Sunday, January 1st, 2023, Desert Hills/Blue Diamond East- This hiking trail is located on the north side of SR 160 about 3 miles east of the intersection of 159/160 and is composed of interesting ridges and canyons. This loop offers a moderate hike of 6 miles and around 700 FT. elevation gain. Meet the coordinator at the Chevron gas station at the intersection of 159/160 at 8:15 AM. You may also meet with us at the trailhead off of Hualapai Way, turn north from 160 onto the dirt road to the nearby parking area(s) (Look for David Hardy as it's either Southwest Ridge Mountain Bike Trail or the Hualapai Lot Trailhead). RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator-David Hardy
Tuesday, January 3rd, Northshore Peak /Red Wash Loop/Lake Mead / Exploratory - Moderately strenuous, 6.5 miles, 1450' gain, 8 AM - From Kay's blog, December of 2019- It's her effort with coordinator Chuck Hawkins. Summary- This loop route was created last year. We will start from the Northshore Road MM 20.5 Trailhead and climb Northshore Peak first. Next, we descend down through an interesting fault canyon to the Razorback Wash below. After following the wash for a distance, we will ascend to a small saddle and hike down through a red colored wash. This will connect to another wash to circle back around to the starting point. Meet at the Albertson's/CVS parking lot at Hollywood and Lake Mead Blvds. for an 8:00 AM departure. West side hikers can meet at the Rampart Casino for a 7:15 AM departure. We will swing by Mile Marker 4 at 8:15 AM. Kay Blackwell- Blog site- http://aroundthebendfriends2.blogspot.com/search?q=Northshore+Peak+%2F+Red+Wash+Loop
For my trek, please RSVP- Coordinator- David Gray-
Thursday, January 5th, Blue Diamond Canyon #5A- This route begins from the parking area at Wheeler Springs just north of Blue Diamond. The canyon cuts deep into the Blue Diamond Hill with high walls and considerable scrambling. This is about 5 miles with a 500 FT gain. A large fill supporting a road high above marks the end of the canyon. We meet at Wheeler Springs Parking Lot Trailhead. If coming from Red Rock, this parking lot is on the right just after a large brown sign to not feed the burros. If from the opposite way, it is on the left just after where the mine road goes up BD Hill. Time- 8 AM. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy
Saturday, January 7th, North Bowl Back Loop- Moderately strenuous, 8 miles, 750 FT gain, Class II in places, 8 AM- Several washes, especially the Main Wash on the west side of the North Bowl of Fire, will give us access onto a plateau at the northwest corner of this iconic redstone formation. Points of interests will include the Moon Lander Arch, Elephant Arch plus sandstone formations, windows. Exploratory- We may elect to take a new route back to the cars! Meet the coordinator, main group at the parking lot behind the CVS at Lake Mead Blvd and Hollywood by 8:00 AM. We’ll check for hikers at Mile Marker 4. The trailhead is at Mile Marker 18, Northshore Road. RSVP- Coordinator- David Gray
Sunday, January 8th, Falls Canyon/Red Rock Canyon- Moderate, 5-6 miles, and beginning from the Willow Springs TH/Picnic Area, this hike follows the Rocky Gap Road in back of the sandstone bluffs to a creek crossing the road. We then leave the road to follow the creek upstream. There are several falls with bypasses. What we hope for is that it is cold enough for ice falls to form. The creek will likely be ice covered in spots. Must take care not to slip or slide on the ice. We step off at 7:30 AM. There is no reservation needed to get onto the park at this time of the morning. RSVP/Limit of 12- Coordinator- David Hardy
Tuesday, January 10th, Pinto Valley Wash/Northshore Peak Wash Loop Exploratory- It is a special area set out by Kay and Chuck Hawkins in January of 2020 as a new hike for the club. It's a real effort, a route complementing Northshore Peak. Her excellent summary- Strenuous, 7 miles, 1100' gain, 8 AM - This will be a pre-hike of a new hike for the club, therefore, I am rating it strenuous. Otherwise, I think it will be moderately strenuous. We will begin at Mile Marker 18 on Northshore Road and hike up Pinto Valley Wash to the wash fork to the left. Taking this left into Razorback Wash North, we will hike to the Interesting Wash that is used for the descent during the Northshore Peak/ Red Wash Loop. At the top of this geologically interesting wash, we turn left into another wash we will use for the descent back to Pinto Valley Wash. This wash is unknown to me! Chuck Hawkins will be leading the way and promises that the wash is a good one. Meet at the CVS/Albertsons on Lake Mead and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure. MM4 @ 8:15am. For my trek, please RSVP- Coordinator- David Gray- Note- Kay also named it per her blog summary- Pinto Northshore Loop Exploratory- Website- http://aroundthebendfriends2.blogspot.com/search?q=Pinto+Valley+Wash+Northshore+Peak+Wash
Thursday, January 12th, China Ranch Date Farm & Bakery- Moderate, 6 miles, 7 AM- Located south of Tecopa, California off of the Old Spanish Trail Highway, China Ranch grows dates of various varieties and is surrounded by interesting areas for hiking. The route for today will take us through several narrow canyons, waterfall, and rock formations. Our break follows the trek as the ranch store offers a variety of date products, including their famous date shake. Meet the coordinator at the Chevron gas station on 159/160 by 7 AM. Bring a lunch. The drive time is just over an hour. RSVP/Limit of 18 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy
Sunday, January 15th, Late Night Parking to Blue Diamond- Moderately strenuous, 8-9 miles, 1200 FT gain- We will hike the Late Night Trail from the parking lot and eventually leave it to take a fainter trail up to the base of the canyons of the Red Rock Bluffs. We will pass by petroglyphs and two springs, and the mouth of Black Velvet Canyon, then on toward Tertiary Ridge which we will follow a trail to the top, then along the ridge to where we drop back into Blue Diamond. A car shuttle is required so we need to meet the coordinator at the county park on the left, opposite of the first houses, of the entrance road into Blue Diamond at 7:15 AM. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy
Tuesday, January 17th, Lone Palm/Lake Mead- In December of 2019, Mike O'Connor presented this favorite standard trek to the Colorado River-Stats- 6 miles, 1500’ vertical, moderately strenuous, accommodating pace. From the Kingman Wash turnout just below the dam, it’s all downhill to this riparian overlook featuring 'lunch with a window seat' on the banks of the mighty Colorado. Mostly trail, but a solid MS rating nonetheless, as all the vertical gain is done on the climb-out. Initial meet-up will be at the Railroad Pass Chevron Travel Center, Exit 15A off of I-11, with a departure time of 8 AM. Your coordinator will be parked on the left side of this center as you face the building. Look for my all gray KIA, me standing out there with a red cap on! Google your drive time, then add 15 minutes or so for traffic, restroom break. We'll caravan to Kingman Wash Exit #2, I-11. Original Coordinator- Michael O’Connor- Please, RSVP- Coordinator- David Gray-
Thursday, January 19th, Bowl of Fire Loop/Lake Mead- This strenuous 10-mile hike will require a short car shuttle as the start is at Mile Marker 20.5 along the Northshore Road with the finish at Mile Marker 18. It starts by climbing a ridge and descending a steep slope that leads into a series of washes where the group will come across camel tracks in the sandstone. At the north end of the Bowl of Fire (BOF) we'll encounter some fun scrambling in a colorful canyon that may feature some pools if there has been any recent rains. We leave the canyon from the central part of the BOF and the last mile is an easy walk to the cars at Mile Marker 18. A half hour lunch break will occur somewhat more than halfway along the route. Meet the coordinator and any other south side participants at Mile Marker 4 on the Northshore Road where we will leave at 7:30. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy Email- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com
Friday, January 20th, Prospect Trail O&B/Valley of Fire/Exploratory Track- Note- We'll hold the overall total mileage to 9 though we may set out into a new area before reaching White Domes. Moderately strenuous, 9 miles, 800 FT gain, some limited scrambling, 8 AM- This state park trek runs right up through the heart of the redstone rock outcroppings. Meet-up- Aliante Casino/northwest parking Lot- Directions- In entering the casino, stay in the left lane, make the first left turn to access this northwest lot. Look for my gray KIA, me standing by it. Google your drive time. We'll depart by 8 AM. State park entrance fee- $8 per vehicle/Nevada residents. RSVP- Coordinator- David Gray
Sunday, January 22nd, Up and Over- Moderate, 5-6 miles, 1000 FT elevation gain- We begin at the intersection, trailhead parking area at Arroyo/Hwy 159, which is the back entrance to Blue Diamond. After a climb to the top of Tertiary Ridge we turn left and head down towards Hwy 160. A left turn puts us on the Landmine Loop Trail. We then connect with the Molly Trail followed by the Molly Loop around Gypsum Hill (Red Rock Hill) that takes us back to our cars. Start time is 8:30 AM. RSVP/Limit of 15 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy
Tuesday, January 24th, Rufus Cove/Exploratory- Strenuous, 8 AM- We'll be attempting a route established by former coordinator Chuck Hawkins. In his own words from 2014: This strenuous hike of about 9-11 miles starts at the pullout one-half mile beyond Mile Marker 16 on Northshore Road in the Lake Mead area. The hike goes down a very colorful canyon to the shore of Lake Mead and there is some boulder scrambling and a few dry waterfalls to negotiate. Any participants from the west side can meet at the Rampart Casino for a carpool departure at 7:20 AM. The main group will assemble at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood, leaving there at 8:00 AM to join the coordinator and any other south side participants at the Mile Marker 4 pullout along Northshore Road at 8:15 AM before heading to the starting point of the hike. RSVP required for coordinator David Gray- Kay's blog site- http://aroundthebendfriends2.blogspot.com/search?q=rufus+cove
Thursday, January 26th thru Sunday, January 29th- Death Valley Camping- We will camp at the Texas Spring Campground, no reservations needed since we arrive on Thursday. You will still need to reserve a place on the trip with a limit of 12. Each day we will decide on which hike to do from a list of numerous available routes. Bring firewood for the Fire God. I will send out a trip sheet with details to those who sign up. RSVP/Limit of 12- Coordinator- David Hardy-
Friday, January 27th, Upper & Lower Hot Springs Canyon (Correct name)/Exploratory- (Also called- Dry Falls Canyon)- Strenuous given the climb up X3 pour overs/Class III, coupled with an O&B effort through Lower Hot Springs Canyon to visit the Arizona Hot Springs. We don't plan to get our feet wet. Stats- About 4-5 miles, 2000 FT gain- Some exposure- Meet at the Mile Marker 4 (Interstate 11) Arizona Hot Springs/White Rock Canyon TH by 8 AM- Google your drive time. RSVP needed- Coordinator- David Gray
Tuesday, January 31st, Oak Creek Winter Loop- Moderately strenuous, 6 miles, 917 FT elevation gain, rocky trail conditions at times, 8 AM- This route starts from the Red Rock Scenic Loop Exit Drive, SR 159. Our turn-around point, break area will be where the trail drops into the canyon floor. We should have great views of the snow and ice building up in the upper regions of the canyon walls. Step off time- 8 AM- RSVP- Coordinator- David Gray
