April 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 scheduled club hikes for April 2013.  Hikes scheduled during the week are of varying difficulty levels to accommodate the different skill levels of club members.  The more 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 hike will generally be rated either moderate or moderately strenuous and will be conducted at a moderate pace.  The later hike that day is intended for the general membership, is rated no more than moderate, and is conducted at a leisurely pace.  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 the later Saturday hikes 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.

 

Except for about three hikes, all of the offerings in April are located in the vicinity of Red Rock Canyon.  For most of the Red Rock area hikes, the primary meeting place is the parking lot somewhat in front of the Best Buy store on the north side of Charleston Boulevard across from Red Rock Station Casino.  The store backs up to Highway 215 and the entrance to the parking lot is off Canyon Pointe.  For hikes west on highway 160, there is a secondary pickup point at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 to accommodate south side participants.  Directions to the staging points for any other hikes will be included in the descriptive write-up for those hikes.  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.

 

 

Monday, April 1 - Skull Canyon & Boneshaker.  With a distance of close to 6 miles and an elevation gain of 1,100 feet, this loop hike is classified as moderate in terms of overall difficulty level.  The hike starts at the Cowboy Trails parking lot along Highway 159 and follows the trail into Skull Canyon where the major climb element occurs.  The group will reach the snack break at the eastern ridge of Blue Diamond Hill with a fantastic view of the Las Vegas valley.  The return leg starts by retracing steps over the first ridge back toward Skull Canyon.  At the first trail junction, the line will turn left, cross another ridge and fairly deep side canyon, and intersect the Boneshaker Trail about two miles from the parking lot.  Hiking sticks are strongly recommended for the descent on Boneshaker.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for a 9:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

 

Tuesday, April 2 - Terrace Canyon.  Join the group today for one of the premier scrambling experiences in Red Rock Canyon.  Starting from the Pine Creek parking lot, this very strenuous out-and-back trek covers a distance of 6 miles and gains 1,600 feet of elevation.  After a relatively flat start past the Wilson foundation going toward Mescalito, the trail empties into the drainage for South Fork Pine Creek Canyon and the real scrambling begins.  While the scrambling is pretty intense for nearly four miles of the distance with boulders to climb ranging up to fifteen feet, this hike is suitable for most accomplished hikers.  The setting at the terraces is probably the most idyllic in Red Rock.  Pace is secondary to using caution on the boulders, and the time element will probably be around six or seven hours.  The assembled group will depart from Best Buy at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Wednesday, April 3 - Rubber Ducky Yucca.  This is certainly a strange name for a hike but all will be self-explanatory along the return leg of this moderate 6-mile outing in Cottonwood Valley.  The paved parking lot along Highway 160 east of the escarpment will be the starting point for a trek that covers much of the ground back toward the ridge above the community of Blue Diamond.  With a few small ridges and knobs between the valley and the highway there is a sense of seclusion, which will definitely be heightened if we spot one of the herds of wild burros that wander through the area.  Elevation change is minimal at a couple of hundred feet, but it essentially occurs on the way back to the vehicles.  The primary group will depart from Best Buy at 8:00 AM and stop at the gas station on Highways 159 and 160 about twenty-five minutes later.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Thursday, April 4 - Black Mountain (Henderson).  This strenuous out-and-back hike, like the three previous outings this month, is about 6 miles in length.  The elevation gain, however, is 2,100 feet and the steepness continues to increase the closer one gets to the top.  The mountain is littered with chunks of lava from the active volcanic period, and several of these pose minor impediments along the trail in the last half mile below the summit.  The panoramic view from the top is sweeping, stretching all the way to Searchlight in the south and the Spring and Sheep Mountains in the north.  While the main departure point will be from Best Buy at 7:30 AM, the final assembly point will be at the Walgreens Drug Store at the intersection of Anthem Parkway and Hampton Road about 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, April 5 - Calico Canyon.  Rained out as a scheduled hike in March, this trek on the south end of the Calico Hills begins at Red Springs Picnic Area and climbs over the ridge south of the boardwalk, crossing a narrow valley and taking the high trail along the scenic loop drive to Calico I Overlook.  The route will continue on the low trail toward Calico II, with a snack break in a small cave indent below the overlook.  After the break, the group will cross to the high trail heading back toward Calico I and drop into the canyon just west of the Calico Hills for some scrambling on the return to the starting point.  Total distance should be around 4 miles with a generally moderate rating but a few more difficult spots.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, April 6 - Calico Hills Scramble.  The north end of the Calico Hills is the site for a fairly intense scrambling effort that features some absolutely breathtaking scenery.  The trek will begin with the group heading up the Calico Tanks Trail to the end of the official trail above the tank.  The route then turns southwest up a notch with the target destination being Calico II Overlook Peak.  As the route turns north along the ridge for the descent, it follows what our coordinator describes as Phase II of the Tank Discovery Route.  One of the highlights on this leg of the journey is an arch near the top of a canyon that drops back to the Sandstone Quarry drainage just a short distance from the quarry.  Total distance is about 3 miles with perhaps 1,000 feet of elevation gain and a moderately strenuous rating.  Departure from Best Buy will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, April 6 - Keystone Thrust.  There are lots of options available for the coordinator to choose from on this moderate hike in the northern part of Red Rock Canyon.  The hike can be done as an out-and-back trek from either the pullout at the start of the gravel road at Mile Marker 6 on the scenic drive or it can begin at the White Rock Springs parking lot at the end of the gravel road.  In the first case, the hike would be around 4 miles and in the second case it would measure in at 3 miles.  The other possibility is to loop down Keystone Canyon and return to the vehicles along the scenic drive, making the hike just under 4 miles.  Come prepared for a little adventure and possibly a bit of scrambling as you observe the famous geologic significance of the thrust fault.  This group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Sunday, April 7 - Krafft Mountain Loop.  For this workout hike, the group will be parking at the dirt lot at the northwest corner of Calico Basin and heading up Five Stop Hill to the saddle between Krafft Mountain and Gateway Peak.  Instead of taking the regular trail down to Lower Gateway Canyon, they will veer right down another drainage and slide down a sandstone formation into the canyon.  The rest of the hike will follow the regular route down a series of waterfalls and spillways, exiting the canyon near the boulder field at the base of Krafft Mountain.  The loop hike is about 4 miles with a moderate rating, but there is quite a bit of off-trail scrambling involved in Lower Gateway.  The meeting location is at Best Buy and departure for the trail head will be at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, April 8 - La Madre Miner's Cabin.  At a total distance of 5 miles, this out-and-back hike climbs over 1,500 feet, so it probably gets a rating of moderately strenuous assigned to it.  The hike begins at Willow Springs Picnic Area and follows the official trail along an active and an abandoned gravel road past a couple of old foundation slabs on the the way to the pond behind a wildlife dam.  At that point, a single track trail follows the creek upstream along the drainage, crossing the creek several times and turning steep as it approaches the old stone canyon on a ledge about one-third mile below the actual mine shafts.  Following a snack break, everyone will retrace their steps back to Willow Springs.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

 

Tuesday, April 9 - Indecision Peak.  About in the middle of the escarpment on the west side of Red Rock Canyon is an imposing sandstone peak accessible from the base that is seldom climbed.  Listed as having a total distance of 10 miles in Hiking Las Vegas, written by Branch Whitney, this out-and-back hike starts from the First Creek pullout and gains over 2,000 feet in reaching the summit.  The intended route winds up being an assault straight up the southernmost crag on the ridge line, utilizing a series of chutes and passages that lead to the peak, where participants will be treated to a dynamite view of the entire surrounding area.  As this very strenuous hike will probably take around seven or eight hours to complete, only the strongest hikers in the club should attempt it.  Participants can get together at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Laszlo Heredy.

 

Wednesday, April 10 - White Rock Hills Loop.  One of the most traveled trails in Red Rock Canyon is this moderate 6.4-mile loop that extends around the two cream colored sandstone peaks on the north end of Red Rock.  With twice as much rainfall on the back side of the peaks as on the front side, participants will be treated to starkly different varieties of vegetation as they motor their way around.  Our coordinator has expressed a desire to do this hike in a counter-clockwise direction from Willow Springs, meaning the probably warmer desert side will be tackled first.  Elevation gain is just under 1,000 feet and the steepest section of the trail is climbing up to the snack spot on a sandstone outcropping.  The assembled group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

 

Thursday, April 11 - Mountain Springs Peak.  On the back side of the escarpment is a limestone peak sitting somewhat behind Black Velvet Peak that is readily accessible from the trail head near Mountain Springs Summit on Highway 160.  The hike for this Thursday will be the moderately strenuous loop version accessing the summit that covers a distance of 7 miles and gains 1,400 feet of elevation.  The trail reaches the peak about 2.5 miles from the start, but the group will continue farther north along the west edge of the escarpment to the break spot, which is found on a high ledge above Black Velvet Canyon with breathtaking views.  The return includes scrambling above and in a drainage until intersecting the gravel Rainbow Springs Road, along which the group will pass both natural springs on the way to the starting point.  Participants should meet at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure, or connect with the group at the gas station on Highways 159 and 160 about twenty-five minutes later.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Friday, April 12 - First Creek.  At just under 4 miles, this easy to moderate out-and-back hike heads across the desert on the established trail to a magnificent seasonal waterfall with a deep pool at its base that usually holds water year round.  After viewing the hidden alcove close to some brown caliche boulders, the trail continues upstream to an area with large boulders surrounding another seasonal waterfall that is perfect for a leisurely snack or a short nap.  The final couple of hundred yards reaching the boulders includes some minor scrambling, but most hikers will not have any problem reaching the spot.  The return trip provides some expansive views of this section of Red Rock Canyon.  The group will get together at Best Buy for a departure at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, April 13 - Fossils to Tailings.  The intended route for this early Saturday hike starts at the Cowboy Trails parking lot off Highway 159 and follows the Fossil Ridge Trail along and eventually into the top portion of Echo Canyon.  From the abandoned mining road at the top of the canyon, the group will follow a trail that loops under a large tailings pile south of the road, eventually coming back to Fossil Ridge.  The distance measures out at 6 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain and is rated as moderate.  If this trail winds up being closed due to the reopening of the gypsum mine, the group will do a somewhat shorter loop on First Finger, which should result in a distance of 5 miles.  Meet the group at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - John Stewart.

 

Saturday, April 13 - Pine Creek.  A relatively easy trek across the desert from the Pine Creek parking area leads to the famous Wilson Homestead foundation situated on a bank above a portion of Pine Creek that usually carries running water throughout the year.  After a short stop at this historic site, the group will cross the creek along the north end of the Arnight Trail, then turn west toward South Fork Pine Creek Canyon and Mescalito Peak.  Some minor boulder scrambling along the trail leads back to the north side of the combined creek with that trail heading back past the homestead.  At 3 miles in total distance and minimal elevation gain, this partial loop hike is listed as easy to moderate.  The group will assemble at Best Buy, leaving for the trail head at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Rick Dutton.

 

Sunday, April 14 - North Peak (Sandstone).  From Willow Springs Picnic Area, the group will be hiking up the beginning couple miles of Rocky Gap Road or will follow Red Rock Drainage up to the turnoff for the North Peak that sits on the front side of the escarpment across Ice Box Canyon from Bridge Mountain.  The steep trail ascends to the ridge behind the escarpment, passing the transition from limestone to sandstone on the way to the peak.  If there are enough high clearance vehicles to reach the start of the steep trail off Rocky Gap Road, the group will explore the area above Ice Box Canyon, otherwise they will return by the regular trail and walk down Rocky Gap Road to Willow Springs.  Total distance should be around 6 or 7 miles with up to 2,600 feet of elevation gain and a strenuous rating.  Meet the group at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, April 15 - Ash Canyon Overlook.  The alternate route to the overlook will be in play for this hike as the group will start from the gravel parking area at the northwest corner of Calico Basin.  The trail heads up Five Stop Hill and continues down to Gateway Canyon, then turns into a route as it heads up that canyon and another side canyon that leads directly to the base of Red Cap in the Calico Hills.  The snack break will occur on a red sandstone formation at the top of Ash Canyon.  Estimated distance for the moderate out-and-back hike is 4 to 5 miles and there is about 1,100 feet of elevation gain.  The group will leave from Best Buy at 7:30 AM since there could be the prospect of considerably warmer temperatures by the middle of April.  Coordinator - Judy Warner.

 

Tuesday, April 16 - Bridge Point.  This very strenuous out-and-back hike should only be attempted by the most accomplished hikers in the club.  Starting from the Pine Creek parking area, the group will follow the regular trail into North Fork Pine Creek Canyon, which is also locally known as Fern Canyon.  The trail stays above the drainage on the northeast side for about one-third of a mile, then drops into the center of the canyon where the scrambling begins.  At some point the route heads northwest out of the canyon up to a very wide ridge heading back to the north.  At the far end of the ridge, the route turns west up a very steep drainage, accessing another ridge that leads to the high point in front of Bridge Mountain.  Estimated total distance is perhaps 7 or 8 miles, the elevation gain is close to 3,000 feet, and there is plenty of Class 3 scrambling along with some exposure.  The meeting location will be at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinators - Michael O'Connor & Richard Natale.

 

Wednesday, April 17 - Potato Knoll.  No month during the Red Rock season seems to be complete without one run to the top of the hill that came into existence because of a massive landslide off the cliff face of Wilson Peak.  Starting from the gravel parking lot where the scenic drive exits onto Highway 159, the partial loop route follows a series of horse trails, abandoned jeep roads, and hiking trails to the back side of the hill also known locally as Wilson's Pimple.  A very minor amount of scrambling is required across some steep terrain getting to the top.  The overall route includes several crossings of Oak Creek with the likelihood of some flowing water.  Distance is about 5 miles with 500 feet of elevation gain and a moderate rating.  Participants should gather at Best Buy for a 9:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

 

Thursday, April 18 - Tank Discovery Scramble.  This strenuous scramble outing in the northern section of the Calico Hills will cover a distance of 5 miles.  There are three ascents over three phases of the hike that together total about 1,000 feet of elevation gain.  The route across the top of the high sandstone hills passes several tinajas off the beaten path that are visited only by true explorers of the Calico Hills.  There is some exposure on a couple of the descents, but there are also alternate routes that can eliminate most of it.  The group will meet and depart from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Friday, April 19 - Krafft Mountain Loop.  If you missed the shorter version of this hike on April 7, you will probably want to be in attendance for this moderate 5-mile loop that highlights spectacular scenery in Lower Gateway Canyon on the back side of Krafft Mountain.  Starting from Red Springs Picnic Area, the trail heads along the east flank of the Calico Hills and eventually climbs to the saddle above Five Stop Hill before dropping into Gateway.  Several boulder waterfalls need to be negotiated on the way down through the canyon, although none of them require use of ropes or other equipment.  The return section passes the front of Krafft Mountain with its unique boulder field.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, April 20 - Sandstone Quarry/Keystone Thrust Loop.  Technically only a partial loop, this moderate 6-mile hike starts at the Sandstone Quarry parking lot and utilizes a section of the Grand Circle Trail for most of the first three miles.  After passing the White Rock Springs parking area, the route turns onto the Keystone Thrust Trail and circles around Cactus Hill to access the thrust fault canyon.  The trail ends in the canyon near the base of a 30-foot seasonal waterfall, and the group will have to scramble down the canyon, going past the scenic drive and following the gravel filled drainage back to a crossing of the Grand Circle Trail.  A left at this point leads back to the start.  Overall elevation gain is around 800 feet.  The group will meet at Best Buy and take off for Sandstone Quarry at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, April 20 - First Creek.  The second club hike to be repeated this month is one that fits right into the mold of the leisurely Saturday hike.  After parking at the signed First Creek pullout along Highway 159, the group will head across the desert on the official designated trail toward the mouth of First Creek Canyon.  Nearly a mile into the hike and as the participants approach the wide and deep drainage, they will notice a grouping of brown caliche boulders on the far side of the drainage that marks the area of the seasonal waterfall.  After a brief stop to check out water conditions, they will again head toward the mouth of the canyon to the turn-around point of the easy to moderate out-and-back hike.  Total distance is between 3 and 4 miles.  The assembly point is at Best Buy and the departure time is at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Liz Kerby.

 

Sunday, April 21 - Brownstone Canyon.  Another previously scheduled but rained out event from March is this strenuous out-and-back hike of 7 or 8 miles exploring a major canyon with significant groupings of petroglyphs and an historic pictograph wall.  From the gravel parking area at the northwest corner of Calico Basin, the group will proceed up Five Stop Hill and descend into Gateway Canyon.  There is lots of Class 3 scrambling as the route climbs to the top of that canyon, crosses a wide section of colorful sandstone, and descends through a series of narrow slots into Brownstone Canyon.  After a snack break near the pictographs and observation of the native artifacts, the group will reverse the route for the return to the vehicles.  Meet the group at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, April 22 - Lovell Canyon.  Although it's a fairly long drive to the start of this moderate loop hike, the rewards are definitely worth a little extra time for a chance to see some country that is seldom explored.  The hike is located at the end of Lovell Canyon Road on the west side of the escarpment where a rough 4x4 road leads up to Red Rock Summit and a connection with Rocky Gap Road.  The basic hike is 5 miles in length with 500 feet of elevation gain, and there is an optional loop of 2 miles that heads in the direction of Schaefer Springs.  Most of the hike is in rolling terrain through pinion and juniper forest with a few open meadows areas.  Those meeting at Best Buy will depart at 8:00 AM and will stop at the gas station on Highways 159 and 160 to pick up south side participants around 8:25 AM.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

 

Tuesday, April 23 - Gass Peak.  A change of pace from Red Rock Canyon, Gass Peak is located in the Las Vegas Range directly north of the city.  The strenuous out-and-back hike has a total distance of 7 miles and an elevation gain around 2,000 feet.  Several sections of the trail are fairly steep, including the final approach to the peak where participants will find a large solar screen array and a flight positioning locator with instrumentation.  The trail head is accessed by driving a high clearance gravel road past the Desert National Wildlife Range at Corn Creek.  Expect about one hour of travel time in each direction because of the rough roads.  Since this hike is north of the city, we will be using our summer location on the 3rd floor of the southeast parking garage at Santa Fe Station, which is located close to the intersection of Rancho and Lone Mountain Road.  Our meeting spot is along the south wall and our departure time will be at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Wednesday, April 24 - The Muffins & Skull Canyon.  Starting at the Cowboy Trails gravel parking lot, the group will head up the trail leading directly to the conglomerate boulders on the north end of Blue Diamond Hill, then traverse along the top of a fairly deep canyon on a somewhat obscure trail to the old Las Vegas Overlook.  After a snack break, the group will descend through Skull Canyon back to the starting point.  The hike is rated as moderate with a distance of 6 miles and 1,100 feet of elevation gain.  This will be a joint hike with Lone Mountain Hiking Club, who will meet the Around the Bend Friends contingent at the Cowboy Trails parking lot for the start of the hike.  Departure time from Best Buy will be at 7:35 AM.  Coordinator - Roger Montgomery.

 

Thursday, April 25 - Hollow Rock Peak.  Hollow Rock is the southernmost peak along the escarpment and is situated directly across Highway 160 from Mount Potosi.  The strenuous out-and-back route follows the trail past the telephone relay tower above Mountain Springs that is also used as the start for Windy Peak and Mountain Springs Peak.  Elevation gain is only about 1,000 feet and the highest point of the hike actually occurs on a knob more than a mile from the peak.  In between, participants will experience progressively more significant scrambling along a ridge, especially after the transition is made from limestone to sandstone.  The peak at the end of the ridge contains a 30-foot high split boulder that provides the name.  The first meeting spot will be at Best Buy with a 7:30 AM departure and there will be an additional pickup at the 159-160 gas station around 7:55 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, April 26 - St. Thomas/Lost City Museum.  Annie Hoskin will be coordinating an all day outing to the north side of Lake Mead that will include a morning hike into the once submerged Mormon agricultural town of St. Thomas.  This walking tour is 3 miles in length, is relatively flat, and is rated as easy to moderate.  After the hike the group will head to Overton for lunch either at an establishment called Inside Scoop or at one of the other restaurants in town.  After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Lost City Museum, which charges an entrance fee of $5.00 per person.  Look for a separate e-mail from Annie with full details of this day trip back in time.

 

Friday, April 26 - Arnight/Knoll Loop.  The Friday hike close to Red Rock is a loop route involving all or parts of three trails close to the base of the escarpment in Red Rock Canyon.  This version will be longer than the norm as it will start from the gravel parking lot where the scenic drive exits onto Highway 159, but this will also save the 35 minutes required to drive around the loop.  The moderate 6-mile version will follow a trail along the scenic drive and across the desert to the Oak Creek parking area accessed by the gravel road at Mile Marker 12, then proceed in a counter-clockwise direction on the Arnight Trail, the Knoll Trail, and a segment of the Oak Creek Trail before returning to the starting point.  The assembly point for the group will be at Best Buy with an 8:15 AM departure time.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, April 27 - Escarpment Base Trail.  The only point-to-point hike of the month is this moderate 5.4-mile effort that involves vehicle placement at the Lost Creek trail head, where the group will finish.  The start will be on the Arnight Trail, the south end of which is situated at the Oak Creek parking lot on the gravel road that comes in from Mile Marker 12 of the scenic drive.  This hike follows the base of the escarpment, more technically named the Wilson Cliffs, in a northerly direction, and also includes all or parts of Pine Creek Trail, Dale's Trail, and SMYC Trail.  We will need about twice as many vehicles as normal because of the different starting and ending points.  Our group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM and proceed to Lost Creek for rider reallocation.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Saturday, April 27 - Ice Box Canyon.  The later hike this Saturday will be the moderate 3-mile out-and-back hike that explores deep into one of the narrow canyons on the north end of the escarpment.  Starting from the regular parking area along the scenic drive, the group will head across the desert toward the mouth of the canyon on a dirt trail with quite a bit of imbedded rocks and boulders.  A little over a mile into the hike, the trail drops into the drainage and becomes a scrambling route for the remainder of the distance to a ledge at the base of a 40-foot waterfall and 20-foot waterslide.  Participants should not experience a great deal of difficulty with this scrambling, as the boulders tend to be fairly small.  This assembled group will depart from Best Buy at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Sunday, April 28 - Black Velvet Canyon.  It's almost amazing to think that we have not done this strenuous 8-mile partial loop hike previously this Red Rock season, so here it is.  Most of the trail route across Cottonwood Valley is relatively level and should allow for a reasonably fast-paced trek to and from the Black Velvet Trail.  That trail, which leads into the canyon, is quite irregular and eventually drops into the drainage at the mouth of the canyon.  From there, the group will boulder up the canyon and take a snack break below a 30-foot seasonal waterfall with a climbing rope tied to the top.  On the return the Black Velvet Bike Trail will be utilized, and this is the one where we had a double rattlesnake encounter just about four years ago.  The initial meeting point will be at Best Buy with a 7:30 AM departure and we will stop at the 159-160 gas station about twenty-five minutes later for south side participants.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Monday, April 29 - Fern Canyon.  Head back into the narrow confines of North Fork Pine Creek Canyon on this strenuous 4 to 5-mile out-and-back jaunt.  Fern Canyon is the locals' name for the place and it was bestowed because of the abundance of ferns that grow due to the enclosed moistness that is seemingly trapped under the heavy forestation.  The scrambling toward the top of the route today will challenge most hikers because of the size of the boulders in the drainage, but there are plenty of opportunities for visual rewards along the way.  Keep a lookout for climbers on some of the steep vertical walls inside the canyon.  The group will be assembling at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Tuesday, April 30 - Two North Peaks.  Finish the month off in style with this strenuous 11-mile double loop trek that visits both the limestone and sandstone North Peaks high atop Red Rock Canyon.  The opening portion of the hike will take place in the upper drainage of Red Rock Wash for a couple of miles.  A section of Rocky Gap road will then bring the group up to Red Rock Summit, where a single-track trail leads to the limestone North Peak.  The route continues directly over that peak and across a ridge to the sandstone area with the other peak of the same name.  A steep trail will bring the group back down to Rocky Gap Road and a return to Willow Springs.  Gross elevation gain is around 3,000 feet for this hike.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

 

There you have it - at least one hike every day of the month.  This time I have managed to get the whole thing entered before hitting the Send key (and even proofread it).  Enjoy this seasonal portion featuring Red Rock hikes and get ready for a transition to the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains sometime in May.

March 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 scheduled club hikes for March 2013.  Hikes scheduled during the week are of varying difficulty levels to accommodate the different skill levels of club members.  The more 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 hike will generally be rated either moderate or moderately strenuous and will be conducted at a moderate pace.  The later hike that day is intended for the general membership, is rated no more than moderate, and is conducted at a leisurely pace.  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 the later Saturday hikes 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.

Except for a couple of hikes, all of the offerings in March are located in the vicinity of Red Rock Canyon.  For most Red Rock area hikes, the primary meeting place is the parking lot somewhat in front of the Best Buy store on the north side of Charleston Boulevard across from Red Rock Station Casino.  The store backs up to Highway 215 and the entrance to the parking lot is off Canyon Pointe.  For hikes west on Highway 160, there is a secondary pickup point at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 to accommodate south side participants.  Directions to the staging points for any other hikes will be included in the descriptive write-up for those hikes.  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.

Friday, March 1 - La Madre Miner's Cabin.  Remnants of the historic mining efforts in Nevada are on display at the top of this moderately strenuous 5-mile out-and-back hike originating at Willow Springs.  Located on an outcropping on the side of the major ridge of the La Madre Mountains is a stone shelter presumably constructed by the person who also dug the mine shafts about one-quarter mile farther up the ridge.  Built from the native limestone, the shelter offers great views of the back side of the White Rock Peaks.  Total elevation gain is around 1,600 feet with half of that in the last mile above a wildlife dam near La Madre Springs.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

Saturday, March 2 - China Ranch Date Farm.  Located 85 miles west of Las Vegas is a lush piece of greenery in the middle of the forbidding Mojave Desert that features a collection of different kinds of producing date palms.  Our annual outing to this small paradise in California will feature a moderate 6-mile point-to-point hike along the Amargosa River starting from the Tecopa Post Office and finishing at the farm.  Those looking for something a bit shorter can drive the vehicles directly to China Ranch and take in the 1.5-mile Badlands Trail or the 2.5-mile Mesa Trail accessible directly from the gift shop in the heart of the date farm.  After expending all that energy, it will be necessary to slurp down one of the fabulous date shakes for which the farm is known.  Pack a lunch and sit out on the veranda to enjoy a bit of the beautiful midday weather.  Because of the longer drive, our departure time from Best Buy will be at 7:30 AM with a brief stopover at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 at 7:50 AM to pick up south side participants.  If you are planning on participating in this day trip, please RSVP at dempseylv@aol.com by February 28 so we can advise the folks at the date farm how many people to expect.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Sunday, March 3 - Brownstone Canyon.  This strenuous out-and-back hike will cover a distance of 7 or 8 miles and probably take 6 or more hours to complete because of the difficult terrain.  The hike will begin at the gravel parking area on the northwest side of Calico Basin, proceed up Five Stop Hill, and descend into Gateway Canyon.  There is lots of Class 3 scrambling as the route climbs to the top of that canyon, crosses a wide section of colorful sandstone, and descends through a series of narrow slots into Brownstone Canyon in the immediate vicinity of an immense wall of early native pictographs on the national register of historic sites.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, March 4 - North Bowl of Fire.  This strenuous 7 to 8-mile loop hike will head for the colorful sandstone formations at the base of the Muddy Mountains, and will include some serious rock scrambling and a passage through a rabbit hole on the way to a stunning view at a lookout called Raven's Balcony.  The route across the desert to the sandstone starts near Mile Marker 20 on Northshore Road in the Lake Mead area.  Any participants from the west side can meet at the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage for a carpool departure at 7:20 AM and join the main group in the parking lot behind the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  That combined group will leave at 8:00 AM and join the coordinators and any other south side participants at the Mile Marker 4 pullout on Northshore Road about 8:15 AM before heading to the starting point of the hike.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Tuesday, March 5 - Calico Hills Triple Peak.  Since there are so many noteworthy and challenging summits in the Calico Hills, we need to specify that participants on this very strenuous outing will be aiming for the tops of Red Cap, Calico Peak, and Guardian Angel Peak.  The 4 to 5-mile hike will stage from Calico Basin and begin with a scrambling effort up Ash Canyon to the back side of Red Cap for the first ascent.  The route then continues along to top ridge of the Calico Hills to Calico Peak, then transitions over to another sandstone peak above Guardian Angel Pass and a scrambling descent in another steep canyon to the starting point.  Because of the difficulty of the terrain, the expected time frame is about 6 hours.  Only the most accomplished members of the club should attempt this particular adventure, and can assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Kay Blackwell & Michael O'Connor.

Thursday, March 7 - Rattlesnake Canyon.  Located close to Willow Springs on the north end of the main Red Rock Canyon area is an obscure side canyon that offers pure boulder scrambling  for its entire length.  The canyon gets its name from a long ago outing of the Buffet Boys during which a rattlesnake was encountered sunning itself on one of the large boulders close to the main route.  While it is generally a bit early for such snake encounters, one never knows what to expect.  Rated as strenuous with an out-and-back distance of 4 miles, this hike reaches a terraced area somewhat at the base of the ridge leading to the sandstone North Peak on the escarpment.  The group will assemble at Best Buy, leaving at 9:00 AM for the drive along the scenic loop to Willow Springs.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

Friday, March 8 - Calico Scramble.  This outing on the south end of the Calico Hills will begin at Red Springs Picnic Area and climb over the ridge south of the boardwalk, crossing a narrow valley and taking the high trail along the scenic loop drive in Red Rock to the Calico I Overlook.  The trek will continue on the low trail to Calico II, taking a break in a small cave or rock enclosure below the overlook.  After the break, the group will cross to the high trail back toward Calico I and drop into the canyon just west of the Calico Hills for some scrambling on the return to the starting point.  Total distance should be around 4 to 5 miles with a generally moderate rating but a few more difficult spots.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

Saturday, March 9 - Potato Knoll.  The moderate 5-mile partial loop hike to the top of the 500-foot hill in the shadow of Wilson Peak is on the venue for the early hike today.  Besides a climb to the top of the rock outcropping on a short but fairly steep trail, the route includes crossings of Oak Creek at three different locations and it is normal to expect some amount of flowing water at two of them.  Starting point is the gravel parking lot where the scenic drive exits onto Highway 159 and parts of the hike are along trail originally established by horseback riders.  The group will meet at Best Buy and leave at 8:00 AM for the hike.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

Saturday, March 9 - Henderson Bird Preserve.  There is absolutely no elevation gain on this easy stroll through the bird preserve located near Boulder Highway and Galleria.  Total distance will be somewhere around 2 or 3 miles depending on the number of ponds visited and will be done at a leisurely rate as viewing migratory waterfall will be the main objective.  Access to the preserve is controlled and visitors will need to be checked in, but there are not any limitations.  The initial west side group will also meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure, which should give them just enough time to reach the group at the main assembly point at Henderson Fiesta by 8:30 AM.  After a short delay to get everyone signed in, the entire group will head out for the preserve.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

Sunday, March 10 - White Rock Springs Peak.  It's a relatively short hike at a little under 3 miles for this out-and-back trek, but it will probably provide a good workout for up to 4 hours as there is extensive scrambling and some minor exposure.  The route begins at the White Rock Springs parking lot at the end of the gravel road at Mile Marker 6 along the scenic drive and almost immediately starts climbing on the boulders along an ascending ridge to the destination.  Rated as strenuous, there is significant reward with exceptional views at the top.  The return to the parking lot will retrace the route taken to the peak rather than try any of the more difficult descents down the side of the mountain.  The group will meet at Best Buy and depart for the hike at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, March 11 - Sloan Canyon.  Here is one final opportunity for the season before hot weather sets in to experience the unique collection of petroglyphs found in the sandstone formations of the Sloan Hills south of Las Vegas.  For this hike the group will be approaching the destination from Esselmont Park, located at 2725 Anthem Highlands Drive.  The moderate out-and-back route will cover a total distance of 7 miles and overall elevation gain is minimal.  For those from the west side who are interested in participating, the initial meeting location will be at Best Buy leaving at 7:50 AM.  The main group can meet in the Von's parking lot at 2511 Anthem Village Drive for an 8:30 AM departure, with the combined group arriving at Esselmont Park about 8:45 AM for the start of the hike.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

Tuesday, March 12 - The Whale (Orca).  This very strenuous out-and-back hike near the east end of the La Madre Range will cover a total distance of 7.5 miles and will climb an excruciating 2,570 feet to the top.  Located west of Summerlin and Bighorn Peaks on the north side of Las Vegas, the route involves steep scrambling with loose surface conditions, and provides exceptional views of the Las Vegas area.  The hike will originate from the equestrian parking lot at the west end of Cheyenne Avenue - this is the parking area with the white slat fence around the circumference.  Starting time will be 8:00 AM and participants should drive directly to the starting point.  Only those members capable of the most difficult hikes should plan on attending.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Wednesday, March 13 - Calico Tanks.  Enjoy one of the classic hikes in Red Rock Canyon on this moderate 3-mile out-and-back effort in a canyon in the Calico Hills.  Climbing about 700 feet of elevation, the official trail ends above a large depression that can hold water after seasonal rainfalls.  We won't stop at that point, however, but will continue a very short distance to a ledge above Ash Canyon that provides spectacular views of the southern half of Las Vegas stretching across Lake Mead to the Wilson Ridge in Arizona.  Along the route are the amazing colors of the surrounding sandstone and lush vegetation unlike that found in the desert just a half mile away.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Thursday, March 14 - White Rock/Sandstone Quarry Loop.  Starting on a section of the Grand Circle Trail from Sandstone Quarry, this moderate 7-mile loop hike gains 1,500 feet as it circles behind Cactus Hill and past Keystone Thrust on an old jeep track heading toward the La Madre Range on the north side of Red Rock Canyon.  At the high point, a trail turns down into a narrow drainage for an initial descent involving some minor rock scrambling over irregular terrain.  As the drainage levels out, it joins an expanding group of other washes that widen significantly as they head past the base of Turtlehead Peak back to the starting point.  The group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM for the drive to the trail head.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, March 15 - Ash Canyon Overlook.  This easy to moderate loop hike is fairly short at 3 miles, but there is a bit of off-trail scrambling involved in negotiating the shallow drainages through the colorful formations near Sandstone Quarry.  Starting from that point, the route will take participants around the base of Red Cap for a fantastic view of the back side of the Calico Hills.  The snack break will occur on a rocky ledge overlooking Ash Canyon and the community of Calico Basin.  In the second half of the hike, we will be looking for the existence of petroglyphs in the smaller sandstone hills close to the Turtlehead Peak Trail.  Assembly point will be at the Best Buy parking lot with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Saturday, March 16 - Red Springs Loop.  A relatively short trek at just under 4 miles, this loop hike from the Red Springs Picnic Area is nevertheless rated as moderately strenuous because of the amount of off-trail scrambling involved.  The route will take the group along the eastern edge of the Calico Hills and climb through the sandstone to Angel Pass.  Descending toward Calico II Overlook on the Red Rock Canyon side, it passes a stone carving of an angel with unknown origin.  Scrambling continues in the canyon below Calico I Overlook and finishes after the route finally joins a trail coming around the south end of the Calico Hills.  The assembled group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

Saturday, March 16 - First Creek.  If we get any seasonal rainfall or heavy snow melt this year, the hidden waterfall on First Creek could be an amazing sight.  Just one level mile off the highway from the trail head, the waterfall is in a tree-lined alcove and spills over an impressive wall of large boulders.  The easy to moderate out-and-back hike will continue farther toward the mouth of the canyon in the escarpment along a trail with a bit more elevation gain for a break on some very large boulders above another seasonal waterfall.  Total distance to be covered is right at 4 miles.  This group will be departing from Best Buy at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Sunday, March 17 - Red Cap via Ash Canyon.  This strenuous out-and-back hike is essentially the first leg of the triple peak hike on March 5.  Again starting at the gravel parking lot at the northwest corner of Calico Basin, the group will scramble up the boulders and sandstone formations of Ash Canyon.  At the top, the route turns left and ascends Red Cap on the east face, which passes a couple of tinajas on the cream sandstone level below the actual peak.  The standard route will then be used for the summit.  After a break at the top, the group will reverse the route back to the starting point.  Overall distance should be 4 to 5 miles.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, March 18 - Rainbow Canyon/Anniversary Narrows Loop.  The last scheduled hike of the season in the Lake Mead area will be this moderate 7 to 8-mile loop that includes stops in the actual narrows and at the abandoned area above Lovell Wash where the ore was processed.  With spring approaching, there is a good chance of catching sight of blooms on the local bearpaw poppies.  West side group will assemble on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:20 AM to join many of the other participants at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  The final stop will be at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road around 8:15 AM to pick up the coordinators and any other south side participants before heading to the hike on the north side of Lake Mead.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Tuesday, March 19 - Juniper Peak.  Another one of those "tough guy" hikes, the trek to the top of Juniper Peak is a very strenuous out-and-back hike to an elusive peak in the middle section of the escarpment.  The intended route will start from the Pine Creek pullout along the scenic loop drive and head into Juniper Canyon for some steep scrambling to the ramp leading to the peak.  Elevation gain is around 2,300 feet and there is plenty of significant scrambling along with a few sections of fairly serious exposure.  Expect this hike to take 5 to 6 hours to complete.  The group will gather at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

Wednesday, March 20 - Waterfall Canyon.  Those individuals who have visited this narrow side canyon off Rocky Gap Road always rave about the quality of the waterfalls and slides that usually exhibit flowing water year round.  It does take a bit of work to negotiate half a dozen areas of slick rock and the many crossings of the creek where wet shoes are sometimes the rule of the day, but few destinations in the Las Vegas area offer the same rewards with regard to scenery.  The actual out-and-back hike starts at Willow Springs, covers a total distance of 4 miles, gains about 800 feet of elevation, and is rated moderately strenuous because of the level of scrambling in the half mile long canyon.  The assembled group will depart from Best Buy at 9:00 AM.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

Thursday, March 21 - Muffins to Tailings.  One of the few hikes canceled by weather in January is this moderately strenuous 9-mile hike that makes a big loop around the top of Blue Diamond Hill.  The route starts up the trail to the Muffins, follows along the eastern ridge of the hill past both of the notches with great views of Las Vegas, and ultimately reaches the tailings piles on the edge of the mining property.  The second half of the hike drops into an obscure canyon and eventually follows a trail back to Fossil Ridge going back to the Cowboy Stables parking lot.  Departure time for the group from Best Buy will be 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, March 22 - Lone Grapevine Spring.  Cottonwood Valley is known more for its mountain biking trails, but it also contains some interesting hikes including this moderate 5-mile partial loop hike starting from a paved parking area along Highway 160.  A series of trails will take the group to an unnamed but protected spring near the base of Windy Peak, then lead over to a horse trough serviced by a hose from Lone Grapevine Spring.  A short climb leads to the protected spring and a field of ground level flat boulders, many with desert varnish and ancient petroglyphs.  Although elevation gain is only a few hundred feet, it occurs on the return leg of the hike.  The primary meeting location is Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure and there is a secondary pickup point at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 at 8:35 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, March 23 - Badger Pass.  The early hike for this Saturday is the longest of the alternatives involving the trail crossing at the top of a fairly low saddle in the Bird Spring Range.  Starting from the paved parking lot also used in the previous day's outing, this moderate 7-mile partial loop hike follows the trail up the face of the ridge on the north side of the pass, then drops down the eastern flank for a return through some interesting desert landscape with a number of shallow drainages.  The primary meeting location is again at Best Buy with a departure at 8:00 AM and a secondary pickup at the gas station at the Highway 159-160 junction around 8:20 AM on the way to the trail head.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, March 23 - Calico Basin Partial Loop.  The later Saturday hike this weekend explores the area on the east side of the small community of Calico Basin.  Starting from the entrance road before the first bend, the group will follow a wash that comes around a few low hills and enters the mouth of lower Gateway Canyon.  After a bit of exploring in this scenic area next to fabulous sandstone formations, the partial loop will continue along the south side of Krafft Mountain and through the boulder fields used by free climbers from around the country.  Round trip distance should be around 3.5 miles with an easy to moderate rating.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

Monday, March 25 - Oak Creek Canyon.  This moderate 5-mile out-and-back hike is one of those lower effort, higher reward outings that provides some great scenery near the base of the escarpment.  The initial route is the same as that used for Potato Knoll, but the combination of trails utilized stays to the north of the 500-foot hill and eventually climbs onto a level shelf on the north side of the creek as the cliff walls close in on either side.  At the turn around point where the snack break will occur the trail empties into the drainage in the heart of the canyon with a proliferation of large boulders scattered around.  A few crossings of Oak Creek in both directions along the route should involve some flowing water.  The group will gather at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Tuesday, March 26 - Gray Cap.  Although this distinctive peak has been the final destination for a number of previous club outings, this effort will involve a new loop route that will be very strenuous in nature.  Starting from the northwest corner of Calico Basin the group will climb Five Stop Hill and take the standard route up Gateway Canyon to the peak.  After the break, however, there will be a much tougher descent as the route heads east and descends through Gray Fox Canyon, a very steep route with lots of scrambling.  After dropping back into lower Gateway Canyon, the route reverses with a final descent down Five Stop Hill.  Assembly point for the group is at Best Buy with an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor. 



Wednesday, March 27.  This 8-mile moderate hike on the new McCullough Trail, which is part of the Sloan Canyon NCA, extends from the Anthem area in west Henderson to Horizon Ridge Pk/Mission Drive area in east Henderson.  Too lengthy for an entire out-and-back, we will hike in from the newly established trailhead in east Henderson for 4 miles and then return to our starting point .  The hike is listed as moderate due to its length.  The elevation gain is minimal at about 400 feet.  The group will meet at the Fiesta Henderson for an 8:30 AM departure.   Coordinator - Gail Surgent

Thursday, March 28 - Windy Peak.  The traditional out-and-back route from Mountain Springs Summit is on tap for this strenuous 6-mile hike to a great perch at the south end of the escarpment.  The approach to the large red sandstone cap really exemplifies the sort of earth movement that is more accessible at Keystone Thrust.  As the back limestone moved over the sandstone formation some sixty million years ago it appears to have sliced off thin wedges of the softer rock and left it scattered at the junction.  While much of the route is on trail, there is some bushwhacking and a hundred feet of rolling exposure transitioning onto the sandstone.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for and 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Friday, March 29 - Grand Staircase/Guardian Angel Loop.  If you missed this hike on February 22 here is another chance to experience some serious scrambling in the sandstone boulders at the south end of the Calico Hills.  This Friday the route will reverse that taken on the previous hike by going over Guardian Angel Pass and down past the angel carving to the Red Rock side of the sandstone hills.  After reaching Calico I overlook by trail, the group will ascend from the wash up the backside to the top of Grand Staircase and back down to Red Springs.  This 4-mile loop hike is rated moderately strenuous but has quite a bit of boulder scrambling and some exposure.  The group will assemble at Best Buy and leave for the hike at 7:45 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.

Friday, March 29 - White Rock Hills Loop.  If you are looking for something a bit more relaxed in pace, then this moderate 6.4-mile loop hike will be right up your alley.  Starting from Willow Springs Picnic Area, the route will give participants the opportunity to see the sweeping changes that can occur in terrain and vegetation within a relatively short distance.  Conducted at a leisurely pace, one of the primary objectives will be to make sure people can enjoy the scenery without getting too much out of breath.  This second hike of the day is the one intended for the regular Friday group from Siena.  Everyone should gather at Best Buy for a departure at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Judy Warner.    

Saturday, March 30 - Conglomerate Gardens.  Starting at the Cowboy Stables parking lot on Highway 159 just west of the entrance to Red Rock Canyon, this moderate 6-mile loop hike follows a recently built mountain bike trail on the return section of the route.  It's interesting to note that the fairly straightforward climb along Fossil Ridge is accomplished in just 2 miles but the descent portion winds around so much it takes 4 miles to go between the same two points.  On the way down, the group will take a snack break in a field of conglomerate boulders similar to the Muffins and if you keep your eyes open you might spot a fairly large display of ancient seabed fossils.  Meet the other participants at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Saturday, March 30 - SMYC Trail.  The assembly point for the group will be at Best Buy and they will depart for the hike at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

Currently there are only a few open dates on the schedule, with the most significant being Wednesday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 27.  It is certainly possible that club members may decide to coordinate hikes on those days as time draws closer and personal schedules change.  Watch for e-mails regarding any late notice hikes.  Otherwise, just enjoy those hikes already on the schedule that peak your interest. 

February 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 scheduled club hikes for February 2013.  Hikes scheduled during the week are of varying difficulty levels to accommodate the different skill levels of club members.  The more 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 hike will generally be rated either moderate or moderately strenuous and will be conducted at a moderate pace.  The later hike that day is intended for the general membership, is rated no more than moderate, and is conducted at a leisurely pace.  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 the later Saturday hikes 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 dempseyv@aol.com or at (702) 823-2355.

 

Nearly all of the hikes during February will occur either in the area around Red Rock Canyon or close to Lake Mead.  For most Red Rock area hikes, the primary meeting place is the parking lot somewhat in front of the Best Buy store on the north side of Charleston across from the Red Rock Station Casino.  The store backs up to Highway 215 and the entrance to the parking lot is off Canyon Pointe.  For hikes west on Highway 160, there is a secondary pickup point at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 to accommodate south side participants.  The primary meeting locations for Lake Mead hikes will be different depending on which side of the lake the hike occurs.  For hikes on the south side of the lake, the primary meeting location will generally be under the large outdoor sign at the Henderson Fiesta, located immediately southeast of the intersection of I-515 (also identified as Highways 93 and 95) and I-215 on Lake Mead Parkway (the eastern extension of I-215).  For hikes on the north side of the lake, the primary assembly point will be the parking lot behind the CVS Pharmacy located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard (not Parkway) and Hollywood.  (Note - We used to have Albertsons as the landmark at this intersection but the store closed and all signs were removed.)  A secondary pickup point will be at the pull-off parking area at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road.  Participants from the south side may wish to carpool from Henderson Fiesta going to the secondary pickup point, but this earlier departure point is not organized or controlled.  For west side participants on Lake Mead hikes, there will be an earlier gathering site available, but it may not be controlled.  For south side hikes, that prior location is at Best Buy as indicated above.  For north side hikes, the meeting location is the top level of the Rampart Casino parking garage.  The Rampart Casino is located on Rampart Boulevard just south of Summerlin Parkway and the parking garage is on the northeast side of the casino complex.  One other primary meeting spot needs to be mentioned.  For all Valley of Fire or Gold Butte hikes, the primary meeting site will be at Lucky Club Casino, located on Cheyenne Avenue on the east side of I-15 in North Las Vegas.  Use the eastbound Cheyenne exit ramp if heading north on I-15.  Directions to the staging points for any other hikes will be included in the descriptive write-up for those hikes.  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.

 

 

Friday, February 1 - Lost Creek SMYC Trails.  Some of the best scenery at the base of the escarpment is in view on this easy to moderate 3-mile hike with minor rolling terrain.  We will begin with a counter-clockwise loop on the Lost Creek Trail that will take us across the Red Rock Wash to the base of a seasonal waterfall tucked into the escarpment cliffs.  As the group returns to the parking area, they will turn right on the SMYC Trail and take that over to the junction with the Ice Box Canyon Trail before turning around.  The group will be assembling at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Saturday, February 2 - Bootleg Ridge.  This 7-mile hike is rated strenuous for three reasons - the distance, the route goes off trail, and there is scrambling.  The group will start at the Bootleg Canyon parking area below the zip line and hike out the Mother Trail.  After a fairly level first half, the route climbs to a ridge and travels from peak to peak (five or six in all) with an option of bypassing the tops on a small trail.  Eventually, a game trail descends a rocky slope to a wash that will connect with the West Leg and Girl Scout Trails, returning to the vehicles.  Total elevation gain should be around 1,600 feet.  The early group from Best Buy should leave at 7:25 AM to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell. 

 

Saturday, February 2 - Valley of Fire Lost Wallet Loop.  Here is probably the last chance for club members to visit the Valley of Fire on a new hike never before offered to the club before the temperatures start rising and make the lower desert uncomfortable.  For this particular hike, Brian will be taking the group on a moderate 3.4-mile loop route that has 800 feet of elevation gain.  It has a good mix of rock scrambling and some level desert hiking between the fabulous sandstone formations of Valley of Fire.  The pace will be slow if not leisurely.  Part of the route passes the old Conservation Corps cabins on the edge of the state park.  West side participants should meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking lot and leave there at 7:50 AM.  They will join the main group at Lucky Club Casino for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Brian Dodd.

 

Saturday, February 2 - Lake Mead Shoreline.  For those wanting an easy trek on Groundhog Day there will be a third offering that will involve a cross country hike over very gradual terrain to the edge of the lake.  There will be some fantastic views of Boulder Basin and the River Mountains in the distance, and the group could see some shore birds down at the lake.  The return is along a well graded road back to the starting point.  Total distance is between 3.5 and 4 miles, and the hike will start near Mile Marker 8 on Northshore Road.  West side participants should leave Best Buy at 7:50 AM to join the main group for an 8:30 AM departure from Henderson Fiesta.  North side participants can drive to the parking area at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road for a pickup around 8:45 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Nienaber. 

 

Sunday, February 3 - River Mountains Trail (Part 3).  The most scenic part of the paved loop trail around the River Mountains is this strenuous 13-mile section that will go from the parking lot near the Lake Mead Parkway fee booth to the lower parking lot at Alan Bible Visitor Center.  Views of Lake Mead are abundant along with a few areas that have historical significance.  Part of the trail sits on top of the original Lakeshore Road that is now closed off to vehicle traffic.  There are also remnants of old motels that provided recreational access to the lake in the middle of the last century.  West side group will depart from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and join the other participants at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure.  This is a car shuttle hike that will involve a little extra driver reimbursement.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, February 4 - The Muffins Loop.  Return to the days (maybe seven or eight years ago) when there was no trail leading to the stacked conglomerate boulders on the north end of Blue Diamond Hill on this moderately strenuous 4-mile hike.  What we had to do then and what we will be doing today is bushwhacking straight up the western face of the northern extension of the hill.  The terrain is quite steep and there are a few cliff sections to get around (not climb).  After being exhausted from the first half of the hike, there will be a snack break at the top and the return will be along the trail.  Meet the rest of the participants at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, February 5 - Cleopatra Wash.  This strenuous 7-mile out-and-back hike to a remote cove of Lake Mead usually gets scheduled once each year about this same time.  The route (no trail) generally follows a scenic canyon through the surrounding mountains but has to make a detour over a steep side ridge when a 30-foot dry waterfall is encountered that cannot be climbed up or down without equipment.  Elevation gain is around 800 feet on the return.  The seldom maintained gravel road to the trail head is very rough and does require high clearance vehicles.  West side participants should meet at the Rampart parking garage and leave at 7:20 AM to join the main group behind CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  That combined group will depart at 8:00 AM and pick up any south side participants at the Northshore Road Mile Marker 4 about fifteen minutes later.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Wednesday, February 6 - Krafft Mountain Loop.  One of our favorite club hikes in the Red Rock area is this moderately strenuous 5-mile loop hike that involves the lower section of Gateway Canyon.  The hike today will be the standard route that starts at Red Springs Picnic Area and follows the trail up Five Stop Hill before dropping into the canyon behind Krafft Mountain.  After exiting the canyon on the east side of the peak, the trail passes a 40-foot dry waterfall and heads through a significant boulder field used by free climbers.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for a 9:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Thursday, February 7 - Northshore Peak.  This strenuous 5-mile loop hike to a spectacular peak just south of Northshore Road is completely off-trail.  The ascent in the first mile to the high point is very steep and route specific.  On the way down the group will head into a scenic canyon that leads to Razorback North Wash for a bit, then climbs another ridge slightly separated from Northshore Peak for a descent through another canyon with a few scattered dry waterfalls.  The final part of the hike is a trek across rolling desert.  The standard arrangement of a west side group departure from the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:20 AM, a main group departure from the parking lot behind CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard at 8:00 AM, and a stopover at Mile Marker 4 around 8:15 AM is in effect.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, February 8 - Lava Butte.  Rising 2,871 feet above sea level, this small peak just east of Frenchman's Mountain overlooks Rainbow Gardens on the east side of Las Vegas.  The trek will start from the pullout at Mile Marker 2 on Northshore Road and follow a gentle drainage toward the base of the peak, where the route becomes very steep and intense.  There isn't any significant exposure, but there is plenty of tough Class 2 scrambling.  Distance for the strenuous out-and-back hike is 6 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain.  The west side group can meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:20 AM to join the main contingent behind CVS Pharmacy and an 8:00 AM departure.  South side participants driving directly must be at Mile Marker 2 by 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Friday, February 8 - Ash Canyon Overlook.  This easy to moderate loop hike is fairly short at 3 miles, but there is a bit of off-trail scrambling involved in negotiating the shallow drainages through the colorful formations near Sandstone Quarry.  Starting from that point, the route will take participants around the base of Red Cap for a fantastic view of the back side of the Calico Hills.  The snack break will occur on a rocky ledge overlooking Ash Canyon and the community of Calico Basin.  In the second half of the hike, we will be looking for petroglyphs in the smaller sandstone hills close to the Turtlehead Peak Trail.  Assembly point will be at the Best Buy parking lot with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Saturday, February 9 - White Owl Canyon.  Don't go on this hike if you're thinking this is the short one from the Hole 33 parking area.  This moderately strenuous loop hike will cover a distance of about 8 miles, starting from the old Las Vegas boat ramp.  The hike goes along the Lake Mead shoreline almost to Hole 33 and passes through White Owl Canyon going west.  The return is across the desert and includes some significant Class 3 scrambling down a boulder strewn canyon under Lakeshore Road.  The west side group should leave Best Buy no later than 7:25 AM to get to the primary meeting location at the Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure.  The combined group will have to leave the Fiesta and drive east on Lake Mead Parkway, meeting the coordinators at the parking lot on the right side of the road just before the Park fee booth about 8:10 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, February 9 - Rainbow Gardens.  There will probably be two options available for this moderate hike that starts from the pullout at Mile Marker 2 on Northshore Road, but both of them involve scrambling through a narrow but picturesque mud canyon with a few surprises.  The short version is about 3 miles in length and returns to the gentle wash used for the first mile of the hike not much past the exit from the canyon.  The longer version is nearly 6 miles and visits a finger of Lake Las Vegas and possibly an interesting dry waterfall before returning along the same route.  With this hike on the north side of the lake, the group from the west side will meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage and leave at 7:50 AM to join the main group at the Lake Mead Boulevard CVS Pharmacy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Henderson or Boulder City participants can drive directly to the Mile Marker 2 pullout.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Sunday, February 10 - Frenchman's Mountain.  This very strenuous hike is fairly short at about 4 or 5 miles but it is very steep and includes a heavy dose of Class 3 scrambling.  The out-and-back route will start from the end of Bonanza, which offers very limited parking, and opens on an old gravel road across the desert to a wash.  Once in a narrow canyon, the route turns very steep and contains lots of obstacles as it climbs to the top ridge line and the narrow peak.  Elevation gain is 2,400 feet and the hike should take 4 to 5 hours to complete.  The west side group should meet at the Rampart parking garage and leave at 7:20 AM to meet the main group at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Richard Natale or Steve Anderson.         

 

Monday, February 11 - La Madre Miner's Cabin.  This moderately strenuous 5-mile out-and-back hike is quite deceptive in regard to the elevation gain of 1,600 feet.  Although you know that the trail climbs pretty good, it isn't until you sit in the small courtyard of the stone shelter and look back at the White Rock mountains that you realize just how high you are.  As the trail passes the wildlife dam at La Madre Springs, it narrows to single track and follows a year round flowing creek to the ridge that leads to the cabin, and crosses the creek at several spots.  Meeting place for this hike will be at Best Buy with the group leaving at 8:00 AM for the trail head.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

 

Tuesday, February 12 - River Mountain.  Starting from the trail head next to St. Jude Children's Ranch, this strenuous out-and-back hike follows the city trail to the saddle between Red and Black Mountain Overlooks and drops into the caldera on the north side.  The series of trails then heads toward and eventually follows a power line to another saddle near the base of River Mountain, which is the highest point in the range.  The final approach to the peak is off-trail over steep and uneven ground.  With a distance of 8 miles and an elevation gain of 1,600 feet, the peak affords great views of the entire surrounding area.  West side participants should meet at Best Buy for a 7:20 AM departure to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta, leaving there at 8:00 AM for the trail head parking lot, where they will meet the coordinators at 8:15 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Wednesday, February 13 - Park Peak.  Here is another new hike for our group, but one that starts in a familiar place - the Black Mountain trail head near Sun City Anthem.  The moderate out-and-back route starts across the desert for about a mile to a new trail that accesses a ridge that leads to the peak.  There is a total distance of about 6 miles with an elevation gain of 800 feet involved in reaching the top, which offers scenic views of the valley below.  West side group can gather at Best Buy, leaving at 8:15 AM to join the main contingent at the Albertsons located at the intersection of Sun City Anthem Drive and Bicentennial Parkway for a 9:00 AM departure.  We may be joined by members of the Sun City Anthem Hiking Club on this outing.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Thursday, February 14 - Red & Black Mountains.  This will be the strenuous version of the hike that incorporates the two peaks overshadowing Boulder City in the River Mountains.  The 7-mile partial loop hike will climb to the top of Red Mountain using the system of trails through the top section of Bootleg Canyon used by the kamikaze bikers.  Maybe we will get to see some zip line riders as the launch point is also from the top.  After descending to a saddle, we will then climb to the park bench located on what is really Black Mountain Overlook Peak before returning down the well-maintained city trail to the starting point.  West side group will leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM, meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta, and everyone in attendance will leave for the parking area next to St. Jude at 8:00 AM.  Boulder City residents can meet us there about 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, February 15 - 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.  After a snack on the summit, the group will descend steeply off the side of the peak on a rocky trail, then return back to the trail head in a southwest direction.  This is a pleasant hike with great scenery, a nice craggy peak, and even a bit of solitude starting only minutes from Las Vegas.  Elevation gain is about 400 feet and the rating is easy to moderate.  The group will assemble at Best Buy with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Saturday, February 16 - Pumpkin Parfait Canyon.  A moderately strenuous 6-mile hike with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain, this hike explores a couple of interesting canyons with ancient seabed fossils before arriving at Pumpkin Parfait Canyon with its colorful rock formations.  The hike starts near Mile Marker 40 on Northshore Road, so it is quite a distance from Las Vegas and is a fifty minute drive from the major assembly point.  West side group will again assemble on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage and leave at 7:20 AM.  The main group will assemble behind the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  The coordinators and anyone else from Boulder City or Henderson will meet the group at the Mile Marker 4 parking area along Northshore Road about 8:15 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, February 16 - Anniversary Narrows.  The shorter version of this largely out-and-back hike will start from the Ore Car Mine pullout.  This spot is about a mile from the highway start of the hike at Mile Marker 16 along Northshore Road, and will make the total distance on foot about 4 miles.  The group will be walking up a gravel road to the abandoned processing center and returning to the main wash via a narrow and somewhat steep trail before entering the very narrow slot canyon at the base of the Muddy Mountains.  The gravel road leading to the parking area has been maintained and high clearance vehicles are not essential.  Rating is perhaps moderate with only a couple hundred feet of elevation change.  Participants from the west side can gather at the Rampart parking garage and depart at 7:50 AM.  The main group should meet at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead and Hollywood for an 8:30 AM departure.  The drive through at the Mile Marker 4 parking area on Northshore Road will be about 8:45 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Sunday, February 17 - River Mountains Trail & Brunch Buffet.  The route will be entirely paved on this easy to moderate 4 to 5-mile segment of the River Mountains Trail that has more downhill than uphill.  That's because it's a point-to-point hike that will start at the River Mountains parking area next to St. Jude Children's Ranch and finish at the Railroad Pass Casino.  Along the way we will see parts of Boulder City, a bit of the Cascata Golf Course, and follow the rail line that runs between Boulder City and the casino.  After the walk you will get to replenish your energy with the fairly inexpensive champagne brunch at the casino.  West side departure from Best Buy is at 7:45 AM and the main group should assemble at the lower parking lot at Railroad Pass Casino for an 8:30 AM departure to the starting point.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Monday, February 18 - Bootleg Canyon Loop.  Beginning at the Bootleg parking area below the zip line, this moderate 6-mile clockwise loop heads west on the Mother Trail past colorful rock formations.  As the route passes Cascata Golf Course on the high side, it turns east and attains a higher ridge line and follows a trail along the ridge toward the starting point.  The high ground provides many views of Las Vegas and the Spring Mountains.  The west side group will meet at Best Buy for a 7:20 AM departure to meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Linda O'Leary.

 

Tuesday, February 19 - Anniversary Narrows to South Bowl of Fire.  Plan on doing a little exploration on a strenuous 8-mile hike starting from Mile Marker 16 on Northshore Road that follows the gravel road past Ore Car Mine and passes through the spectacular slot canyon known as Anniversary Narrows.  The route will continue up the wash from the narrows and start climbing south toward a notch above the South Bowl.  After achieving the notch, a trail leads down into South Bowl and eventually winds its way back to the starting point via a small wash.  Besides scrambling there is plenty of desert hiking.  West side group will leave from Rampart Casino at 7:20 AM and join the main contingent at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  There will be a pass through at the parking area at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road about 8:15 AM to pick up south side participants.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Wednesday, February 20 - Oak Creek Canyon.  This moderate 5-mile out-and-back hike provides great scenery at the edge of the escarpment without requiring a super effort from the participants, as the elevation gain is only about 300 feet.  It will start from the gravel parking lot next to the scenic loop exit back onto Highway 159 and follow a series of horse trails and an abandoned gravel road back to the first of three crossings of Oak Creek in either direction.  Toward the turn around point, the trail climbs a ridge on the south side of the canyon and follows that back until it ends in the canyon between significant cliff walls.  Participants should gather at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

 

Thursday, February 21 - Hamblin Mountain.  Undoubtedly one of the best hikes on the north side of Lake Mead, this moderately strenuous 7-mile hike basically follows an out-and-back route with one variation - a detour into Pinto Valley Wash above the waterfall at Cottonwood Springs.  The last Thursday hike of the early 2013 season near Lake Mead, part of the finish parallels the old Arrowhead Highway route as it exited from Pinto Valley back in the 1930's.  The 360 degree view from the top of the peak is one of the most spectacular in the Lake Mead area.  The parking garage at Rampart Casino will be the staging point for west side participants, who will leave there at 7:20 AM to join the main group for an 8:00 AM departure from the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  A final pickup of south side participants will occur at the Mile Marker 4 parking area on Northshore Drive around 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Friday, February 22 - Grand Staircase/Guardian Angel Loop.  This moderately strenuous 4-mile outing is a combination of two popular scrambling routes in the Calico Hills.  Starting from the Red Springs Picnic Area, the group will ascend at Grand Staircase and descend on the back side into a wash, hike a short distance near the base of Calico I Overlook, then climb Guardian Angel Pass from the Red Rock Canyon side.  The return to the parking lot is in reverse of our normal route.  Gross elevation gain is estimated at 1,500 feet.  The hike should take about three hours as there is quite a bit of Class 3 scrambling involved.  Gloves are recommended and hiking sticks could get in the way.  The group will depart from Best Buy at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.

 

Saturday, February 23 - Gold Butte Little Finland/Subway Loop.  The last scheduled hike of the early season in Gold Butte will be a moderately strenuous 8-mile loop with 1,000 feet of elevation gain including both scrambling and desert hiking.  There is some exposure as the route climbs and descends over some of the colorful sandstone formations in the area.  Since the trail head in Gold Butte is a two hour drive from Las Vegas, plan on being gone for most of the daylight hours.  High clearance vehicles will be needed to get to the starting point for the hike.  West side group should meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:30 AM to join the main group at Lucky Club Casino and an 8:00 AM getaway.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, February 23 - Historic Railroad Tunnels.  We end the early season of 2013 at Lake Mead with the hike that started it back in December when the group tackles this easy to moderate 4-mile out-and-back hike following the rail bed used during the construction of Hoover Dam back in the early 1930's.  With less than 200 feet of elevation gain at a very gradual rate, participants won't have to breathe very hard as they pass through a series of five tunnels drilled through the rock which has volcanic origins.  At the discretion of the coordinator (and the group) the hike may be extended to 7 miles and visit either the new bridge over the Colorado River at Black Canyon or the dam itself.  West side group should leave from Best Buy at 7:50 AM.  The main gathering point is at Henderson Fiesta with a departure at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Lorraine Stalians.

 

Sunday, February 24 - Sandstone Peak Scramble.  Another new hike for Around the Bend Friends, this very strenuous out-and-back (or up-and-down and up-and-down) hike will only cover a distance of 3 miles, but what a 3 miles it is.  Most of the route involves Class 3 or 4 scrambling, with ropes necessary in a few spots.  Gross elevation gain is estimated at close to 2,600 feet.  With all the steep terrain, it will probably take about seven hours to reach the peak and return.  The group will leave at 8:00 AM from the Albertsons parking lot in the shopping center on Charleston Boulevard and Desert Foothills Drive.  The group will carpool to Bonnie Springs Ranch where the hike will begin.  Coordinators - Richard Natale & Steve Anderson.

 

Monday, February 25 - Railroad Pass Mountain Route.  Our coordinator checked the route out on Google and determined that the moderate loop route will cover a distance of 5 miles and possibly gain 1,000 feet using a series of trails accessed from the Railroad Pass Casino.  It will begin climbing almost immediately as it heads to the north of the Cascata Golf Course, providing great views of the lush private course.  At the far end of the loop, the group will turn north and be treated to excellent views of Las Vegas with the Spring Mountains and Sheep Mountains in the background.  The hike will finish by dropping toward a section of the paved River Mountains Trail.  Those coming from the west side should leave from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and join the main group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Tuesday, February 26 - Sea World.  You won't have to go to San Diego to take part in this strenuous 10 to 12-mile hike that leaves from Mile Marker 20 on Northshore Road.  The route heads toward the camel tracks near North Bowl of Fire, then goes northeasterly toward Bittersprings Valley and left toward the foothills of the Muddy Mountains.  After going around two small peaks, it arrives at Sea World Canyon, named for its spectacular rock formations.  The return to the starting point is through a small slot canyon.  West side participants should leave from the Rampart parking garage at 7:05 AM to meet the main group at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  That combined group will leave at 7:45 AM and meet the coordinators at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road at 8:00 AM.  High clearance vehicles are required for the primary starting point but there is an alternative at Mile Marker 20 on Northshore Road.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Wednesday, February 27 - White Rock Hills Loop.  The month of February ends with a couple of standard hikes that most of our members are familiar with.  For Wednesday, the group will be following the moderate 6.4-mile loop trail that makes a circle around the two cream colored sandstone peaks at the north end of Red Rock Canyon.  I'm not sure if the route will head in a clockwise direction or the reverse, but it will start from the Willow Springs Picnic Area tucked into the northwest corner of Red Rock.  The route passes through two different vegetative areas, with creosote bursage desert on the south side and larger bushes and trees, including juniper, pine, scrub oak, and manzanita on the north side.  Meet the group at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

 

Thursday, February 28 - Turtlehead Peak.  This strenuous 5-mile out-and-back hike climbs 1,900 feet getting to the top of the limestone peak on the north side of Red Rock Canyon.  The hike starts at Sandstone Quarry and follows the distinct trail until it starts breaking into several options below the ridge line that extends northward from the peak.  On top, the sweeping views from 6,244 feet include much of Las Vegas, a part of Lake Mead, and mountains in Arizona and California.  Hiking sticks are almost essential on the descent as all of the possible trails are steep and loose.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Above are thirty-four hikes encompassing every day of the month that should offer several possibilities for each member of the club.  Get out and enjoy the wonderful hiking opportunities around Las Vegas if you are able to and have the chance.  Also, mark your calendar for Saturday, March 2, as that day we will be making our annual trip to China Ranch Date Farm and the wonderful date shakes at the ranch's country store.