June 2022 Hike List

 Thursday, June 2nd, Blue Diamond Canyon #1 Out & Back- Moderate, 4 miles, 800 FT gain, 5:45 AM- The summer heat is now here! So if you don't want to go all the way to the mountains, arise very early. We will begin by scrambling up the narrows and return the same way which will keep us in the shade the entire time. Trailhead- Meet by 5:45 at Hwy. 159/Arroyo St. which is the back way into Blue Diamond.  RSVP/Limit of 15-  Coordinator- David Hardy

Friday, June 3rd, Pahrump Overlook via Upper Bristlecone & Wallace Canyon Saddle- Strenuous, 6.5 miles, 2000 FT elevation gain- Meet up at the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead at the end of Lee Canyon Road/Ski Resort at 7:30 a.m. We’ll hike up via the Upper Bristlecone to No Name Trail, then onto the Wallace Canyon Trail, Saddle area. From there we hike the entire ridgeline over to the Pahrump Overlook. 360 degrees of desert views, including the Amargosa River Valley. We’ll descend via the connector trail back down to the No Name Trail Saddle, then take the Upper Bristlecone Trail back to our cars. RSVP required/Limit of 10 hikers- Coordinators- David Lavery and John Hammel

Monday, June 6th, First Overlook South Loop OB- Moderately strenuous, 6 miles, 1500 FT. gain, 7:30 AM- We begin at Echo Trail parking lot. Turn right off of Kyle Canyon Road as if going to Trail Canyon but then take the first left into the dirt lot for Echo. We hike over to the South Loop and with an easy pace make our way up several sections of steps, and up the switchbacks to the First Overlook. After our break, it’s back to the cars. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom Kyle Canyon at 7:30AM for carpooling or at the Echo Trail dirt lot at 8:00. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, June 7th, Big Falls & Mary Jane Falls/MT. Charleston- Moderate, 5.5 miles, approximate 900 feet elevation gain Twice! Once over to Big Falls and again up to Mary Jane Falls. Meet up at the Mary Jane Falls parking lot off Kyle Canyon Road/Echo Road by 7:30 a.m. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Friday, June 10th, Fletcher Peak via North Loop Trail- Moderately strenuous, 6.5 miles, elevation gain of 1850 FT, 7:30 a.m.- Meet up at the North Loop Trailhead off Deer Creek Road. We’ll hike up past the Meadows and up to the saddle, then head over in the direction of the Raintree, taking a left at the juncture over to Fletcher Peak. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Sunday, June 12th, Early morning Gypsum Hill (Red Rock Hill) Loop- Moderate, 2.5 miles, some 850 FT in elevation gain, 6 AM- We will hike to the top of a major hill just east of Blue Diamond. The trail goes steeply up on the west facing side which will keep us out of the sun until we reach the top. From there it is not far to the very top where we will have a snack break and a 360 view. This is only a 2.5-mile trek, but it's rated moderate due to change in elevation over the short distance. We will return on another connector trail to make a loop. The main assembly point will be the gravel parking lot on Hwy.159/Arroyo Street which is the back entrance road to the community of Blue Diamond. Meet the coordinator there by 6 AM. Directions- Turn left onto Arroyo and on the right is the parking area. RSVP required-/Limit of 15 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy

Tuesday, June 14th, Rabbit Hole/Fletcher Canyon & Beyond- Moderate, 6 miles, 900 FT of gain. Meet up at the Fletcher Canyon parking area off Kyle Canyon Road at 7:30 a.m. This will be an up and back hike on the same trail/road. We’ll go through/past the Rabbit Hole and continue up the wash for a mile or so and back out the same way in. Coordinator- John Hammel

Wednesday, June 15th, Cathedral Rock OB- Moderate, 5 miles, 1000 FT, 7:30 AM- The hike begins at the Echo dirt parking lot. We hike over to the Cathedral Rock trail and hike up through the Aspen and avalanche area as we ascend. We will go to the manhole cover then return to climb up Cathedral Rock where we take our break. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Thursday, June 16th, Blue Diamond Canyon 4B O&B- Moderate- Avoiding the heat of the day will be one of the main objectives for this hike in the Blue Diamond Hill. It's not a long hike at around 4 miles, but it does involve a considerable amount of scrambling in the upper section. There is a good chance of seeing owls in there too. Most of the canyon will be shaded that morning. The main assembly point will be the park parking area on the left side of the entrance road into the community of Blue Diamond just past the wash bridge. Starting time- 5:45 AM. RSVP required/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy.

Friday, June 17th, Trail Canyon Trail to Big Falls Overlook/North Loop/MT. Charleston- Moderately strenuous, 8.5 miles, 3000 FT of elevation gain. Meet up at the Trail Canyon parking lot off Echo Road at 7:30 a.m. We’ll head up to the TCT Junction, then turn left onto the North Loop Trail, go past the M Tree, then pass The Cliffs to reach the landmark. Here we'll take a break and enjoy the day. Then it's back down the way we came. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Sunday, June 19th, Blue Diamond Ridges- Moderate to moderately strenuous given the distance, terrain, and weather. This early morning hike on the hill across from Red Rock Canyon will cover a distance of 6 to 7 miles starting from the Cowboy Stables Trailhead parking lot along Highway 159. How much the group does will be determined by the temperature increases. If it stays somewhat cool the destination will be the Las Vegas Overlook. All the uphill is hiked in the shade! Participants will gather at Red Rock Casino and leave for the stables at 5:15 AM. The coordinator will meet them at the trailhead for a 5:30 AM start to the hike. RSVP required/Limit of 15 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy.

Tuesday, June 21st, Wild Horse Canyon/Raintree/Mummy Springs Loop- Strenuous, 5.5 miles,1600 feet elevation gain- We’ll hike up Wild Horse Canyon to the North Loop Meadow.  We'll then visit Winter Peak and then head down and over to the Raintree and finally over to Mummy Springs before heading down past the Deer Springs picnic area. Trailhead- Deer Creek Road picnic area parking lot. Step off at 7:30 AM- Coordinator- John Hammel 

Wednesday, June 22nd, Lower Bristlecone to Bonanza Junction OB- Moderate, 6 miles, 900 FT, 7:00 AM- Carpoolers meet at the dirt lot on Kyle Canyon at 7:00 AM or you can meet at Lower Bristlecone dirt lot at 7:45. This hike uses a forest road with gentle switchbacks to get to the Bonanza junction. After a break, it’s back to the cars. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Friday, June 24th, Upper Bristlecone to McFarland Approach/Lee Canyon- Moderately strenuous- Meet up at 7:30 a.m. We’ll begin at the Upper Bristlecone Trail to the No Name juncture with the Bonanza Trail, making a left onto it. We’ll continue up, down, and over for a while. Eventually we come to our landmark destination, the large Wood Shelter near the Yellow Flower Saddle at the start of the approach area to McFarland Peak. Here we'll break for a while, enjoy the day. Moderately strenuous, 9 miles, 2200 FT elevation gain. Meet up at the Upper Bristlecone parking lot/ski area off of Lee Canyon Road. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Monday, June 27th, Upper Bristlecone/No Name/Bonanza Balloon- Moderately strenuous, 6 miles,1200 FT, 7:00 AM- Scenic trails through the Bristlecone and Aspen trees plus a great workout, makes this a great hike. We begin at the upper parking lot at Lee Canyon Ski Resort. My pace will be accommodating. Carpoolers should meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon at 7:00 AM or at the trailhead at 7:45 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Wednesday, June 29, Trail Canyon/North Loop OB- Moderately strenuous, 5 miles, 1600 FT, 7:00 AM- We begin on Trail Canyon which is a challenging trail that gains 1400 feet in 2 miles. But it is all trail and my pace will be accommodating. After we regroup at the saddle, we proceed on the North Loop Trail as if going to Raintree. We take our break at an Overlook where the views are nice. Meet at the dirt lot on Kyle Canyon at 7:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Thursday, June 30th, Blue Diamond Canyon 5B- If you don’t want to drive up to the mountains and fight the crowds, let’s meet at the Wheeler Spring parking lot just above Blue Diamond for a hike up the low end of the Goatroper Trail for about half a mile which will drop into Canyon #5. We will branch off into the left fork (#5B) and continue to the upper end. We will return the same way to enjoy as much shade as possible. Much of the route is moderate hiking that requires some 2.5 hours to cover the 4 miles with little elevation gain. Some scrambling. It is going to get hot so meet at 5:45 AM. If coming from Red Rock, this parking lot is on the right just after a large brown sign to not feed the burros. If from the opposite way, it is on the left just after where the mine road goes up BD Hill. RSVP required with a limit of 15 hikers and friends- Coordinator- David Hardy

May 2022 Hike List

Sunday, May 1st, Blue Diamond Tertiary Ridge- Moderate- This 6.5 mile moderate loop hike begins in the community of Blue Diamond. The group will make their way up the Tertiary Ridge behind the community following a trail along the top that leads toward Bonnie Springs.  After dropping back to the valley floor near the western end of the ridge the route loops to the north and returns to Blue Diamond. Red Rock Casino will be used for the early meeting point with a departure at 7:35 AM, and those participants should proceed to Blue Diamond. After crossing the wash bridge on the main entrance to the community, there is parking on the left at the county park just after the first houses. The coordinator will be at that location. South side participants may drive directly to Blue Diamond. The hike will begin at 8:00 AM. RSVP/Limit of 15 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy 

Monday, May 2nd, Twilight Zone Ridge Exploration- Moderately strenuous, 6-7 miles, 1100 FT. of gain, 8:00 AM- Hike begins at the Twilight Zone dirt lot on Kyle Canyon. We use the Twilight Zone Trail to get to the Burro Trail that ascends up. The exploration of the ridge begins somewhere along this trail. Be prepared for rocky limestone hiking as we try to cross this ridge and then descend down the east side. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, May 3rd, Orange Trail/Catch Pen Loop- Moderate, 8.5 miles, 1800 FT. gain, Class 1, 8:00 AM- Meet at the Stepladder TH/Traffic Circle TH parking lot across from the visitors center, a right hand turn off of this traffic circle on Kyle Canyon Road. We’ll make our initial meet-up in this lot and then drive/carpool over to the trailhead off of Deer Creek Road about 1/3 of a mile before the Desert View Overlook. Coordinator- John Hammel

Wednesday, May 4th, Upper Showgirl OB- Moderate, 5 miles, 600 FT. gain, 8:00 AM- We use the Juniper Trail parking lot off of Deer Creek Hwy as the start of the hike. About 4.6 miles up Deer Creek is the right turn for Hilltop Campground. Turn right and stay to the right of the fork to find this dirt lot with a bathroom. This trail meanders through Mahogany, Pinion Pine, and Ponderosa pine habitats. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road by 8:00. Coordinator  Lettie Gutierrez

Wednesday, May 4th, AtBF Meeting/REI- We return to our regular meetings in Boca Park at 7:00 PM in the community room at the back of the store. John Ward- Club President-

Thursday, May 5th, Icebox Canyon/Red Rock Canyon- Moderate, 4 miles with trail for first half then scrambling up to Class 2 for the last part. This is a deep canyon that is similar to what you find in Zion N.P. It is shady once in the canyon. Meet at the Icebox Canyon Trailhead parking at 7:30 AM. That is early but the small amount of parking there will fill up fast. RSVP required/Limit of 12 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy

Friday, May 6th, Trail Canyon Trail to the Junction/Saddle/North Loop/Mt. Charleston- Moderately strenuous, 4.2 miles, 1570 feet of elevation gain, 8 AM- Meet up at the Trail Canyon parking lot at 8 a.m. off of Kyle Canyon Road, past the fire station, stay right onto Echo Road. The Trail Canyon parking lot will be the big lot on the left with the bathrooms. We may have some snow drifts to deal with. Coordinator- John Hammel- 

Sunday, May 8th, Goatroper to Canyon 5B- Moderate, 5 miles, 500 FT elevation gain, 7:30 AM- This early morning hike begins across from Wheeler Spring parking where we pick up the lower end of the Goatroper Trail. After about 2 or 3 miles, we drop into the upper end of Canyon 5B. The hike takes us through a mostly narrow and shaded canyon back to the cars. We meet at Wheeler Spring parking off of 159. DIRECTIONS- If coming from Red Rock Canyon, this parking lot is on the right just after a large brown sign that says it's "fine" to feed the burros. If from the opposite way, it is on the left just after where the mine road goes up BD Hill. Time- Step off at 7:30 AM. RSVP required with a limit of 15 hikers- Coordinator- David  Hardy-  Email address- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com   Note – weather could result in a time change. Check website.

Monday, May 9th, First Overlook South Loop From Echo Trail OB- Moderately strenuous, 5 miles, 1700 FT. gain, 8:00 AM- We begin at the Echo dirt lot just past the right turn you take to Trail Canyon. We hike over to the South Loop and with an easy pace make our way up several sections of steps, and up the switchbacks to the First Overlook. After our break, it’s back to the cars. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, May 10th, South Loop to Second Overlook/MT. Charleston- Moderate to strenuous, 5.5 miles,1600 FT elevation gain, 8 AM- Meet up at the Cathedral Rock/South Loop parking lot, Kyle Canyon Road, at 8 a.m. We’ll take a nice moderate pace as we acclimate to the higher elevation(s). We may have to trek over some melting, dirty drifted piles of the last remnants of our winter up in the mountains. Coordinator- John Hammel

Wednesday, May 11th, Eagle’s Nest/Fletcher Canyon- Moderate, 6 miles, 1100 FT. gain, 8:00 AM- The hike begins at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead on Kyle Canyon Road. We will do the Eagle’s Nest Loop first and then continue up Fletcher Canyon to Obstacle Rock where we will take our break. This scenic canyon is a favorite hike for many members. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road by 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Thursday, May 12th, Spring Mountain Ranch Overlook- Moderately strenuous, 8 miles, 1200 FT gain, 7 AM- We drive up 160 just beyond Mountain Springs Summit and fire station where we take a road to the right. If we have 4x4's we can go about a half mile more. Following a trail about 4 miles takes us to the overlook. We return the same way. We will have a lunch break of 30-40 minutes. Meet the coordinator at the gas station on 160 and 159 at 7 AM. RSVP required/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy  Email address- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com  Note- Weather could change time or hike. Check the website- 

Friday, May 13th, Lower Bristlecone Trail to Bonanza Trail Junction/Lee Canyon- Easy to moderate, 6.3 miles, 930 FT elevation gain, 8 AM- Meet up at the Lower Bristlecone parking area off Lee Canyon Road at 8 a.m. This will be an up and back hike on the same trail/road. Coordinator- John Hammel

Sunday, May 15th, Boneshaker Loop- Moderate, 5-6 miles, 1200 FT gain, 7:30 AM- This hike starts out going up the Boneshaker Trail. As this levels out the pace will be moderate. We will connect with the Three Amigos Trail that will take us across to the Bob Gnarly Trail down the canyon or the Bombs Voyage Trail that will run by the Muffins. We will begin at the Horse Stables/Corrals at 7:30 AM where you will meet the coordinator. Weather could change our meeting time. RSVP required- Limit of 12 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy  Email address- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Monday, May 16th, Cockscomb Ridge- Moderately strenuous, 5.5 miles, 1800 FT. gain, 8:00 AM- We will use Trail Canyon to get to this scenic ridge with views of Mount Charleston and lots of Bristlecone trees. My pacing up Trail Canyon will be 1.5 mph. After we regroup at the saddle, we turn right to hike the ridge to the base of Cockscomb Peak. There is some exposure along one section of the spine on the ridge. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road by 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, May 17th, North Loop Trail to Raintree/MT Charleston- Moderate to strenuous, 5.5 miles, 1600 FT elevation gain, 8 AM-  Meet up at the North Loop Trail parking lot off Deer Creek Road at 8 a.m. We’ll hike past the Meadows up to the main saddle with spectacular views of Mummy’s Toe, Fletcher Peak, et al. We’ll continue over to Raintree and back out the same route. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Wednesday, May 18th, Wild Horse Canyon/Ridge/Deer Creek- Moderate, 4 - 5 miles, 700 FT. gain, 8:00 AM- We begin at the Deer Creek picnic parking area and make our way over to Wild Horse Canyon. This scenic canyon offers shade and diversity of flora and is a steady climb up to Cactus Jack. We traverse this trail over to the ridge where views make it an ideal break spot. As we continue along the ridge, the views, Bristlecone trees and hopefully flowers will provide plenty of scenery. We use Cougar Ridge Road to take us to Deer Creek Trail and to an old shelter. Then it’s back down Deer Creek to the cars. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon by 8:00. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Friday, May 20th, Mummy Springs/Mt. Charleston- Trailhead- Deer Creek Picnic parking area- Strenuous,5.5 miles, 1700 FT elevation gain, 8 AM- We’ll meet at the Deer Creek picnic area parking lot off of Deer Creek Road. We’ll hike past the picnic area and up the dirt road to the Deer Creek Trail to Mummy’s Tummy Trail and take a left over to the Springs. From there we'll hike over to Raintree and down to the North Loop Meadow, then down to Wild Horse Canyon and back to the picnic area parking lot. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Friday through Sunday, May 20th to 22nd, Hackberry Creek Backpack Excursion- Moderate- The route follows the creek so there's an easy elevation gain, about 5 miles to hike to the camp area for 2 nights with extended day hikes. Near Kanab Utah- Besides the creek, the terrain features also include a slot canyon, open area which becomes a narrows, colorful sandstone formations, and lots of cottonwood trees. This is some of Utah’s great scenery. Water needs to be purified for drinking. The drive over is about 4.5 hours which includes 14 miles of good dirt road. Requires wading! RSVP required/Limit of 12- Coordinator- David Hardy  

Email address- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Monday, May 23rd, Stanley B Saddle- Moderately strenuous, 4 miles, 1800 FT. gain, 8:00 AM- The trailhead is now a paved lot past Fletcher Canyon but before the fire station on the right side of Kyle Canyon Road. This hike begins in a dry creek area, transitions to Mountain Mahogany area, hikes past the mine and climbs steadily up to the saddle. Use of hands are required to climb up several limestone dry falls and then there is a steep scree field to get to the saddle. Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Thursday, May 26th, Red Spring and Beyond Lizard Hike- Moderate, 5 miles, elevation gain of 600 FT plus a bit of scrambling, 6 AM- Our trail goes through good lizard habitats and with the warmer weather we should see some big juicy ones. Meet the coordinator at Red Spring Trailhead/Calico Basin by 6 AM. RSVP with a limit of 12- Coordinator- David Hardy   

Email address- hardyhikers@embarqmail. com

Friday, May 27th, Upper Bristlecone/No Name Loop/Lee Canyon- Moderate to strenuous, 6 miles, 1200 FT elevation gain, 8 AM-  We’ll begin at the Upper Bristlecone Trail making our way over to the No Name Juncture where we make a left. We’ll continue up and over to the Bonanza Trail Junction/Switchbacks to intersect the other section of the Upper Bristlecone back to the cars. Meet up by 8 AM at the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead parking lot/ski area off of Lee Canyon Road. Coordinator- John Hammel

Sunday, May 29th, Ash Canyon Meadow- Easy, 4 miles, 200 FT elevation gain, 6 AM- This early morning hike will begin near Red Spring and will travel through red rock formations as well as ash and cottonwood trees. Meet the coordinator at the Red Spring parking lot at 6 AM; those coming from Red Rock Casino should start for the trailhead about 15 minutes earlier. RSVP required/Limit of 12- Coordinator- David Hardy   Email address- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com   

Monday, May 30th, Trail Canyon- Moderately strenuous, 4 miles, 1574 FT elevation gain, 8:00 AM-  Meet at the trailhead at 8am. Pace will be moderate with a break at the saddle and then we return to the cars. Coordinators- Kay Taylor/Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, May 31st, Griffith Peak via South Loop Trail/Preparation for MT Charleston- Moderate to strenuous, 9.7 miles, 3350 FT elevation gain, altitude training, just under 6 hours of hiking- Meet up at the South Loop/Cathedral Rock Trailhead parking lot off of Kyle Canyon Road by 8 AM. This trail climbs the south side of Kyle Canyon to the saddle/crest. We then turn left to gain the peak, a steep final ascent with spectacular views at the summit and over to MT Charleston. Coordinator- John Hammel 

April 2022 Hike List

 Friday, April 1st, First Creek Canyon- Easy, moderate, 4 to 4.5 miles, less than 700 feet elevation gain, Class 2, 8:00 A.M- Meet at the First Creek Trailhead off Route 159. Nice scenery, cottonwood trees, coupled with a side trip to the falls, plus great views of the sandstone cliffs. We’ll do a little bit of scrambling further up the trail. Coordinator- John Hammel  

Saturday, April 2, Lovell Canyon- Easy, 4 miles, 600 feet of elevation gain- This hidden gem of a hike tucked behind MT Charleston requires a bit of a drive, approximately 30 minutes from the Chevron Gas Station, 159/160 in Blue Diamond. However, the drive off of 160 back to the trailhead is well worth the time. The hike will provide unique views and foliage. We will also pass a unique privately owned compound. The road into Lovell Canyon is paved. Meet at the Chevron Gas Station by 8 AM. Coordinators-  Ron and Sandi Hindmarch

Sunday, April 3, Canyon #4A Loop- This is rated moderately strenuous with a distance of some 5 miles coupled with a 1000 FT elevation gain, plus Class II - III scrambling required. We begin from Blue Diamond, which is about a half mile from the mouth of #4A. There's considerable scrambling all the way. Once we exit this deep canyon we will continue down the ridgeline trail separating #4A and Canyon #3 back to the cars. Meet at the county park on the left side of the entrance road into Blue Diamond where you will meet the coordinator for an 8:00 AM start of the hike. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy   hardyhikers@embarqmail.com   

Monday, April 4th, Windy Peak- Moderately strenuous, 5 miles, 1100 ft. gain, Class 3 sections, 8:00 AM- Our hike begins at the Mountain SpringsTrailhead on Hwy 160. We tackle Heart Attack Hill up to the ridge. We turn left and hike the rolling ridge trail to the right turn to Windy Peak. The views are spectacular- Lovell Canyon, the sandstone peaks of Red Rock, and the valley. We begin our Class 3 climb then hike on the sandstone and rocks to our destination. After our break, we return on the trail to the top of Heart Attack Hill. From there we make our way over to a different ridge and back down to the cars. Meet at the Chevron gas station on the corner of 159/160 at 8:00 AM or at the trailhead at 8:30 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, April 5th, Black Mesa/Lake Mead- Moderate, 4-4.5 miles, less than 800 FT elevation gain, Class 2, 8:00 AM- Meet at CVS parking lot facing Lake Mead Boulevard, which is at the corner of Lake Mead & Hollywood Blvd. We will also stop at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road to check for hikers. Our trailhead is at the Mile Marker 10.5 Trailhead before the turnoff for Callville Bay. There is no real trail up to the Mesa and lots of ways up. We will take the safest way up and back down and enjoy the climb and spectacular views of Boulder Basin. Coordinator- John Hammel  

Wednesday, April 6th, Cactus Garden/Blue Diamond OB- Moderate, 5-6 miles, 900 FT gain, 8:00 AM- We begin this at the small dirt lot off of Hwy 159 that is located on the right after Bonnie Springs Road but before Blue Diamond. The right turn into the lot is gravel and kind of hidden. We pass through a gate and use the bike/hike trails. The trail ascends the hill as we make our way up to the Cactus Garden. After our break, we turn around to hike back to our cars. Be at the dirt lot for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Friday, April 8th, Calico Scramble/Red Rock Canyon NCA- Moderately strenuous, 3-4 miles, 800+ FT gain, Class 3, 8:00 AM- Meet at Sandstone Quarry parking lot by 8 AM.  You need to get through the entrance gate by 7:30 AM. We will take the Calico Tank Trail a short distance and then begin to scramble up the sandstone. The way up is mostly scrambling on sandstone and mostly up. We take our break overlooking Ash Canyon and Dragon Ridge by the large tank. We then descend down the back side to the Rattlesnake Trail. We turn left and scramble back to the wash trail and back to the cars. Depart the Sandstone Quarry at 8:00 AM. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Saturday, April 9th, Spring Mountain Ranch- Easy, 3 miles, 250 FT of elevation gain-  This hike will pass through easy trails along the revamped Lake Harriet. We will also be provided views of Sandstone Canyon. On this beautiful hike, we should see many varieties of wild flowers. We will also view some of the old ranch stone structures.  After the hike, we will gather for a bring your own picnic next to the ranch house.  After we eat, you are welcomed to tour the ranch house. We will also offer for any one who wishes, an addition mile hike in search of more wild flowers and interesting birds. Meet  at Red Rock Hotel and Casino at 8 AM departure. We will carpool because this requires a state park pass. The cost is $10 per vehicle. If you don't have a state park pass bring some singles for entrance to the park. Limited to 20 people. Click the RSVP button or text us at 5857478060 to reserve a spot. Coordinators- Ron & Sandi Hindmarch

Sunday, April 10th, South End Tertiary Ridge-Molly’s Loop- Moderate, 6 miles, 8 AM- We begin this spring hike from Blue Diamond walking through part of Blue Diamond then up the ridge in back, back down to near Hwy 160, then Molly’s Loop which circles Red Rock Hill and back to where we started. There is a possible side trip to an alcove popular with climbers. Meet at the county park on the left side of the entrance road into Blue Diamond where you will meet the coordinator for an 8 AM start to the hike. RSVP/Limit of 15 hikers- Coordinator- David Hardy

Monday, April 11th, Twilight Zone To Grapevine Springs (Exploration)- Moderate strenuous, 6-7 miles, 1600 ft. gain, 8:00 AM- For detailed information about this hike, please refer to Kay’s blog entry dated 10/14/2012 called Twilight Zone to Grapevine Springs. We will meet at the large dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road just after exiting the 95 North at 8:00 AM. Carpooling from there, we drive to the Twilight Zone dirt lot. This is the first time I will attempt to repeat this route so patience and possible off trail hiking will be necessary. We take a break on the ridge where the spring is located. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, April 12th, Razorback Wash South/Lake Mead/Shuttle- Easy, 6.5 miles, 700 FT gain, Class 1, 7:30 AM- Meet at CVS parking lot facing Lake Mead Blvd., corner of Lake Mead & Hollywood Blvd. We will also stop at MM 4 on Northshore Road. Our trailhead is at the 22.6 MM Trailhead. This hike heads down Razorback Wash to Cottonwood Wash and ends at MM 18.2 pull off/TH. A car for drivers will have to be stationed there. Coordinator- John Hammel

Wednesday, April 13th, Lower Showgirl OB- Moderate, 6 miles, 700 FT gain, 8:00 AM- Meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Road/95 for carpooling at 8:00 AM. We drive to the trailhead which is a dirt road/lot past Harris Springs Road. The hike is all trail through yucca, Joshua trees, and other dessert plants. We will take our break at the 3 mile marker then turn around. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Thursday, April 14th, Little Zion- Strenuous, 7:30 AM- We begin the hike near Mountain Springs Summit using a trail. After a couple of miles of walking through a pinyon/juniper forest, we leave the trail, turning right up a wash. There is some scrambling as we make our way to the top of the ridge. We may need to climb higher along the crest until we find the way down we want. We will drop about 300 FT. This area has a nice stand of ponderosa pines and sometimes a small creek running through the colorful sandstone formation. Total miles around 7-8 and around 1500 FT. elevation gain. RSVP/Limit of 15 hikers.  Please bring a lunch!  We leave from the Chevron gas station on 159/160 at 7:30 AM. Coordinator- David Hardy  hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Friday, April 15th, Eagles Nest Loop/Kyle Canyon- Easy, 3-4 miles, 300 FT. gain, Class 1, 8:00 AM- Meet at the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead parking lot off of Kyle Canyon Road. This is a short easy hike just to begin some acclimation to the higher elevations. We may bushwhack a bit off trail to scramble around the base of the mountain there. Coordinator- John Hammel

Saturday, April 16th, South Summerlin Cliffs O&B- Moderately strenuous- It’s a 6-7 mile trek with an elevation gain of 1300 FT. The first section is a steep climb up a ridge with Class II scrambling and slippery slopes. We'll return back via this slope. The hike's middle section is an easy loop on top the ridge offering nice views. Our trailhead/meeting point is Oak Leaf Park at 6303 Mesa Park Drive, which can be Googled for directions from where you live. It's just half a block west of where Mesa Park Drive intersects with Hualapai. We’ll depart from there by 7:30 AM. RSVP/Limit of 12- Coordinator- Dave Lavery

Sunday, April 17th, Bird Spring Range- This is one we could not do earlier due to snow. It's rated moderately strenuous with a distance of 6 miles and an elevation gain of 1500 FT. Our route will start from the gravel trailhead parking area about one-half mile south of Highway 160 that is also used for the shorter Badger Pass trek. Starting in a northerly direction, the route goes around the north end of a ridge and meets the Badger Pass Trail. Near this junction the group will begin a cross-country route east up a ridge that connects with the main north-south spine of the small range. The return will be down to Badger Pass on the way back to the vehicles. The early assembly point will be at Red Rock Casino for a 7:15 AM departure, heading for the Chevron gas station at the intersection of Highways 159/160 to meet the coordinator and other south side participants. The full group will leave there for the hike at 7:30 AM. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy

Monday, April 18th, Hollow Rock Peak- Moderately strenuous, Class 3 sections, 6 miles, 1600 ft. gain, 8:00 AM- Let’s meet at the gas station on the corner of 159 and 160 at 8:00 AM and we can carpool from there. Our trailhead is Mountain Springs dirt lot. We ascend Heart Attack Hill and turn right at the saddle. The trail makes its way along the ridge. It then enters the sandstone area where use of hands and scrambling are necessary. We take a break at the base of Hollow Rock and then return to the cars using the same ridge down that we did on the Windy Peak hike. Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Tuesday, April 19th- AtBF CLUB PICNIC- Starts at 9 AM- Coordinator- Lettie Gutierrez

Wednesday to Friday, April 20th thru 22nd- Surprise Canyon Backpack- It is rated moderately strenuous, 12+ miles, 6 with packs plus wading, scrambling around cascades and waterfalls. Surprise Canyon is on the west side of the Panamints and straddles BLM and NP lands. It is 12 ½ miles round trip backpack but not all those miles with the pack. Hike starts at 2700 FT and by the time we reach the ghost town of Panamint City we are at 6700 FT. Plan on wet feet and scrambling around a few  water falls. This hike includes Panamint City, now a mining ghost town which is accessible only by hiking. HCV’s needed for the last couple of miles to the trailhead. When you commit to this trip you will get more information such as when we leave Las Vegas and the route. There are videos of this area on YouTube. Search Surprise Canyon, California. RSVP/Limit of 12- Coordinator- David Hardy- 

Friday, April 22nd, Escarpment via Old Town/Kyle Canyon- Easy to moderate, 6-7 miles, 700 FT. gain, Class 1, 8:00 AM- Meet at the Traffic Circle TH parking lot across from the Spring Mountains Visitor Center, a right hand turn off of the traffic circle on Kyle Canyon Road. We will leave one or two cars at the parking lot and drive up to the school parking lot in Old Town. This is where the hike begins. We follow the trail down to hike the Escarpment Loop. A little distance but more to begin acclimating to the higher elevation hiking to come. Coordinator- John Hammel

Saturday, April 23rd, Harris Slot Canyon Wash/Shuttle- Easy/moderate, 5 miles, all downhill with a 1200 ft. elevation loss, 8 AM- This will be a downhill hike of about 5 miles with 1200ft of altitude loss. We will leave a car at the Harris Slot TH parking lot and start the hike from the Stepladder Trailhead lot across from the visitor center at 8:30. It is a nice canyon with only minor scrambling involved, nice scenery, and my pace will accommodate everyone. We will meet at the dirt lot at the bottom of Kyle Canyon Rd exit 96 on US95 at 8AM. Coordinator- John Ward

Tuesday, April 26th, Cathedral Rock/Little Falls- Easy moderate, 4 miles, 500 FT. gain, Class 1, 8:00 AM- Another opportunity to get inured to the thinner air and higher elevations of the Spring Mountains. We’ll head up to Cathedral Rock and finish off with a side trip to the Little Falls. Perhaps there’ll be some water! Meet up at the South Loop/Cathedral Rock Trailhead off of Kyle Canyon Road. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Friday, April 29th, Orange Trail/Catch Pen Loop/Deer Creek- Moderately strenuous, 8.5 miles, 1800 FT. gain, Class 1, 8:00 AM- Meet at the Traffic Circle TH parking lot across from the Spring Mountains Visitor Center, right hand turn off of the circle on Kyle Canyon Road. We’ll make our initial meet up in this lot and then drive/carpool over to the trailhead off of Deer Creek Road about 1/3 of a mile past the Desert View Overlook. Coordinator- John Hammel

March 2022 Hike List

 Tuesday, March 1st, Petroglyph Canyon Rim Route/Fortress Butte Area Loop/Exploratory- Moderately strenuous, 5-6 miles- It's a different take on this traditional route as we will really begin this hike from the east entrance of Petroglyph Canyon. There we'll pick a rim, then head up and over with views of this canyon and the surrounding area that we have never seen before. Once down on the west side, we'll visit the display of petroglyphs. And then it's through the Narrows. Per our efforts on our last exploratory excursion, once we're clear of that interesting terrain feature, we'll turn up a shallow wash to gain the canyon's top ridgeline again, then drop back down to the east entrance, do some exploring here. Expect loose rock, steep areas, but no real brush to contend with. Gloves- Meet-up- Railroad Pass Hotel, Casino, and Travel Center off of I-11. We'll leave, caravan from there by 8 AM- Coordinators- David Gray/John Hammel-

Tuesday, March 1st, Windy Peak East Route- Very strenuous, 4.5 miles, 2600 FT gain, 5 hours, Class 3- Meet-up- Be ready to go by 8am at the Late Night Trailhead Parking Lot; 4x4 HCVs will be needed. This hike will take us to the summit of Windy Peak using the eastern climber's trail. We will scramble up some loose rock and then onto solid sandstone past some rock climbing routes and onto the summit. This route is very steep and physically challenging. There is plenty of parking near the trailhead but we will still need 4x4 HC vehicles to get there. We are asking for RSVPs to ensure we have enough suitable vehicles. Coordinators- Jerry and Cheryl Thomas

Thursday, March 3rd, Guardian Angel Trail/Calico Basin- Moderately strenuous with a distance of some 5 miles, 1000 FT elevation gain- Starting from Red Springs TH we will take the Guardian Angel Trail up a steep route to a pass, then down the other side with lots of scrambling. Be sure to look for the Guardian Angel. When we reach the trails below Calico #2, we swing around below Calico #1, and back to Red Springs. Meet at the Red Springs Picnic Area/TH parking lot by 8 AM. RSVP is required/Limit of 12- Coordinator- David Hardy

Friday, March 4th, Red Springs/Calico Hills Loop/Ash Canyon- Moderately strenuous with a distance of 8 miles, elevation gain of 900 FT, some Class II-III scrambling, mostly on the descent portion of this traditional route. From the southern end of Calico Hills we'll make our way up to the Sandstone Quarry, pick up the Rattlesnake Trail, then over to Ash Canyon Overlook. We'll break here, decide how we'll descend into Ash Canyon to catch the Calico Hills Base Trail back to our cars. Meet at the Red Springs Picnic Area/TH/Calico Basin by 8 AM. Coordinator- David Gray

Sunday, March 6th, Exploring The Far End of Cottonwood Valley- It will be anywhere from 5 - 8 miles with 1000 FT+ of elevation gain. There are various ridges/canyons to explore and the best way to plan this is to decide what we want to do when we get there. We will need HCVs or 4x4s as the Cottonwood Road is bad in places. About 2 miles in is a possible hike. If we decide not to do that we will go another mile and select an area to explore. Any of these will be a new hike for the club. Bring a lunch. We will leave from the Chevron gas station at 159/160 at 7 AM. Parking there is getting more difficult. Do not park in the lot behind the station. It's private property. There is now a large area on the east side that is available. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy

Monday, March 7th, Keystone Thrust via Sandstone Quarry/Red Rock Canyon- Moderately strenuous, 7 miles, 1700 FT gain, Class II, 8 AM- We will take the Grand Circle Trail from the Sandstone Quarry parking lot over to White Rock where we will pick up the Keystone Thrust Trail.  After scrambling down the very colorful canyon below the Keystone Thrust, we head back to the Grand Circle and Sandstone Quarry. Pass through the Red Rock Canyon fee booth on Highway 159 by 7:45 to be at the Sandstone Quarry parking lot for our 8 AM step off. You will not need a reservation. Coordinator- Elizabeth Letzler-   

Tuesday, March 8th, Foundation Hill/South Canyon/Scrambling/Exploratory- Mostly moderately strenuous, but strenuous in a few places. Class II - III scrambling required. We'll be working the South Canyon up to the Foundation Peak or better yet, we'll turn to the left and head over to Red Peak above Angel Pass. We'll break up at the peak! Then we'll drop down- If we go to Red Peak, we'll attempt to scramble drop down via the up route to Angel Pass Saddle. If we end up on top of Foundation Hill, then we'll drop down as we did before on the north side by the entrance to Ash Canyon. Meet-up- Kraft Mountain TH parking lot off of Sandstone Road, Calico Basin. Gloves, please- Step off at 8 AM- Coordinators- David Gray and John Hammel- 

Thursday, March 10th, Canyon #4A Loop- This is rated moderately strenuous, distance of some 5 miles with a 1000 FT elevation gain, Class II - III scrambling required. We begin from Blue Diamond, which is about a half mile from the mouth of #4A. There's considerable scrambling all the way. Once we exit this deep canyon we will continue down the ridgeline trail separating #4A and Canyon #3 back to the cars. Meet at the county park on the left side of the entrance road into Blue Diamond where you will meet the coordinator for an 8:00 AM start of the hike. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy   hardyhikers@embarqmail.com  

Sunday, March 13th, Calico Loop/Calico Basin- Moderately strenuous, about 7 miles, 1000 FT of elevation gain with Class II - III scrambling required in places. This hike begins at the Red Springs TH parking lot, takes us over 5-Stop Hill, then up Gateway for about 10 minutes, over to the Sandstone Quarry for our break. While there we will check out the slot canyon. From there we follow the Grand Circle Tail past Calico #2 and #1 back to Red Springs. RSVP/Limit of 12- Meet the Coordinator at Red Springs by 8 AM. Coordinator- David Hardy. 

Monday, March 14th, Pine Creek Loop via Arnight Trail- Moderate, 6 miles, 600 FT gain, 8 AM- Our hike will begin at the parking lot at the exit to the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop Drive. We will pick up the Arnight Trail at the Oak Creek Canyon North TH, then take the Knoll Trail to Pine Creek. After a break at the Wilson homestead ruins we will take the loop trail into Pine Creek Canyon, then back to the cars the way we came. Coming from the north on Highway 159 the parking lot is on the right about a mile or so past the Red Rock Canyon Visitors Center which is also on the right.  Coming from the south on Highway 159, it is on the left about a mile past the Middle Oak Creek TH which is also on the left. Step off at 8 AM. Coordinator- Elizabeth Letzler

Tuesday, March 15th, Gray Fox Canyon/7 Pools/Rooster Rock/Gray Cap/Exploratory- Strenuous to moderately strenuous scrambling route that's anywhere from 4.5 to 5.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1500 FT. . . . if we make it to Gray Cap. Class II & III effort required through several colorful areas of sandstone. If you enjoy going to Brownstone Canyon, you'll like this. Another effort will follow this as there are two ways to the top. Gloves, please. Meet-up- Kraft Mountain Trailhead parking lot at the end of Sandstone Drive in Calico Basin. We'll step off at 8 AM sharp. Coordinators- David Gray and John Hammel

Tuesday, March 15th, Bridge Mountain from Lovell Canyon- Very strenuous,10 miles, 3500 FT gain, 8 hours of hiking, Class 3, meet 7:30am at the Late Night Trailhead Parking Lot, 4x4 HCV needed. We will hike to the summit of Bridge Mountain accessing the trail from Lovell Canyon. There is a nice parking area for up to 3 vehicles. The hike is somewhat longer than other approaches but a lot of the walking is up Rocky Gap Road and it is shorter and less elevation gain than hiking from Willow Springs. We are limiting the number of hikers to 12 and requesting RSVPs to ensure we have enough vehicles. Coordinators- Jerry and Cheryl Thomas

Friday to Sunday, March 18th thru the 20th, Gold Butte Camping-  The drive to Whitney Pockets Campground is about an hour after leaving I-15 entering Mesquite. Mostly paved road of 21 miles but slow driving. Restrooms are provided. There is no water so bring what you need for the 3 days. The campground is surrounded by colorful sandstone formations. Numerous hikes available. Picto/petroglyphs. Rock formations, narrow canyons, and valleys. RSVP required/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy- Email- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Friday, March 18th, Rattlesnake Canyon/Red Rock Canyon/NEW- Moderately strenuous, six plus miles, Class II - III required with an elevation gain that will approach, possibly exceed 1000 FT. This will be different this time as we'll head past the turnoff (LEFT) to the waterfalls/terrace area. That's right- I've been looking at the main trail that continues on toward the cliff faces, ridges up ahead that form the east canyon wall along Rocky Gap Road. The route splits further up with a branch going left, the other continuing on. Gloves, please. Meet-up- Be at the Willow Springs Trailhead by 7:45 AM as we'll step off at 8 AM. Make sure to come through the fee booths by 7 AM so that you're not required to set, pay for a reservation. Google your driving time to Red Rock Canyon, add at least 40 minutes plus to get around the Scenic Loop Drive. Coordinator- David Gray

Monday, March 21st, Grand Circle Loop CCW-Strenuous, 11.4 miles, 1600 FT gain, 8 AM- We begin at the Red Rock Canyon Visitors Center, hike over to the Calico Basin to Sandstone Quarry, then to White Rock and back to the Visitors Center. Make sure you pass through the fee booth before 8 AM to avoid needing a reservation. Red Rock Canyon is off of Highway 159 several miles west of the 215: on the right coming from the north, on the left coming from the south. Step off at 8 AM. Coordinator-Elizabeth Letzler

Thursday, March 24th, Cottonwood Pass Loop- Moderate, 6 miles with an elevation gain of 1000 FT, but no scrambling is required. The trek will start from the gravel parking trailhead area south of Highway 160 that is also used for the Badger Pass trek. It will follow the main road until we find a trail off to the right. We will take that to the Broken Escalator Trail to reach our high point of the day and where we will take our break. Then the loop goes past Cottonwood Pass on the Goodsprings Road before heading back to the vehicles through Red Valley. Look for wild horses. We will initially meet at the Chevron gas station on Highways 159/160 at 7:30 AM. Remember, we are required to parked our vehicles in the facility's east lot. The back lot is private property. We will step off at about 7:45 AM from the trailhead lot noted above. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy   Email address- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com   

Sunday, March 27th, Back Hills Lawn Mower Route- Moderate, 6 miles, 600 FT total elevation gain, 8 AM- The hike begins at the gravel parking area on the right side of Hwy 160 about 2 miles beyond the Chevron gas station on 159/160. The route will follow the Landmine Trail and then the Rubber Ducky Trail. We will check the ducky tree for rubber ducks. A little beyond that, we connect with the Old Spanish Trail for a short distance and then connect with the Lawn Mower Trail. We will follow this, drop into a canyon, until we connect with the trail leading back to the parking lot. This is to be a moderate paced hike. We leave from the Chevron gas station by 8 AM. RSVP required/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy 

Starting Monday, March 28th- I am planning a 5 day trip to the Badlands of NW New Mexico- Monday, March 28th - Friday, April 1st. I have reserved a room at the Comfort Suites in Farmington. Several other hotels are nearby, offering various prices. We'll drive over on Monday, March 28th, hike for three days, then drive home on Friday, April 1st- Available hikes: Bisti Badlands, King of Wings and Alien Throne, and an exploratory trek in the Fossil Forest-  On Tuesday, we will do Bisti Badlands. This is a 6-7 mile hike that is mostly flat with no significant scrambling. It is half in a flat bottom clay wash and half in clay hills. Pace will be a strolling photography pace. We will see the cracked eggs, petrified wood, Bisti Wings, and other things. Link to Bisti Badlands blog-  https://rdavidmorrow.blogspot.com/2021/11/bisti-badlands-new-mexico-november-2021.html 

 On Wednesday, we will hike to the King of Wings, and Alien throne all in the same hike. It will also be about 7 miles open country hiking with some clay hills. No significant elevation or scrambling. Link to King of Wings- 

https://rdavidmorrow.blogspot.com/2021/11/king%20of-wings-and-alien-throne.html

On Thursday we will explore the Fossil Forest. I haven't been there, but the country should be the same type. These areas and points of interest are googleable. RSVP required/Limit of 20 hikers- Coordinator- David Morrow

Thursday, March 31st, Blue Diamond Hill- Moderate, 6 miles, 800 FT gain, 8 AM- We will begin at the horse corrals at 8 A.M. and follow a network of trails. First will be the Fossil Canyon Trail followed by the Dog Food Loop then back down to the cars by way of the Cat in the Hat Trail and finally the Bunny Trail. Meet the coordinator at 8 AM at the Horse Stables/Corrals TH/159. RSVP required/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy

February 2022 Hike List

 Tuesday, February 1st, Black Velvet Peak via Climber's Descent Route- Very strenuous, Class 3, 3.6 miles, 2400 FT, 4 hours, meet 8am at the Late Night Trailhead Parking Lot off of 160. This hike follows a climber's descent trail on the east face of Black Velvet Peak.  The trail is very steep with lots of difficult class 2 and some class 3 scrambling. We will need HC/4WD vehicles to get to the trailhead. We have asked you to RSVP so we can ensure that we have enough vehicles to get to the trailhead. We will meet at 8am at the Late Night Trailhead Parking Lot. From there we will take HC/4WD on the dirt road to the trailhead. Please RSVP if you're providing a HC/4X4 vehicle! No limit on the number of hikers. Coordinators- Jerry and Cheryl Thomas

Thursday, February 3rd, Late Night Parking to Blue Diamond/Shuttle- Moderately strenuous, 8-9 miles, 1200 FT. elevation gain, 7:30 AM. We will hike the Late Night Trail from the parking lot and eventually leave it to take a fainter trail up to the base of the canyons of the Red Rock Bluffs. We will pass by petroglyphs and two springs, and the mouth of Black Velvet Canyon, then on toward Tertiary Ridge which we will follow a trail to the top and follow it back to where we drop into Blue Diamond. Bring a lunch. A car shuttle is required so we need to meet the coordinator at the county park on the left side of the entrance road into Blue Diamond at 7:30 AM. RSVP required/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy  hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Saturday February 5th, Ash Meadows Loop- EASY, 3.5 miles, 100 feet elevation gain, 8 AM- This easy hike starts from the Calico Basin parking lot. Initially we hug the cliff walls and look for climbers. Then we'll go on the Girl Scout Trail for a while and pass the foundation of a house that was going to be built on this site a long time ago. After that, it is trekking over to the meadow's flowing spring, passing many ash trees on our left. Our break point will be near a large boulder in this area. Here we'll enjoy the morning. Going back will take us on another route that closes the loop as it passes by the trail up into Angel Pass. This will be done at our usually leisurely pace. Meet at the Red Rock Casino parking lot for an 8 AM departure. Coordinators- Ron and Sandi Hindmarch

Sunday, February 6th, Buffington Pockets/Exploratory- Estimated distance of 5-6 miles, elevation gain in question. From I-15 at Exit 75, turn onto the Valley of Fire Road and after about 3 miles, the road jogs to the left, but we keep going strait onto a gravel/dirt road for about 5 miles where we will park. The hike begins there and we can explore in a variety of directions. There is an old dam close by and we will likely head over there to start. It is possible to follow the creek bed above for as long as we want through colorful sandstone and will find arches and other formations along the way. Be sure to bring a lunch as the colors will make you think of food. Meet the coordinator at the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza just off I-15 (Exit 75) at the start of the Valley of Fire Road at 8 AM. Allow 20-30 minutes if you're coming from the Aliante Casino (34 miles). Vehicle clearance- My RAV has 9 inches of clearance. David Gray's KIA has 10 1/2 inches of clearance. RSVP/Limit of 15- Coordinator- David Hardy

Monday, February 7th, Conglomerate Gardens Loop/Blue Diamond Hill- Moderately strenuous, 6.4 miles with 1000 FT of elevation gain- We will hike the traditional route up the Bunny Trail to Over the Moon Trail, then back down through the desert garden area on Kibbles & Bits. TH- Cowboy Stables Trailhead parking lot/159 across from Red Rock- Time 8 AM- Driving Directions- Coming from the north it is on the left side of Highway 159 about a mile past the entrance to Red Rock Canyon on the right. Coming up Highway 159 from the south it is about 3/4 of a mile past the Red Rock Overlook on the left. Coordinator- Liz Letzler

Tuesday, February 8th, Lava Butte/Lake Mead- Moderate to strenuous climbing.  Approximately 5.2 miles round trip. Cumulative elevation gain of approximately 1500 feet. The top of this mountain offers spectacular views of the Lake Mead area, and Lake Las Vegas. We’ll hike across the desert to the left side of the mountain and then begin our ascent. Northshore Road turnoff closest to Mile Marker (MM) 2- Meeting point is the CVS parking lot Lake Mead Blvd and Hollywood at 7:30 AM. We will then caravan/car pool to MM 2 off of Northshore Road. Coordinator- John Hammel

Thursday, February 10th, Bird Spring Ridges- This moderately strenuous hike of 6 miles with around 1,500 feet of elevation gain will start from the dirt parking area also used for the short version of Badger Pass. After crossing Badger Pass the route heads up a series of ridges to the high point of the small range, then connects with the Deadhorse Trail passing through Red Valley on the way back to the vehicles. Early assembly will be at Red Rock Casino with the group leaving at 7:30 A.M. Final assembly point will be the Chevron gas station at the junction of Highways 159 and 160, where they will meet the coordinator and any other south side participants for an 8 AM departure. RSVP/15 for a limit- Coordinator- David Hardy  Email- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Sunday, February 13th, Dragon Canyon/Kraft MT Loop/Calico Basin- Moderately strenuous, 5-6 miles,  1200 FT elevation gain, Class II-III required, 8 AM. It’s an interesting route up as we slay the dragon. Then it’s onto Gateway Wash for a bit of scrambling. We’ll take our break in the boulder section of Gateway. As we come around on the east end of Kraft Mountain, we’ll take time to watch the climbers practice their techniques and visit nearby petroglyphs. Meet at the Kraft Mountain Trailhead gravel parking lot at the end of Sandstone Road by 8 AM. Coordinator- David Gray

Monday, February 14th, Boneshaker Hill/Fossil Ridge Loop- Moderately strenuous, 6 miles, 200 FT gain- From the Cowboy Stables Trailhead parking lot we hike past the corral to Boneshaker Trail. We'll regroup and take a breather after the switchbacks, then onward to SARS and over to the Fossil Ridge Trail and back to the parking lot. We step off at 8 AM- Driving Directions- Coming from the north on Highway 159, it is located on the left about a mile past the entrance to Red Rock Canyon on the right. Coming from the south on Highway 159, this lot is on the right about 3/4 of a mile past the Red Rock Overlook on your left. Coordinator- Liz Letzler

Tuesday, February 15th, Mount Wilson via Lovell Canyon Road- Very Strenuous, Class 3, 8 miles, 2600 FT, 7 hours, meet at Late Night Trailhead Parking Lot on 160 by 7:30am. This route has lots of steep scrambling up a limestone gully and up sandstone to the peak.  There is one spot where we drop down from the limestone crest onto the saddle leading to the sandstone where it is very steep with loose rock and scree. Coming back up this spot is extremely steep and very strenuous.  At this point it would be advisable to use a pole or poles. The rest of the hike consists of Class 2 hiking up a wash on the west side in the limestone area and mainly Class 2 scrambling up the sandstone to the summit. There may be a couple of spots that are class 3. We will need high clearance 4WD vehicles to get to the trailhead. RSVP/limit of 12- We have to restrict the number of people to 12 due to a limitation of parking at the trailhead. Please RSVP/limit 12- Advise if you're providing a HC and/or 4WD. Meet 7:30am at the Late Night Trailhead Parking Lot on 160. Coordinators- Jerry and Cheryl Thomas

Thursday, February 17th, Blue Diamond Canyon #5A- This route begins from the parking area at Wheeler Springs Trailhead (159) just north of Blue Diamond. The canyon cuts deep into the Blue Diamond Hill with high walls and considerable scrambling. This is about 5 miles and 500 FT. gain.  A large fill supporting a road high above marks the end of the canyon. TH driving directions- If coming from Red Rock, this parking lot is on the right just after a large brown sign to not feed the burros. If from the opposite way, it is on the left just after where the mine road goes up Blue Diamond Hill. Step off time is at 8 AM. RSVP/15- Coordinator- David Hardy  

Email- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Friday, February 18th, Redstone Picnic Area/Keystone Wash Loop/New- Total distance of some 4.5 miles- Class II/III- Scrambling and vivid exploratory of redstone formations with an elevation gain of 1,073 feet. We start at the trails by the Redstone Picnic Area at Mile Marker (MM) 27 off of Northshore Road, and soon leave the trails to cross country up to a gap between two mountains.  We make a right and climb up a wash (Keystone) to a saddle and then back down to a lower saddle and come back around to the picnic area to form a loop. Class II-III scrambling at times with no exposure. Meet up point will be the CVS parking lot, Lake Mead Blvd and Hollywood at 7:30 AM- We’ll stop at Mile Marker (MM) 4 and then proceed to the Redstone Picnic Area/Trailhead. Step off time from there will be approximately 8:15 AM. Coordinator- John Hammel 

Saturday, February 19th, Sloan Canyon O&B- EASY, 4.4 miles, 436 FT elevation gain, 8:30 AM- PLEASE NOTE THIS HIKE MEETS AT THE M CASINO FOR AN 8:30 AM DEPARTURE- After meeting at the M Casino parking lot, we will get together some car pools and drive over to Sloan Canyon. We will hike into the canyon following an easy route (not the dry waterfall).This is an out-and-back hike. When we get into the Canyon we will see thousands of petroglyphs scattered along the ground and up on the canyon walls. There are many with interesting stories and facts that we will share. We will take a break in the canyon near the drop into the dry waterfall.  DIRECTIONS- VERY IMPORTANT! Head north on the 15 and get off at St Rose Parkway. Cross Las Vegas Boulevard and turn right into the side parking lot just before the huge M Casino sign. There are many parking lots, so if you can not find us, call our cell 585-747-8060. Coordinators- Ron and Sandi Hindmarch

Monday, February 21st, White Rock Loop- Moderately strenuous, 6.2 miles with an elevation gain of 1000 FT- We will hike counterclockwise, taking in the many views and (hopefully) enjoying some spring flowers. Trailhead- Willow Springs Picnic Area parking lot off of the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop Drive- Time- 8:30 AM- Driving Directions- Enter Red Rock Canyon through the Fee Booth from Highway 159. You must pass through the Fee Booth entrance area before 8 AM. Otherwise you will be required to have a reservation! Coordinator- Liz Letzler

Monday, February 21st- VOF CAMPING, February 21st to 23rd, Monday thru Wednesday- I have a reservation for a group site for the Valley of Fire, Site #1- We will leave Las Vegas Monday morning around 8 and arrive at the VOF and do our hiking before setting up our campsite as check-in is at 3 pm (be sure you have a lunch). We have Monday and Tuesday nights there. Wednesday morning we will pack up and do another hike before heading back home. There will be scrambling.  There is a reservation fee of $50 (which I have already paid) and then $50 camping fee per car for the 2 nights when we arrive. There is also an entry fee. Car pooling is encouraged to cut the cost of the camping fee, not to be confused with the reservation fee. If you are solo, your camp fee will be $50. At least one rider will cut that a lot. RSVP required- Coordinator- David Hardy  

Email- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Thursday, February 24th, Bird Spring Range- A moderately strenuous hike of about 6 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain will start from the dirt parking area about one-half mile south of Highway 160 also used for the shorter Badger Pass hike. Starting in a northerly direction, the route goes around the north end of a ridge and meets the Badger Pass Trail. Near this junction the group will begin a cross-country route east up a ridge that connects with the main north-south spine of the small range. The return will be down to Badger Pass on the way back to the vehicles. The early assembly point will be at Red Rock Casino for a 7:30 AM departure, heading for the Chevron gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 to meet the coordinator and other south side participants. The full group will leave there for the hike at 8 AM. RSVP/15- Coordinator- David Hardy. 

Saturday, February 26th, Ash Canyon- EASY, 3.5 miles, 500 FT elevation gain, 8AM- IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BE THROUGH THE RED ROCK TOLL BOOTH BEFORE 7:45 AM TO MEET THE GROUP AT THE SANDSTONE QUARRY PARKING LOT. This hike requires some light scrambling up rocks in a few places, nothing difficult. As we head up toward Ash Canyon the view becomes spectacular.  We will head across the desert to a large outcropping of rocks. After a short break there, we will head toward a viewpoint where we will be able to look down into Ash Meadow and the Calico Basin. From there we head back a slightly different way. There will be an option to see some very interesting petroglyphs. Here we can split into two groups. Those who want to go a more difficult way to see the petroglyphs and those who want to return via an easy way. Both groups will come together once more to finish returning to the cars. Coordinators- Ron and Sandi Hindmarch 

Sunday, February 27th, North Bowl of Fire to Anniversary Narrows- Strenuous, 15 miles with a net elevation loss- Our trailhead starting point will be Mile Marker (MM) 20/Northshore Road, which starts with a climb along a ridge which continues until we spot a "pimple." We then backtrack a very short distance to drop into a wash which runs into a larger wash to follow up to where there are camel fossil tracks. At that point, we turn left into a narrows that leads to the northside of the North Bowl of Fire. From there we round the end of Fire Canyon and focus on a low pass about 2 miles in the distance. That drops us into a wash that we takes us upstream for a ways until we arrive at a low pass which we hike over and drop into the very upper end of the Anniversary (Lovell) Wash. There will be some scrambling here and there until we reach Anniversary Narrows. This is a very impressive landmark of about a half-mile in length. There may be some pools of water if it has rained recently and we'll be required to scramble a bit. Coming out of the Narrows, we have another two miles to go to get back to the cars at Mile Marker 16.  We can cut off 2 miles if we can drive in far enough from Mile Marker (MM) 16, but don't count on it. Since this is a shuttle, cars at Mile Marker 20 will need to be retrieved. With this being a 13-15 mile hike we will meet at Mile Marker (MM) 4/Northshore Road at 7 AM. Driving times- Leaving from the parking lot just before the park entrance station on Lake Mead Pkwy out of Henderson, allow 10 minutes. For those leaving from the CVS parking lot on Lake Mead/Hollywood out of North Las Vegas, allow 20 minutes. I am anticipating that the Anniversary Narrows will be open to hikers. If anyone hears differently, please let me know as I'll have to cancel this excursion. RSVP required- Coordinator- David Hardy   Email- hardyhikers@embarqmail.com

Monday, February 28th, Fossil Ridge Trail to Skull Canyon Loop- Moderately strenuous, 8 miles, 1300 FT gain- From the Cowboy Stables Trailhead parking lot we hike up the Bunny Trail about a mile, then go left to the Fossil Ridge Trail.  Atop the ridge we follow the SARS Trail to Boneshaker. Then the Three Amigos Trail will take us to Skull Canyon. We step off at 8 AM. Driving Directions- Coming from the north on Highway 159, the lot is on the left about a mile past the entrance to Red Rock Canyon on your right. Coming up Highway 159 from the south, it is on the right about 3/4 of a mile past the Red Rock Overlook area on the left. Coordinator- Liz Letzler