July 2013 Hike List

Almost all of the hikes listed in this schedule in the Las Vegas area will occur in the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains.  For each of those hikes, the group will be assembling on the south side of the 3rd level of the southeast parking garage at Santa Fe Station Casino.  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.  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.

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 the Saturday hikes in the Spring Mountain area (also referred to as Mount Charleston area), as these are the only ones that guarantee a fairly leisurely pace.

Questions regarding any of the hikes should be directed to Chris Dempsey at dempseylv@aol.com or (702) 823-2355. 

Monday, July 1 - Pueblo Park.  An early morning out-and-back stroll along a paved path with negligible elevation gain.  Total distance is close to 4 miles with an easy rating.  Meet the other participants at the southeast corner of the Smith's Grocery parking lot located at the intersection of Rampart and W. Lake Mead Boulevard.  The walk will begin from that location at 6:00 AM sharp.  Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.

Monday, July 1 - Mary Jane Falls.  This out-and-back hike will cover a total distance of 3 miles with an elevation gain of 920 feet and is rated moderate.  Departure time from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

Tuesday, July 2 - South Sister & North Sister.  This double peak hike should be attempted only by the most experienced hikers in our club.  The hike will begin at the end of Mack's Canyon Road, a gravel road that can be driven by most regular vehicles.  The very strenuous loop hike should cover a distance of 4 or 5 miles and have a gross elevation gain of 2,500 feet.  There will be Class 3 scrambling over steep terrain and serious exposure.  Departure time from Santa Fe Station will be early at 6:30 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

Wednesday, July 3 - McFarland Approach.  A joint outing with Lone Mountain Hiking Club in the Mount Charleston preparation series, this strenuous out-and-back hike covers around 12 miles with an elevation gain around 1,500 feet.  The first staging point at Desert Vista Community Center in Sun City Summerlin will have a departure time of 7:00 AM with those assembling at Santa Fe Station leaving at 7:15 AM.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinski & Larry Shahan.

Thursday, July 4 - No Name/Bristlecone Loop.  A moderately strenuous loop hike involving two trails at the top of Lee Canyon, this trek will cover about 5 miles and have 1,300 feet of elevation gain.  Meet the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.


Saturday, July 6 - Griffith Peak via Rainbow. This is a 10 mile loop that
begins up Rainbow Canyon above Rainbow. (very steep) Then it travels up to and
around Griffith Peak. (beautiful) Then it summits the peak. (awesome) Then it
descends down the South Loop and the Rainbow Loop Trail. The elevation gain is
above 4000 feet and the pace will be moderately strenuous. Meet at the Santa Fe
at 7am. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell

Saturday, July 6 - Cathedral Rock Picnic Area.  An exploratory hike involving the new walking trails through the redesigned Cathedral Rock Picnic Area that should cover about 3 miles and gain 500 feet of elevation, visiting the South Loop Trail in the process.  Rating should probably be easy to moderate. Departure time from Santa Fe Station will be 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Monday, July 8 - Big Falls to Mary Jane Falls.  A strenuous combination hike that visits both of the major waterfalls at the top of Kyle Canyon.  Total distance is around 5 miles with 1,500 feet of gross elevation gain.  Assembly will be at Santa Fe Station with a 9:00 AM departure.  This hike is part of the overnight outing at The Resort at Mount Charleston, but participants can also return home overnight.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

Tuesday, July 9 - Raintree Point-to-Point.  Car shuttling will be required for this moderately strenuous hike that will start at the North Loop trailhead off Highway 158 and finish at the Trail Canyon parking lot.  Total distance is 6.5 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain.  The group will assemble for the hike at 9:00 AM in the lobby of The Resort at Mount Charleston for this hike.  Day hikers can assemble informally at Santa Fe Station but need to leave there by 8:25 AM to reach the resort on time.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

Wednesday, July 10 - Griffith Peak.  The last joint training hike prior to the assault on Mount Charleston is a 10-mile out-and-back hike with 3,600 feet of elevation gain along South Loop Trail that carries a strenuous rating.  Lone Mountain Hiking Club participants will leave Desert Vista Community Center at 7:00 AM with ABF members departing from Santa Fe Station at 7:15 AM.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinski & Larry Shahan.

Wednesday, July 10 - South Loop to Rainbow Break.  This easy to moderate 3-mile hike will cover much of the same terrain as the previous Saturday hike but there should be a few different wrinkles.  The hike will be conducted at a leisurely pace to accommodate all participants.  The group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 7:15 AM.  Coordinator - Marg Biesiada.

Thursday, July 11 - Telephone Canyon Loop.  This moderate 6-mile loop hike will start from the gravel pullout at the bottom of the canyon and proceed in a clockwise direction, dropping into the bottom of the canyon at its midpoint.  Meet the group at Santa Fe Station for a 7:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, July 12 -  Cathedral Rock via Echo Trail.  The alternate starting point from the gravel parking lot near the start of Echo Road will be used for this moderate 4-mile out-and-back hike that gains around 1,000 feet of elevation.  The group will depart at 8:00 AM from Santa Fe Station.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, July 12 - Angel Park Trail Sunset Stroll.  Bruce Trent Park, located at the corner of Rampart Boulevard and Vegas Drive, will be used as the staging point for an easy 4-mile urban hike along a level paved trail.  Those driving to Bruce Trent should use the farthest parking lot to the north, which is closest to Vegas Drive.  The hike will begin promptly at 7:30 PM.  Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.

Saturday, July 13 - Fletcher Canyon.  This easy to moderate out-and-back hike will cover a total distance of 4 miles with an elevation gain of 600 feet.  The group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.


Sunday, July 14 - Trail Canyon / Fletcher Canyon. This is a 5 mile
point-to-point hike that gains 2000 feet in elevation. From Trail Canyon and a
little bit of North Loop Trail, the hike drops down into the upper reaches of
Fletcher Canyon then finishes at the Fletcher Canyon trailhead. Moderate to
strenuous pace. Meet at the Santa Fe at 7am. Coordinator - Kay Blackwell

Tuesday, July 16 - Cockscomb Ridge Peak.  Involving a very strenuous out-and-back route starting from the Trail Canyon parking lot, the hike will climb to the junction with North Loop Trail and turn onto Cockscomb Ridge, approaching the peak access on the east side of the peak.  Distance is 6 miles, elevation gain is 2,000 feet, and steep scrambling with exposure is involved.  Experienced club hikers only.  The group will depart at 7:00 AM from Santa Fe Station.  Coordinator - Tim Borem.

Wednesday, July 17 - Mount Charleston.  The highest peak in Southern Nevada is the target of this very strenuous 17-mile point-to-point trek with 4,300 feet of net elevation gain that will start up Trail Canyon, access the peak using North Loop Trail, and make the descent along South Loop Trail.  The Lone Mountain Hiking Club contingent on this joint outing will leave Desert Vista Community Center at 5:00 AM with the ABF group departing from Santa Fe Station at 5:15 AM.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinski & Larry Shahan.

Thursday, July 18 - Raintree via North Loop.  The standard route up North Loop Trail will be utilized for the approach to the 3,000 year old bristlecone pine, but the return will include a descent along Wild Horse Ridge on this moderately strenuous 6 to 7-mile trek with 1,700 feet of elevation gain.  The assembled group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, July 19 - Mary Jane Falls.  Total distance will be 3 miles on this moderate out-and-back hike that gains 920 feet of elevation.  Departure of the group from Santa Fe Station will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, July 20 - Wallace Canyon & Beyond.  Rated moderately strenuous, this early Saturday hike will visit the plane crash site in Wallace Canyon, then head along a combination of ridges to the junction of No Name and Bonanza Trails, then loop back to the start via Bristlecone Trail.  Total distance should be around 6 or 7 miles.  Departure from Santa Fe Station is at 7:00 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Saturday, July 20 - Wild Horse Canyon.  The eastern end of North Loop Trail up to the mid-ridge meadows will be used for the ascent on this moderate 3-mile hike, with an early steep descent along a dirt trail into a shaded canyon.  This leisurely Saturday offering will depart from Santa Fe Station at the normal time of 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Sunday, July 21 - Big Falls & Beyond.  Boulder hopping is involved in the trek through the canyon to the waterfall, followed by a hand over hand scramble up the cliff to the meadow above the top of the falls.  Total distance should be a bit less than 4 miles for this strenuous hike that is not short on exposure around the waterfall.  The group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 7:00 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, July 22 through Friday, July 26 - Club Outing to Ruby Mountains.  Few hikes are currently scheduled in Las Vegas during this five day period as a group of about sixty members heads north to Elko for four days of hiking in Lamoille Canyon and at Angel Lake.


Thursday, July 25 - South Sister. This hike to a prominent mountain peak out
of Lee Canyon is 5 miles with over 2000 feet of elevation gain. We will go at a
moderate to strenuous pace. Meet at the Santa Fe at 7am. Coordinator - Kay
Blackwell 

Saturday, July 27 - Fletcher Canyon & Beyond.  Climbing through the rabbit hole at Obstacle Rock will lead to the upper section of the canyon and a snack stop at a waterfall before a return to the vehicles on this moderately strenuous 5 to 6-mile out-and-back hike.  Meet the other participants at Santa Fe Station for a 7:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Saturday, July 27 - Modified Lower Bristlecone.  The leisurely Saturday group will get a chance to explore some new territory off the gravel road section of the trail on a moderate out-and-back hike that should cover a total distance of 4 miles.  Meet the rest of the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Sunday, July 28 - North Lee Canyon Exploratory.  Although this hike starts along the same route as the previous day's hike, after the turnoff from lower Bristlecone it will follow a faint path to Bonanza Trail, turn right and intersect to South Sister saddle before returning to the vehicles.  Total distance should be around 6 miles for this strenuous outing.  Departure of the group from Santa Fe Station will be at 7:00 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, July 29 - Upper Bristlecone Trail.  For the third straight day our club will be hiking in the upper reaches of Lee Canyon with this moderate 5-mile out-and-back trek from the trailhead at the top of Highway 156 to the junction of Bristlecone and Bonanza Trails.  The group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Lone Mountain Park Sunrise Stroll.  The participants for this early morning stroll will make a loop around the base of Lone Mountain, starting from the regional park at the junction of Craig and Jensen.  Distance is about 2.5 miles with little elevation change and an easy to moderate rating.  The hike will begin from the parking lot closest to the intersection of the two streets promptly at 6:00 AM.  Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.

Tuesday, July 30 - Mack's Peak.  The strenuous out-and-back route used getting to the summit of this jagged peak is rather short at 4 miles but is generally quite steep in both directions and has some pretty serious scrambling and exposure getting up a series of ledges to the summit.  The group will depart from Santa Fe Station at 7:00 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.