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| Tombstone Rock |
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| Lake Las Vegas Overlook & Lava Butte |
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| Single Blooms |
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| Starting Up One of Many Washes |
Last week, Chuck and Joan brought out an oldie but goodie for the Around the Bend Friends club members. It was an interesting hike that began at the old ranger station on Lakeshore Road. Susan M. took a few photos for this entry and Joan wrote the narrative seen below.
This hike to a beautiful overlook of Lake Las Vegas, Lake
Mead and Las Vegas and the surrounding area was previously called Tombstone
Rock. Thirteen hikers went on this hike
on a beautiful spring day with a small breeze.
There were many varieties of blooming flowers to enjoy.
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| Following Power Lines |
We started at the old
ranger and then crossed Lakeshore Drive to the wash leading to “Bullet Wash’’ which
we then climbed into. We found a few
bullets/shells.
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| Side Canyon Excursion |
We passed Tombstone Rock
and climbed up to an overlook before turning right on an old dirt road. This road took us to the wash with the tall
dry fall we would have to climb around. After
passing the gypsum wash we would be returning in and going up a rocky wash, we
finally reached the very tall dry fall.
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| Found in the Side Canyon |
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| Continuing Up |
After enjoying the dry fall, we started up the
scree on the slope on the right side of the dry fall. We stopped to view and take pictures of a big
sheep head hidden previously by the leaders.
Chris climbed to the ridge top and found easier walking up there.
At the end of the wash, we came to the mining campsite/”gravesite”
area on a small hill to the left. Hikers
looked around seeing what was left behind before heading to the snack break
area on a nearby peak. This peak has a
jug handle arch on the left side and a cairn on top. We climbed the rocky slope and settled in for
our snack. Jackie had brought a sign-in
container with paper and pen. ABF
members then inaugurated the new sign-in register and enjoyed the beautiful
views.
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| Nice Specimen |
After our snack, we
retraced our steps to the campsite area and hiked to a nearby wash for the
start of our return loop. This wash was
very different from our previous wash.
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| Near the Grave Site |
It had a lot of white conglomerate rock that
look like concrete and made for easy walking.
Along the way, we saw tortoise burrow openings and lots of blooming
flowers.
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| At the Grave Site |
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| Climbing to Overlook |
We eventually arrived at two long dry falls we had to climb down
by lowering ourselves through them. Then,
we exited the wash by going up the left bank and climbing to a nearby
mesa.
The mesa area was a real
highlight of the hike. There were many
blooming pink beavertail cactus plants in the area. On top, I almost stepped on a tortoise and we
took pictures of the patient tortoise.
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| Taking a Break |
Of note was the tortoise’s bright red nose (probably obtained from
snacking on the nearby beaver tail cactus buds and blooms).
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| Las Vegas View |
We continued up the mesa
top for its views of Las Vegas and Lake Mead and an array of pink blooming cactus
plants.
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| Lake Las Vegas View |
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| Starting Descent |
We then backtracked down the
mesa top to “Easter Island” Rock below.
We exited through a pretty gypsum wash returning to the beginning of our
tall dry fall wash. We turned right for
a very short while before turning left to head to the tall cottonwood tree and
aqueduct spring. Along the way we passed
the tent frame remains of an old camp site.
When the hike leaders first went by it over 10 years ago, it appeared to
be occupied with a closed tent on the frame and lots of outside bottles and
other stuff.
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| Toes Forever |
We continued on down to the
cottonwood tree and ducked under the aqueduct pipe to see the new hose that
takes water from the aqueduct to make a spring.
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| Down Through a Different Wash |
Then we took the old road to the right passing the now fenced in locked sheds
controlling the aqueduct.
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| Tricky |
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| Almost Back |
Years ago,
there were no fences or locks and you could look in and see a big wheel in each
shed. The River Mountain Trail goes near
the old dirt aqueduct road and when we reached Tombstone Rock, we turned left
and climbed a very short hillside to another dirt road leading us back toward
the old ranger station. Here Susan M.
had her “fireworks” moment. Having just
been on Kay’s great Death Valley trip, I was very familiar with five-spot
flowers. There was one on the side of
the dirt road. Susan said she had never
seen one in the Lake Mead area and for her seeing one was even better than
seeing the live tortoise. ~ Joan
7 miles; 1400 feet elevation gain; 4.5 hours
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| What have you done with your nose? |
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| Returning via River Mountains Trail |
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| Desert Blooms |
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