October 2013 Hike List

Just a few residual outings in the higher elevations and we are back to Red Rock for the bulk of our October hiking endeavors.  It has been a wild summer for trying to hike in the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains this summer as the July fire that burned 43 square miles forced cancellation of half of that month's schedule and the August weather was definitely the most threatening of any year in recent memory.  While there are no Lake Mead area hikes on the schedule for October, you will probably start seeing some on the list starting around the middle of November.

 

Below are directions to the meeting locations for the three remaining Mount Charleston area hikes and all of the hikes in the Red Rock Canyon area.  In addition to these, we have a few urban walks in Las Vegas parks and a trip to Henderson for Black Mountain October 30 on the schedule.  Driving directions for those few outings will be included in the hike descriptions.

 

Higher Elevations of the Spring Mountains - We will continue to meet at 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 directly from Rancho if driving in a southbound direction.  If you are driving northbound on Rancho, turn in at the main entrance to the property and turn left again to access the garage.  Do not use the larger garage on the north end of the casino building.  When heading up the ramp on the inside of the parking garage, turn left at the third level and the group will be assembling at that point.

 

Red Rock Canyon Area - The new assembly point for Red Rock hikes is in the parking lot of the shopping center that contains an Albertsons Grocery Store and a Dunkin Donuts operation.  This shopping center is located at the intersection of Charleston Boulevard (Highway 159) and Desert Foothills Drive, about one-half mile west of CR215.  If you are driving west on Charleston you can turn into the shopping center before you get to the stop light at Desert Foothills.  Generally, we will be parking between the two commercial establishments but somewhat closer to Dunkin Donuts.

 

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 8:30 AM hikes or the occasional urban walks as these are the only ones that guarantee a fairly leisurely pace.  Strenuous Tuesday hikes are only open to qualified experienced members.  Be sure to bring appropriate clothing and footwear, hats, sunscreen, water and electrolyte replacement fluids, and food or snacks for each outing.

 

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

 

  

 

Tuesday, October 1 - Bonanza Trail.  Traversing the spine of the Spring Mountains from the southern trailhead along the Bristlecone Trail to the northern trailhead a couple of miles outside Cold Creek, the Bonanza Trail has two climb sections, with one at the start and one in the middle.  Overall, the point-to-point distance is 15 miles and the rating is very strenuous.  For this hike, the group will split at Santa Fe Station with half of the participants heading to each trailhead and doing a key swap when the groups meet on the trail for a lunch break.  The more experienced hikers will start from the Cold Creek trailhead because the gain on the route to the south is about 800 feet more than the 3,700 foot gain going north.  The two groups will depart from Santa Fe Station at 6:30 AM.  Coordinator - Brian Dodd.

 

Wednesday, October 2 - La Madre Miner's Cabin.  The moderately strenuous out-and-back trek to the stone shelter above the wildlife pond at La Madre Springs covers at total distance of 5 miles while gaining 1,500 feet of elevation.  Along the way to the springs the group will pass a couple of old house foundations that also harbored an archery club about fifty years ago.  The trail steepens significantly approaching the shelter where the rest break will occur.  This will be a joint outing with Lone Mountain Hiking Club, which will meet at Desert Vista Community Center in Sun City Summerlin for an 8:00 AM departure to the overall assembly point at Albertsons, with the combined group departing from there at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Doug Chang.

 

Thursday, October 3 - Dragon Canyon.  This moderately strenuous loop hike is about 5 miles in length starting from Red Springs Picnic Area and heading up a steep canyon on the south face of Gateway Peak that contains most of the elevation gain of 1,400 feet.  This canyon is off-trail and is followed by a side hill traverse along a trail to the top of Ash Canyon.  A descent into Gateway Canyon and a climb out to a saddle for a final descent down Five Stop Hill completes the loop.  The group will leave from Albertsons at 7:00 AM.  Coordinator - Jon Lubinski.

 

Friday, October 4 - The Muffins & Skull Canyon.  Starting from the horse stables parking lot off Highway 159, the group will head up the trail on Blue Diamond Hill to the distinctive composite boulders on the north end of the ridge overlooking the Red Rock Visitor Center.  The moderate 6-mile loop with 1,200 feet of elevation gain continues by heading along the ridge in a southerly direction toward the Old Las Vegas Overlook, then descends through Skull Canyon to the starting point.  Departure from Albertsons will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, October 5 - Mount Charleston.  Here is one last chance for the hardy to reach the top of southern Nevada.  The very strenuous out-and-back hike utilizing Trail Canyon and the western section of North Rim Trail will cover a total distance of 18 miles and gain over 4,100 feet in the process.  This gain is net since the trail rolls considerably on the ridge between Mummy and Charleston.  Expect a nine or ten hour duration for the trek.  Get up early to leave Santa Fe with the group at 5:00 AM.  Coordinators - Jon Lubinski & Larry Shahan.

 

Saturday, October 5 - Calico Tanks.  One of the signature hikes for Red Rock Canyon is this somewhat short but spectacular 3-mile out-and-back effort in a canyon in the northern section of the Calico Hills.  Climbing about 700 feet with a moderate rating, scenery along the trail includes colorful rock formations in reds and creams offset by the deep greens of manzanita and other prolific shrubs and trees.  The upper end of the hike includes views of the southern half of Las Vegas, a part of Lake Mead, and some Arizona Mountains.  Just a note - our coordinator loves to scramble.  This Saturday group will leave from Albertsons at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, October 5 - Pine Creek & Skull Rock.  The leisurely hike for the first Saturday of October will be a short jaunt to the Wilson Homestead foundation, close to where the old western "The Stalking Moon" was filmed, followed by a short side excursion to Skull Rock on Dale's Trail and possibly along the Fire Ecology Trail that heads over to the bank of Pine Creek.  Total distance will be between 2 and 3 miles for this easy to moderate hike that has minimal elevation gain.  There is some large imbedded rock along the trail so watch your footing.  The group will assemble at Albertsons for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Marg Biesiada.

 

Sunday, October 6 - Krafft Mountain Traverse.  Although this is a somewhat shorter version of the hike scheduled for October 22, this loop hike of 3 miles starting from the end of Calico Basin Road is still rated as strenuous because of the intensity of the scrambling route passing over the top of the peak.  It will feature the east-west traverse which will have its final descent off the mountain to the saddle above Five Stop Hill.  Total elevation gain is something under 1,500 feet.  Meet the rest of the group at Albertsons for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Monday, October 7 - Keystone Thrust Loop.  The geologic anomaly that is so apparent in Keystone Thrust Canyon will be on display just after the descent starts on this moderate loop hike that covers a little less than 4 miles.  That anomaly is that the limestone which forms the crown of Cactus Hill, the western boundary of the canyon, is sitting directly on top of sandstone that is some 400 million years younger.  All of the hiking within the confines of the canyon will require scrambling, and long pants are recommended because of the presence of Cats Claw Acacia and other brush.  The last section of the hike is along the scenic drive back to the starting point.  Departure from Albertsons will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Nancy Moore.  

 

Tuesday, October 8 - Gray Cap via Gray Fox Canyon.  Class 3 climbing and exposure are significant elements of this very strenuous out-and-back 5-mile hike from Calico Basin that follows the trail over Five Stop Hill to Gateway Canyon, then approaches the distinctive limestone-capped peak east of Turtlehead on a steep route through Gray Fox Canyon.  Elevation gain is close to 2,000 feet and hands will be required in lots of places.  Departure time from Albertsons will be at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Tuesday, October 8 - Telephone Canyon Loop.  Here is a milder alternative for the usually wild Tuesdays and a last chance to visit the upper elevations of the Spring Mountains on a scheduled hike this year.  This moderate 7-mile loop hike is filling in for the hike on August 28 that was canceled because of weather.  It will also be done in the reverse direction from the September 11 hike, which was changed to a counter-clockwise direction.  This group will leave from Santa Fe Station at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, October 8 - Pueblo Park.  Continuing the series of early evening strolls that started last month we will be heading to Pueblo Park for an easy 3-mile out-and-back walk on a paved sidewalk through an arroyo that still serves as part of the watershed for rainstorms that occur west of the city.  The group will meet in the parking lot of the park for a 6:00 PM start.  The park is located on Lake Mead Boulevard just west of Buffalo in the northwest part of Las Vegas.  To access the park, you must be traveling eastbound on Lake Mead Boulevard.  If you are traveling westbound, you must execute a U-turn past the park to get back to the entrance.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Wednesday, October 9 - Sandstone/White Rock Loop.  One of the real sleeper hikes in Red Rock Canyon that very few groups seem to do is this moderate 7-mile loop starting from Sandstone Quarry that has an elevation gain of nearly 1,600 feet.  The loop route starts off on a section of the Grand Circle Trail, continues upward on the Keystone Thrust Trail, and completes the climb portion on a little used trail approaching the base of La Madre Peak.  The descent includes minor scrambling in a narrow drainage cut followed by a broad wash heading back toward Sandstone Quarry.  Departure time from Albertsons will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Ed Matulis.

 

Thursday, October 10 - Windy Peak.  The back side of the escarpment provides the setting for a spectacular 5-mile out-and-back hike to the red-tipped peak on the southern end of the Wilson Cliffs.  The initial climb seems a bit tedious as it starts along a gravel road used to service a communications relay station, but by the time it reaches the first saddle wonderful views start to unfold and get really spectacular at the top of the sandstone peak.  Overall this hike gains about 1,500 feet, is rated strenuous, and includes some scrambling and about fifty feet of fairly serious rolling exposure.  We will depart from Albertsons at 7:30 AM for this hike.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, October 11 - Ash Canyon Overlook.  Enjoy a pleasant trek through scenic back country that includes dramatic views from the top of Ash Canyon and also goes by a petroglyph site in the sandstone mounds north of Sandstone Quarry.  Rated easy to moderate, this 3-mile partial loop hike has minimal net elevation gain but does pass through rolling terrain.  While most of the route is on trail, there is a bit of scrambling over the sandstone ledges and crevasses on the north side of Red Cap.  Join the other participants at Albertsons for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Saturday, October 12 - Red Cap.  We will be using the old traditional route to the top of the mountain on this strenuous 3-mile scrambling outing to the highest point in the Calico Hills.  Starting from Sandstone Quarry, the route heads along the west flank of the rocky peak, using a series of boulder and slab climbs as well as a few notches.  Overall there is about 1,000 feet of gain.  On the descent, the group will visit a number of tinajas before making the fairly steep drop along Mass Production Wall back onto the Calico Tanks Trail.  Departure from Albertsons will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Saturday, October 12 - Peak 3488 Ridges Loop.  This 3-mile hike in the Red Rock area begins along Calico Basin Road shortly before the housing area and follows a series of interconnected horse trails that criss-cross the desert.  The route turns toward Krafft Mountain and then veers first east and then south to reach the summit of a small peak named for its top elevation.  Rating is moderate and there is 400 feet of elevation gain.  The assembled group will be departing from Albertsons at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Jan Meigs.

 

Sunday, October 13 - Calico Peak Back Door Loop.  This very strenuous 4-mile rock scramble begins at the Red Springs Picnic Area and follows the low trails to the notch often referred to as Angel Pass.  From there, the group will climb the wash on the north side of the pass to a small red peak, then traverse across to the main tank and Calico Peak.  The hike gets close to technical at this point with a descent through a steep wash to Ash Canyon and a return down that canyon to the start.  Hands will be used a lot on the descent and the buddy system will often be necessary.  Meet at Albertsons for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Monday, October 14 - The Muffins.  Although the first part of this hike is a repeat of the one on October 4, this particular outing will be a 4-mile out-and-back hike that involves descending on the same trail along the cliff face of the ridge on the western section of Blue Diamond Hill.  Elevation gain for this trek is about 900 feet and the hike carries a moderate rating.  Views of Las Vegas from the composite boulders at the top are quite expansive.  The group will meet at Albertsons for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Gail Surgent.

 

Monday, October 14 - Cottonwood Canyon.  Another evening stroll will occur this evening in a neighborhood park one block north of Charleston Boulevard.  This double out-and-back walk is rated easy as the surface is all paved trails, total distance is right at 3 miles, and there is hardly any elevation change along the way.  To reach the park, turn west on Park Run Boulevard from Town Center Drive one block north of Charleston.  The park is located just west of the set of buildings on the corner and on the north side of the street.  The walk will start promptly at 6:00 PM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey. 

 

Tuesday, October 15 - Windy Peak via Cottonwood Valley.  This very strenuous 4-mile out-and-back hike climbs through a very steep side canyon from the floor of Cottonwood Valley near Grapevine Canyon.  There are lots of boulders to negotiate that require the use of hands and a few areas of significant exposure - one near the midpoint of the ascent and one on the cliff face directly below the summit.  High clearance vehicles are appropriate for the drive to the starting point on minimally maintained recreational gravel roads.  Meet at Albertsons for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Tuesday, October 15 - Oak Creek.  For the second Tuesday in a row, there is a moderate alternative to the regular madcap Tuesday hike.  This offering is a 6-mile partial loop hike that has minimal elevation gain but passes some beautiful countryside below the Wilson Cliffs.  The hike will start from the South Oak Creek trailhead along Highway 159, pass along the back side of Potato Knoll, then utilize the North Oak Creek and Valley Trails to complete the loop.  Departure time from Albertsons will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Nancy Moore.

 

Wednesday, October 16 - Boneshaker & Skull Canyon.  Another variant to the routes that reach one or both of the Las Vegas Overlooks on Blue Diamond Hill, this moderate 6-mile loop hike starts with a fairly steep climb by trail up the tough ridge trail known as Boneshaker in the first mile of the hike.  From the top of the first ridge onward there are expansive views of Red Rock and Cottonwood Valley, with the new Las Vegas Overlook waiting at the highest point, some 1,500 feet above the start.  Descent will be through dramatic Skull Canyon.  This hike is a joint outing with Lone Mountain Hiking Club, who will meet at Desert Vista Community Center in Sun City Summerlin and leave for Albertsons at 8:00 AM, where the ABF contingent will assemble for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ed Matulis.

 

Thursday, October 17 - Mountain Spring Peak.  This strenuous 7-mile loop hike starts from the back side of the Wilson Cliffs near Mountain Spring Summit on Highway 160 and follows the same gravel road used for the start of Windy and Hollow Rock Peaks.  Once on the limestone ridge behind the escarpment, the trail turns to the south and gains the top of the peak with great views of the Las Vegas area.  The snack break will occur a bit beyond the peak on a sensational outcropping directly above Black Velvet Canyon.  The return section will be off-trail until it reaches Rainbow Road, which will take us back to the area of the start, passing a couple of springs and a small rock cave on the way.  Departure from Albertsons will be at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, October 18 - Krafft Mountain Loop.  This moderate 5-mile loop hike begins at Red Springs Picnic Area and climbs Five Stop Hill before descending into Gateway Canyon for the trip around Krafft Mountain.  This canyon contains some of the best sandstone terrain on the west side of Las Vegas, so bring your cameras if you want great shots of the picturesque surroundings.  The canyon portion is also off-trail, and there are a few spots where the scrambling requires use of hands.  The return leg passes a boulder field often used by free climbers.  Meet the group at Albertsons for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, October 19 - Blue Diamond Canyons #2 & 3.  Scrambling through limestone canyons is the primary activity involved on this short 3-mile loop hike rated moderately strenuous.  That's because of the level of scrambling, which requires substantial use of hands on short Class 3 climbs as well as a couple of spots where webbing will be helpful.  Overall, there is about 800 feet of elevation gain on this trek which will cover some ground that exhibits ancient seabed fossils.  Departure from Albertsons will occur at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, October 19 - SMYC Trail via Willow Springs.  It's unusual that the leisurely Saturday hike gets to be longer than the earlier hike, but that is probably the case today as the route should cover about 4 miles.  The moderate hike with minimal elevation gain will start at Willow Springs Picnic Area, follow the trails to the Lost Creek Waterfall, then pick up the SMYC Trail southward to Ice Box Trail.  A short loop will occur at the south end of the hike followed by a return along SMYC and a final jaunt back to the cars on the trail east of the spur road.  Departure time from Albertsons will be 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Sunday, October 20 - Pueblo Park Full Moon Hike.  The only hike on the schedule this Sunday is an easy 3-mile level walk along a paved walkway through the park, which has a runoff channel for rainwater or irrigation on the golf course on higher ground to the west.  This leisurely trek will feature the rising of the full moon at 7:13 PM, so it's important to be in the right spot on the way back at the appropriate time.  Accordingly, we will start walking from the parking area promptly at 6:15 PM and have a short break at the western end of the trail.  Bring Flashlights!  See the October 8 hike to Pueblo Park for driving directions.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Monday, October 21 - White Rock Hills Loop.  One of the hikes most often accomplished by organized groups in Red Rock Canyon is this 6.4-mile loop around two cream-colored sandstone peaks at the north end of the canyon.  For this effort, our coordinator likes to proceed clockwise, doing the climb through the wooded section in the valley below the La Madre Mountains and returning through the desert side closest to the scenic drive.  Meet the other participants at Albertsons for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, October 22 - Ash Canyon/Krafft Mountain Traverse.  This very strenuous 5-mile loop hike has a double climb that will probably put gross elevation gain at close to 2,000 feet.  It also involves some pretty intense scrambling, both through the boulders of Ash Canyon and reaching and crossing the sandstone slabs and other formations on the top of the rose colored peak.  For this outing, the west-east route will be used for the traverse.  There is exposure on this hike so anyone squeamish should probably not participate.  Meet the others in the group at Albertsons for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Wednesday, October 23 - Potato Knoll.  The relatively level terrain associated with this moderate 5-mile partial loop hike is interrupted by a short but steep climb up the 500-foot hill in the shadow of Wilson Peak.  The snack break will occur on the sandstone outcroppings found on the southern end of the hill.  Another feature of the hike is that Oak Creek is crossed on four occasions, and flowing water is usually present at two of those.  Again, this is a joint effort with Lone Mountain Hiking Club, who will leave Desert Vista Community Center at 8:00 AM to hook up with the ABF contingent and a full group departure from the Albertsons parking lot at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Thursday, October 24 - Brownstone Canyon from Sandstone Quarry.  The classic 9-mile loop hike to Pictograph Wall is back.  Starting from Sandstone Quarry, the group will use upper Gateway Canyon to pass behind Turtlehead, then make a Class 3 descent through the sandstone into Brownstone Canyon near the base of the magnificent ancient artifact.  A short out-and-back trek down the canyon allows participants to view some equally amazing petroglyphs before continuing up canyon to a saddle between Turtlehead and La Madre Peak for a return down a narrow canyon and finally the broad drainage heading back to the starting point.  Meet the other participants at Albertsons for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Jon Lubinski.

 

Friday, October 25 - Echo Canyon.  Here's a chance to do some moderate scrambling in one of the narrow canyons on the north end of Blue Diamond Hill.  The loop hike is rated moderate overall and will cover a distance of 4 or 5 miles, depending on where the coordinator heads after exiting the canyon for the trails back along Fossil Ridge.  Total elevation gain is probably not more than 700 feet for the hike.  The group will assemble at Albertsons and will depart at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Doug Chang.

 

Saturday, October 26 - Lone Mountain & Fall Picnic.  Join your fellow club members for a variety of hiking options at Lone Mountain Regional Park, located between Lone Mountain Road at Alexander with the north-south street being Jensen.  Hikes will include going to the top of the mountain using a couple of different routes or just walking around its base.  All of these options will start promptly at 9:00 AM from the extreme southern end of the park.  The picnic itself is slated to begin at 12:00 Noon.  See other announcements for more details on the picnic.  Hike Coordinators - Chris Dempsey & Others TBD.

 

Sunday, October 27 - Calico Triple Peak.  Here is another weekend jaunt with significant scrambling involved.  The route used for this hike will be a new version that will start at the Red Spring Picnic Area and ascend what is called the Grand Staircase.  The route will continue on the upper portion of the ridge, drop to Guardian Angel Pass, then climb up to Calico II Overlook Peak and Calico Peak before a return down the Calico Basin side from Guardian Angel Pass.  This very strenuous hike with lots of climbing, scrambling, and exposure should come in at 5 miles in length.  Albertsons will be used as the early staging spot with a 7:30 AM departure time.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Monday, October 28 - Calico Hills.  This moderate 6-mile out-and-back hike bridges the distance between the parking lot behind the fee booth at the entrance to Red Rock Canyon and Sandstone Quarry near the north end of the Calico Hills.  There is about 800 feet of net elevation gain along the rolling trail, with undulating terrain north of the Calico I Overlook, where the trail drops into the canyon just east of the scenic drive.  Assembly point is at Albertsons for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Nancy Moore.

 

Tuesday, October 29 - Mescalito Peak.  Only the toughest members of our club should attempt this very strenuous trek to the top of the very steep mountain that separates South and North Forks of Pine Creek.  There is about 2,000 feet of climb along the steep torturous route that travels from the back of Mescalito Canyon along an exposed ridge to the peak.  Total distance is probably about 5 miles and the estimated duration is about seven hours.  The entire group MUST be kept together on this one.  Departure from Albertsons will occur at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Richard Natale.

 

Tuesday, October 29 - Echo Canyon to First Finger.  A longer version of the hike the previous Friday will include the trail that extends out toward the point of First Finger Ridge before returning to the plowed under mining road used as a connector to Fossil Ridge, which will be used for the return portion of the hike.  Expect the total distance to be around 6 miles on this moderate loop route that will gain under 1,000 feet and serve as an alternative to the usual terrifying Tuesday adventure.  Meet the group at Albertsons for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Wednesday, October 30 - Black Mountain (Henderson).  Comparable to Turtlehead for distance (6 miles) and elevation gain (2,100 feet), this strenuous out-and-back hike has better trail conditions than Turtlehead.  The trail gets steeper the closer it gets to the summit, with the upper sections climbing over or next to volcanic rock.  The north and west side group will meet at Albertsons on Charleston for a 7:50 AM departure and head over to the main assembly point at Walgreens located at the intersection of Anthem Parkway and Hampton Road, from which the entire group will leave for the small trailhead parking lot at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Carl Weller.

 

Thursday, October 31 - North Peak (Sandstone).  Could we possibly have a Halloween without heading to the sandstone peak at the north end of the escarpment that has been a tradition for seven years now?  I don't think so.  This strenuous out-and-back hike is between 7 and 8 miles and includes some of the steepest trail in Red Rock climbing to the beginnings of the sandstone formations behind the escarpment.  Elevation gain is 2,600 feet and the route may go up the canyon south of Rocky Gap Road on the way up.  Departure time from Albertsons will be 7:30 AM.  This hike has two coordinators to facilitate differently paced groups.  Coordinators - Michael O'Connor & Ed Matulis.