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.       

 

January 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 (except December) so they can participate more thoroughly in club activities.

 

Here is a list of scheduled club hikes for January 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 a weekday hike rated no more than moderate 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.

 

Nearly all of the hikes during January 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 extension of I-215).  For hikes on the north side of the lake, the primary assembly point will be the parking lot at the Albertsons Grocery Store located just southeast of the intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard (not Parkway) and Hollywood.  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 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.

 

 

Tuesday, January 1 - Cave Canyon & Las Vegas Overlook.  This month the schedule includes a number of scrambling or minor exploratory hikes on Blue Diamond Hill across from the Red Rock Visitor Center, starting with this one.  The strenuous loop route will start with some serious boulder scrambling in the canyon that includes climbing two dry waterfalls.  At the far end of the canyon the route will turn left on an old mining road and proceed back to the new Las Vegas Overlook notch.  The last third of the hike involves a trek across the top of the hill to the Muffins and a descent to the parking lot along the regular trail.  Total distance is probably around 8 miles.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Wednesday, January 2 - Razorback Wash South.  Somewhat of a new hike for our club, this moderate point-to-point hike will cover 6.3 miles as it follows a series of washes through the Pinto Valley Wilderness Area.  The hike will start between Mile Markers 22 and 23 on Northshore Road, come along the south side of Razorback Ridge, and finish through Cottonwood Wash, exiting near Mile Marker 18.  Net elevation gain is less than 400 feet.  Extra vehicles will be required for carpooling.  An early west side group will meet at the Rampart parking garage and depart at 7:20 AM to meet the main group at the Albertsons on Lake Mead and Hollywood.  The combined group will depart from there at 8:00 AM and do a quick stop at the Mile Marker 4 pull-off at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Thursday, January 3 - Lone Palm.  The Arizona side of the Colorado River provides the setting for this moderately strenuous scramble that is reasonably short at 4 to 5 miles.  The loop route begins at a pull-out a few miles across the bridge and descends through a series of canyons to the river, where the original palm tree (now dead) has been replaced by another one at the base of a minor hot springs stream.  The return will follow the route of an abandoned road used during the construction of Hoover Dam.  Departure from the west side location at Best Buy is at 7:20 AM with the entire group leaving Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Friday, January 4 - Blue Diamond Bike Trails.  We will be using the somewhat shorter version of the return on this moderate loop hike that takes place mainly on the ridge behind the community of Blue Diamond.  That means we will stay on the left side of the canyon leading back to the town, which should keep the distance close to a total of 4.5 miles.  Elevation gain is in the order of 500 feet, there are some fairly good views of the surrounding area including southern Las Vegas, and we might spot wild burros along the way.  The group will assemble at Best Buy with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Saturday, January 5 - Callville Ridge Plane Crash Site.  A short climb to a ridge near Callville Bay and a trek along a rocky ridge line leads to the remains of a 1950's military plane crash.  The moderately strenuous loop hike continues through a wash requiring some scrambling on dry waterfalls.  Total distance will be 5 or 6 miles.  The early west side group will meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage for a 7:20 AM exit.  The main group, including the early contingent, will depart from Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood at 8:00 AM and will meet the coordinators with the sign-in sheet at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road at 8:20 AM for the final drive to the trail head.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, January 5 - Valley of Fire Three Slot Canyon.  A moderate outing with minimal elevation gain and some light scrambling, this 3.5-mile loop hike provides plentiful views of colorful sandstone formations, so be sure and bring your camera.   Because of the distance involved and the $8.00 entrance fee per vehicle, our coordinator suggests a ride share cost of $10.00 including park entrance.  The early west side group will leave the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:30 AM and will join the main group at the Lucky Club Casino for an 8:15 AM departure.  Expect to return to that meeting point around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

 

Sunday, January 6 - River Mountains Trail (Part 1).  It's back!!  The 35-mile trail circling the River Mountains will be done again this year over two Sundays in January and one in February.  The first segment of the paved trail will follow the uphill section starting at the lower lot by the Alan Bible Visitor Center and ending at the Railroad Pass Casino.  This stretch is 10 miles in length and gains probably 1,000 feet of elevation at a very gradual rate.  It's hard to rate this as any more than moderate, even with the distance, because there is no problem with the footing.  In fact, sticks are not needed.  The west side contingent will depart from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and join the other participants at Railroad Pass Casino on Highway 93-95, where at least one vehicle will be left for the car shuttle, and a departure to Alan Bible at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez. 

 

Monday, January 7 - Echo Canyon to Skull Canyon.  Canyons are in abundance on this moderately strenuous 7-mile loop hike on Blue Diamond Hill.  Begin with some scrambling in the confines of Echo Canyon, then follow the abandoned mining road and trails around the top of Cave Canyon and start down Boneshaker Trail for a quarter mile.  A trail to the right then crosses another canyon and ridge and intersects the Skull Canyon Trail about one-half mile below the old Las Vegas Overlook.  Keep an eye out for burros along the way as at least one herd is known to frequent the area.  The group will depart from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, January 8 - Summerlin & Bighorn Peaks.  Only aggressive hikers should attempt this double limestone peak hike standing tall above the northwest quadrant of Las Vegas.  The route crosses the desert to the back side of Eagle Peak, then starts a very steep climb without benefit of trail along a ridge with exposure and on to the first peak.  The route between the peaks is not as steep but is still quite rough and the return is back down the original ridge.  Overall, this very strenuous hike should cover a distance of 6 miles with 2,500 feet of elevation gain.  Instead of Best Buy, meet the group at the white fenced equestrian parking lot on the west end of Cheyenne Avenue for an 8:00 AM start to the hike.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Wednesday, January 9 - Arizona Hot Springs.  Visit the shores of the Colorado River on this moderately strenuous 6-mile loop hike that has the descent during the first half of the outing.  Spectacular White Rock Canyon provides the setting for this part of the trek.  After a snack break, the group will climb the ladder to the hot springs pools, wade through them, and return to the starting point in a different canyon.  Bring a towel to dry your feet and legs before putting your hiking shoes back on.  West side group will leave from Best Buy at 7:20 AM to meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Thursday, January 10 - Cholla Forest.  This moderately strenuous loop hike will cover a distance of 6 to 7 miles on the south flank of the River Mountains.  The route will begin by following a wash upwards through a series of dry waterfalls to approach a concentrated area of silver Teddy Bear Cholla cactus near the base of the mountains.  After a snack break, the group will loop back to the starting point going across the desert and use some recreational gravel roads in the process.  The group from the west side will depart from Best Buy at 8:15 AM.  The full group will leave from Henderson Fiesta at 9:00 AM.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Friday, January 11 - Black Mesa.  This elongated ridge on the north side of Lake Mead across from Fortification Hill holds a commanding presence over Boulder Basin and excellent views of the area.  The route is a moderate 4-mile loop to the summit that is accomplished without any kind of trail, so be prepared for lots of bushwhacking.  The edge of the mesa is fairly steep and rocky but is not more than Class 2 (no hands needed) with trekking poles being very helpful.  The usual Friday group from the west side will have to leave much earlier than normal as departure time from Best Buy (not Rampart) will be 7:25 AM.  This will put the departure time for main group meeting at the Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood at around 8:15 AM, and the final stopover at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road around 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Saturday, January 12 - Black Mountain.  This strenuous 7-mile loop hike will take the group to the actual Black Mountain near Boulder City.  The route goes up to the overlook and continues toward the peak on a narrow sheep trail.  Some scrambling is required to reach the peak with a sign-in box.  The return will descend through a rocky wash.  Be prepared for some rough sections of trail or no trail at all in spots.  The west side group will leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure.  The coordinators will meet the group at the River Mountains Trail parking lot next to St. Jude Children's Home for a start of the hike around 8:15 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, January 12 - White Owl Canyon.  The toughest part of the entire hike is the steep bank that comes into play at the beginning and ending of the hike.  Otherwise, there is a very minor amount of scrambling in the narrow canyon that has been home for years to at least one White Owl.  Evidence is abundant with a number of deposits of mouse bones scattered in the heart of the canyon.  Distance for this easy to moderate out-and-back hike is 2 to 3 miles with negligible elevation gain.  The west side group will leave Best Buy at 7:50 AM with the coordinator to meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

 

Sunday, January 13 - River Mountains Trail (Part 2).  The second leg of the big hike will cover the distance of 12 miles between Railroad Pass Casino and the Lake Mead fee booth by Lake Las Vegas.  This section of the paved trail tends to go upward but has some rolling terrain and a couple of inclines in the 15% range.  Perhaps we need to bump the rating up to moderately strenuous because of the distance.  The west side group will leave from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and meet the main group at the Henderson Fiesta, where all participants should be by 8:25 AM.  Cars will be shuttled to the finish before the group heads to Railroad Pass for the start of the hike.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, January 14 - Muffins to Tailings.  We don't often get to the core of the mining operation on Blue Diamond Hill, but this moderately strenuous 9-mile hike will take us there.  After climbing to the Muffins and on to both of the Las Vegas Overlooks, the route will follow a gravel mining road over to the upper tailings piles, then descend toward a seldom visited side canyon before reaching the abandoned gravel mining road that was plowed under to keep off-road vehicles from tearing up the hillside.  Our return will be along Fossil Ridge Trail above Echo Canyon.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for a departure at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, January 15 - Valley Of Fire West-East Traverse.  A new hike that was recently developed by our coordinator, this strenuous point-to-point hike will cover close to 9 miles and gain a,900 feet of gross elevation.  The route starts at the southwest corner of the state park and zigzags east to the parking lot at Mouse's Tank.  It then traverses the southern ridges of the park, eventually dropping into the north fork of Valley of Fire Wash and climbing back up to the Elephant Rock parking lot.  Lots of scrambling but no exposure along the way.  The west side group can meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage for a 7:00 AM departure and the entire group will leave from Lucky Club Casino at 7:30 AM.  Plan on not returning until late afternoon.  Coordinator - Brian Dodd. 

 

Wednesday, January 16 - South Bowl of Fire.  This moderate 4-mile loop hike in the Lake Mead area will climb through colorful rock formations to an overlook in the sandstone hills of the South Bowl.  On the return, the group will head down a wash toward the the trail head.  There is significant scrambling involved on both the climb and the descent, but it is generally moderate and is only slightly challenging.  The west side group can meet on top of the Rampart Casino parking garage for an 8:15 AM departure, meet other north side participants at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for a 9:00 AM departure, and stop at the Mile Marker 4 pull off to meet the south group, which will leave with the coordinator from Henderson Fiesta at 9:00 AM.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Thursday, January 17 - Gold Strike Canyon.  Near the Hacienda Casino on 95 is the entrance to Gold Strike Canyon, which contains Nevada's hot springs just below Hoover Dam.  This Thursday hike will explore the entire length of the canyon, passing the hot springs pools and continuing on the the edge of the Colorado River.  There is some pretty significant boulder scrambling along the way, in places aided by existing ropes the scale some of the larger boulders.  Total distance is around 5 miles with a moderately strenuous rating.  The west side group should leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM with the complete group departing from Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Friday, January 18 - Razorback Wash North.  On the other side of Razorback Ridge from the January 2 outing, this moderate 5.4-mile point-to-point hike also runs through the Pinto Valley Wilderness Area.  Starting point is close to Mile Marker 22 on Northshore Road, with the route following a series of gentle washes to Cottonwood Wash above the dry waterfall at Cottonwood Springs, then follows Cottonwood Wash to the finish near Mile Marker 18.  Extra vehicles will be required to accomplish the car shuttle.  Again Best Buy will be used as the west side assembly point and a 7:25 AM departure.  The entire group will assemble at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood and leave at 8:15 AM, picking up any southeast participants at Northshore Road Mile Marker 4 around 8:30 AM on the way to the hike.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Saturday, January 19 - Cholla Forest.  The only repeat of a hike this month will be this moderately strenuous 6 to 7-mile loop hike on the south flank of the River Mountains, but it will probably attract an entirely different crowd from the trek on January 10.  The group will hike up a wash with a series of dry waterfalls, spend the break time next to a sensational Teddy Bear Cholla forest, and return to the starting point via a colorful wash to the original wash.  Some  moderate scrambling is involved in negotiating the dry falls in the early part of the hike.  Progression of departure times from the various meeting locations is 7:25 AM from Best Buy and 8:00 AM from Henderson Fiesta, with the group meeting the coordinators and any Boulder City participants at the lower parking lot at Alan Bible Visitor Center for an 8:20 AM departure.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, January 19 - Valley of Fire White Domes/Fire Wave.  The third hike this month in Valley of Fire will be an easy to moderate 3-mile jaunt that begins at the White Domes parking lot near the end of the main drive into the State Park.  The route will follow the White Domes Trail past the structure that was part of the movie set for "The Professionals", a 1966 western starring Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, and Claudia Cardinale.  From there it will turn left and pass through a couple narrow slots to a point where you can see a sandstone formation some people have dubbed the Fire Wave.  West side group should meet on top of the Rampart Casino parking garage and leave by 8:00 AM to join the main group at Lucky Club Casino and an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Monday, January 21 - Mystery Canyon on Blue Diamond Hill.  This hike is so new not even the coordinator has explored every nuance of it.  The moderately strenuous 6-mile loop hike will start up Skull Canyon and will turn right into a canyon that parallels the ridge with Boneshaker Trail.  Crossing a connector trail to the top of Skull Canyon, we will continue scrambling up the unnamed canyon to the top, coming out in the vicinity of the radio antenna supporting part of Red Rock.  After a snack break, we will use the infamous Boneshaker Trail to make the descent back to the parking area.  The assembled group will depart from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, January 22 - Calico Scramble.  For those of you who did Kay's famous November 4 scramble hike in the Calico Hills, it's back on the docket - with a twist.  This time the group will be doing it in the reverse direction from that Sunday.  From Red Spring Picnic Area, we'll hike over to Ash Meadows and start up from the east side, which entails a precarious ascent in a nasty chute on the south side of Ash Canyon.  Once on the top ridge of the hills, the route will proceed to the top of Calico Peak and descend through Angel Pass before heading around the south side of the Calico Hills to the starting point.  Total distance for this very strenuous hike is 4 to 5 miles.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Michael O'Connor & Kay Blackwell.

 

Wednesday, January 23 - Red & Black Mountains.  Traditional will be the buzzword for this hike as the group will start from the River Mountains parking lot next to St. Jude Children's Ranch and use the official city trail up to and down from the saddle between the two peaks.  Technically a double out-and-back, distance covered will be around 7 miles for both peaks and gross elevation gain should be around 1,500 feet.  Rating is moderate.  On top of Red Mountain we might catch site of some people experiencing the zip line down Bootleg Canyon.  West side group will leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM and join the main contingent at Henderson Fiesta with an 8:30 AM departure time.  Coordinator - Richard Hansen.

 

Thursday, January 24 - Sandstone Spring & Redstone.  This moderate 7-mile hike on the north side of Lake Mead starts at Mile Marker 25 on Northshore Road and heads south to a canyon leading into Pinto Valley that requires some scrambling.  The route crosses a section of Pinto Valley to a natural spring, then heads toward an area of red sandstone for a trek past a series of formations before returning to the starting point.  Westsiders will leave the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:15 AM, join the main group at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure, then pick up the coordinators and any Boulder City participants at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road at 8:20 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Friday, January 25 - Dale's Trail.  It's between 4 and 5 miles to cover the entire distance on this moderate out-and-back hike that explores the slopes below Rainbow Peak.  The route to be used for this hike will start at the Ice Box Canyon parking lot, starting off on the Ice Box Trail, turning left on Dale's, and taking it all the way over to the Pine Creek Trail before turning around.  Terrain is quite rolling even though there is minimal net elevation gain.  This hike carries a moderate rating.  The group will stage at Best Buy and will leave there at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, January 26 - Gold Butte Grand Petroglyph.  The Gold Butte area provides the backdrop for a moderate 8-mile loop hike with minimal elevation gain that starts at the Falling Man and continues to the Khota Circus Wall, the largest panel of petroglyphs in Clark County.  The return section of the hike will include lots of fun scrambling in a slot canyon.  High clearance vehicles will be required and the drive from Las Vegas to the trail head will take two hours.  As a result, an earlier start than normal will be necessary to get the group back to Las Vegas before nightfall.  The early west side group will meet on top of the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:00 AM.  The main collection point will be at Lucky Club Casino with a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, January 26 - River Mountains Trail Segment.  The leisurely hike for the last Saturday in January will be an easy to moderate 4-mile out-and-back hike along a section of the paved River Mountains Trail starting from the parking lot near the Lake Mead fee booth on Lake Mead Parkway near Lake Las Vegas.  The two mile portion hiked will have some rolling terrain and should provide views of the Lake Mead area where the Las Vegas Wash empties into the lake.  Best Buy will be used for the early west side staging with a departure time of 7:50 AM.  The entire group will leave from Henderson Fiesta at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Monday, January 28 - Calico Hills.  A really straightforward hike is this moderate 6-mile trek along the west side of the Calico Hills.  One of the more rolling trails in Red Rock Canyon, it will cover a distance of 6 miles between the fee booth parking lot and Sandstone Quarry and back.  While net elevation gain is only 700 feet there are several short uphill stretches even on the downward return leg.  Rating is moderate.  The group will get together at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Richard Hansen. 

 

Wednesday, January 30 - White Rock Hills Loop.  It's kind of surprising that this often repeated standard hike in Red Rock Canyon hasn't been scheduled since December 7.  In any event, it's back on the schedule even though quite a number of our members will still be involved in the Palm Springs outing.  The loop hike will start and end at Willow Springs Picnic Area and cover a distance of 6.4 miles in a counter-clockwise direction.  Elevation gain is right at 900 feet and the rating is moderate.  Departure from Best Buy for the trail head will take place at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Richard Hansen.

 

Thursday, January 31 - Virlis Fisher & Bridge Spring Arches.  Two quite different types of arches serve as destinations for this strenuous 4-mile loop hike near the community of Nelson south of Boulder City.  From the small parking area at the top of a gravel pullout, the hike will negotiate a series of drainages to attain a saddle near a shallow cave where the limestone Virlis Fisher arch is visible.  A choppy trek across the desert and a short serious climb takes participants under the arch.  On the return, the group will cross a partial sandstone ridge and descend right to the sandstone arch that spans a narrow canyon with views of the Colorado River.  Best Buy at 7:25 AM and Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM are the departure times.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

January is also the month our very large group of 67 people head to Palm Springs, California for lots of opportunities to explore new trails.  As our erstwhile blog master is going on the journey, you will definitely get to see pictures of some of the great terrain south of us in the Sonoran Desert.  Hopefully all those going will enjoy the trip tremendously.