern trailhead on the return section of the hike.  If you miss this hike but want to experience this little known route, it will be repeated on June 26 as part of the Mount Charleston training series.  The group will depart from Santa Fe Station for this hike at 7:15 AM.  Coordinator - Jon Lubinsky.

Monday, June 10 - Hike coordinated by Richard Hansen. Leave Santa Fe @ 8am.

Tuesday, June 11 - Griffith Peak.  This strenuous 10-mile loop version of the hike to the top of the third highest official peak in the Spring Mountains starts from the gravel parking lot at the top of the small community of Rainbow.  The route will follow the steep trail up Rainbow Canyon to the saddle just west of Harris Peak, then join the Harris Springs Trail for an approach to the summit, which involves just a bit of steep scrambling through scree to reach the top.  The downward portion will be along South Loop Trail to the cut across trail to Rainbow.  Elevation gain is still around 3,400 feet but this route is somewhat more difficult than the standard South Loop approach.  Departure time from Santa Fe Station will be at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Wednesday, June 12 - South Loop 2nd Overlook.  This trek is an extension of the ABF hike scheduled for June 6.  For this moderately strenuous out-and-back hike, the group will continue up the South Loop Trail past the 1st Overlook and proceed to a ledge sitting at just under 9,700 feet of elevation with even more spectacular views of the Kyle Canyon area than the lower overlook.  Total distance will be around 7 miles with 2,000 feet of vertical gain, but the trail on the extended section is not quite as steep as that early in the hike.  Since this is a Mount Charleston training hike involving two clubs there will be two departure points, with the earlier group leaving Desert Vista Community Center in Sun City Summerlin at 7:00 AM and the ABF contingent taking off from Santa Fe Station at 7:15 AM.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinski & Larry Shahan.

Thursday, June 13 - Cave Springs.  Trail Canyon Trail is an important part of this moderately strenuous 7-mile out-and-back hike to the horse trough fed by hoses from the springs situated in the caves just above this garden spot on the North Loop Trail.  Elevation gain is around 2,000 feet to the shaded spot near the springs, where participants will get a sensational view of the ridge extending from Griffith Peak north to Mount Charleston.  Escape the heat of Las Vegas and join your friends at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

Friday, June 14 - Raintree via North Loop.  One of the standard club hikes that seems to be repeated on a monthly basis during the summer is this moderate 6-mile out-and-back hike to the 3,000 year old bristlecone pine in the shadow of Mummy's Toe.  That's because it provides just the right combination of distance, vertical gain, and scenery to create an enjoyable yet challenging outing for hikers of all different abilities.  Elevation gain is in the magnitude of 1,600 feet with the most difficult section being the dozen switchbacks that come just after leaving the open meadows area at the halfway point of the climb.  Meet the other participants at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

Saturday, June 15 - Fletcher Canyon.  Perhaps the most requested of the easier hikes in the Spring Mountains is this moderate 4-mile out-and-back route that follows a seasonal creek bed just over a mile and a half to a gorgeous slot canyon penetrating the first plateau at the base of Fletcher Peak.  A little scrambling up the canyon, which narrows to just six feet across in one section, will deposit hikers directly below Obstacle Rock for a shaded snack break.  Elevation gain is only around 500 feet with the four steeper sections of trail not over 100 feet each.  Departure of the group from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Irv Crain.

Sunday, June 16 - Stanley B/Fletcher Canyons.  This strenuous 6-mile loop hike begins from the parking area close to the Fletcher Canyon trailhead and follows the main Kyle Canyon Wash a little more than a mile upstream to the entrance to Stanley B Springs Canyon.  The early going in that canyon is fairly easy trail, but as the route reaches the mine shafts in the eastern drainage it becomes steep and loose with lots of obstacles.  A saddle at the top of the canyon provides the setting for recharging your energy before the route plummets steeply over irregular terrain, getting into Fletcher Canyon about 3/4 mile above Obstacle Rock, where participants must squeeze down through the rabbit hole.  Departure time from Santa Fe Station is at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, June 17 

Tuesday, June 18 - Mount Charleston.  The stronger hikers in our club will be taking their first crack of 2013 at the highest mountain in Southern Nevada on this very strenuous 16 to 17-mile outing that gains over 4,200 feet of elevation.  This version of the trek will use Trail Canyon Trail and North Loop Trail both on the way up and on the downward leg, eliminating the need for any car shuttling.  The pace should be fairly strong with an estimated completion time of nine hours.  Participants should bring plenty of water, lots of food to re-energize in the dugout on the peak, and be prepared for changing weather conditions during the day.  Departure time from Santa Fe Station will be at 6:00 AM.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Tuesday, June 18 - Wallace Canyon Plane Crash.  Any club members wanting to experience the great outdoors this Tuesday without committing to an all-day hike should consider this strenuous 4-mile hike to the site of a 1978 small plane crash.  The route follows the Bristlecone Trail for about one mile before veering left on a faint trail that climbs a very steep ridge to a saddle separating Lee and Wallace Canyons.  Another faint trail leads to the site of the well-preserved fuselage, with some side slope scrambling involved.  After a break and a stop for pictures the group will retrace their steps to the trailhead.  Plan on meeting at Santa Fe Station for a departure at 9:00 AM.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

Wednesday, June 19 - No Name/Bristlecone Loop.  The last of the shorter hikes in the joint Mount Charleston training program is this moderately strenuous 6-mile loop hike that combines the well-known Bristlecone Trail at the top of Lee Canyon with a section of unnamed trail that likely was part of the Bonanza Trail in earlier days.  The climb on No Name Trail is rather steep with most of the elevation gain of 1,100 feet contained in a stretch only about one-half mile long.  The upper portion of No Name is fairly level as it approaches a switchback section of Bonanza Trail for the start of the descent.  Scenery along the way includes open views of the Lee Canyon surrounding peaks.  One group will depart from Desert Vista Community Center at 7:00 AM with the second group leaving Santa Fe Station at 7:15 AM.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinsky & Larry Shahan.

Wednesday, June 19 - South Loop 2nd Overlook.  A repeat of the hike scheduled the previous Wednesday, this outing will be conducted just for Around the Bend Friends and will be conducted at a somewhat more leisurely pace.  Other than that, participants will still cover a total of 7 miles and gain about 2,000 feet while getting to the ledge over halfway up the side of the ridge between Griffith and Charleston with fantastic views of the entire area.  This out-and-back hike is rated moderately strenuous because of the combination of distance and gain.  If interested in experiencing a great hike in the Spring Mountains, meet the rest of the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.

Thursday, June 20 - Harris Peak.  It's short but possibly not very sweet, except for the view from the summit, on this strenuous out-and-back hike with a total distance between 4 and 5 miles and nearly 2,300 feet of gain.  That's because the trail leading up through Rainbow Canyon is very steep with a few segments where participants virtually have to pull themselves up to get to the saddle between Harris and Griffith Peak to the west.  Once the route leaves the saddle there is still steep and irregular terrain and not much trail to work with passing through dense stands of vegetation.  From the summit much of Las Vegas is in view along with part of Lake Mead and the Arizona mountains in the background.  The group will depart at 7:30 AM from the assembly point at Santa Fe Station.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Friday, June 21 - Wild Horse Ridge.  It really doesn't seem like we will be climbing that high on this moderate 3.3-mile loop hike starting on the eastern section of North Loop Trail, but the open views from Wild Horse Ridge on the descent take in many of the mountains surrounding the nuclear test site near Mercury and may go as far as fabled Area 51.  While the climb to the meadows used as the jumping off point for the ridge is reasonably steep, probably the most difficult part of the hike is the descent along a connecting side ridge with only sporadic trail available.  Meet the other participants on this hike at Santa Fe Station and an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, June 22 - Cathedral Rock.  The Saturday group will finally get its chance at this moderate 3-mile out-and-back hike climbing 950 feet to the top of an impressive rock outcropping partially up the ridge connecting Griffith Peak and Mount Charleston.  Closed early in the season due to construction on the site, this hike is usually one of the first weekend treks scheduled because it is such a favorite.  The trail climbs fairly steeply through Mazie Canyon, which was significantly affected by an avalanche back in 2005 that destroyed many of the trees near the bottom of the canyon.  The group will assemble at Santa Fe Station for a scheduled departure at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.

Sunday, June 23 - Griffith Peak.  Unlike the hike to this same destination on June 11, this trek will follow the normal out-and-back route using South Loop Trail from its inception near the recently reconstructed picnic area at the top of Kyle Canyon.  With 3,400 feet of elevation gain, this strenuous 10-mile route still provides ample challenge for most hikers, who must display a marked degree of stamina over the roughly 6 hours involved in the hike.  One interesting note about the summit is that it is the hatching ground for thousands of ladybugs in the spring, and these could certainly be in evidence at the top.  Assembly point for the hike will be at Santa Fe Station with a departure time of 7:00 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, June 24 - Lower Lee Canyon - Starting at Sawmill parking lot, the coordinator plans to hike into lower Lee Canyon which will include the Lee Canyon Narrows. The hike will take you below the narrows into the wide washes and ridges below. Meet at 7:30am at the Santa Fe Casino. Coordinator - Jon Lubinski.

Tuesday, June 25 - Mummy's Nose.  By far the toughest short hike of the month is this very strenuous 5-mile out-and-back to one of the prominent facial features of the Mummy's head near Lee Canyon.  Elevation gain is 2,800 feet with very steep off-trail scrambling sections that contain lots of scree.  Going will be quite slow, with the anticipated time necessary to complete the hike at 5 hours.  For those with the stamina required to get to the top, the resulting views are sensational.  The group will leave from the Santa Fe parking garage promptly at 7:30 AM for the trailhead.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Wednesday, June 26 - Fletcher Peak via Wild Horse Canyon.  The last Mount Charleston training hike for the month is a strenuous 8-mile partial loop hike that is a repeat of the June 9 club hike.  Overall elevation gain is about 1,800 feet with three steeper sections of trail spread over the course of the hike.  A few springs toward the top of Wild Horse Canyon usually feed a pleasant little stream and, combined with an abundance of shade, this water promotes growth of aquatic plants in a few areas.  The return to the vehicles will follow North Loop Trail out to its trailhead at Deer Creek Road.  The first departure time from Desert Vista Community Center is 7:00 AM with those assembling at Santa Fe Station leaving at 7:15 AM and the two groups getting together at the trailhead.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinski & Larry Shahan.

Thursday, June 27 - Bonanza Peak.  Accessed from the north end of the Bonanza Trail near Cold Creek, this strenuous 10-mile out-and-back hike to one of the northernmost major peaks in the Spring Mountains also gains about 2,600 feet of elevation.  For the most part, gain rates along the trail are fairly consistent, with very few really steep sections and just a little off-trail scrambling getting to the peak itself.  Since the summit essentially sits directly on the spine of the mountain range, views west toward Pahrump and the mountains surrounding Death Valley are as impressive as those in the other direction looking toward the Lake Mead area with Arizona mountains in the distance.  The group will assemble at Santa Fe Station for a 7:00 AM departure because of the longer than normal drive.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, June 28 - Deer Creek & Robbers' Roost.  If you missed out on this hike to open the month of July you have one more chance to get a glimpse of history unfolding on the eastern slopes of Mummy Mountain.  The first part of a two part hike takes a look at a resort planned for the Spring Mountains prior to 1930 and a previously existing sawmill operation.  The second part takes a look at a secluded and defendable cave that was utilized by some horse thieves in the days of the wild west.  Total distance for the two segments is 4 miles with just under 1,000 feet of elevation gain.  Although having a few short and steep sections, the combination of these two short hikes justifies only a moderate rating.  Meet the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, June 29 - Bristlecone Loop.  Rounding out the first half of 2013 is a moderate 6-mile loop hike on the trail at the top of Lee Canyon that will be conducted in a counter-clockwise direction from the lower trailhead.  Even though the elevation gain is close to 900 feet, the gain rate along the maintained forest service fire road is quite gradual.  The snack break will occur at the junction with the south end of the Bonanza Trail before the group continues along the upper, wooded section of the trail that also permits mountain bikers.  In anyone wants something a bit shorter, they can reverse direction after the break and return directly to the vehicles, resulting in a total distance of 5 miles.  Join the others in the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.