Hollow Rock Peak - 9/22/09

Although this was not an official hike of the Around the Bend Friends Hiking Club, there were many club members attending this hike today to Hollow Rock Peak. Twenty-one hikers were very excited to be back to their first hike of the season at the Red Rock Canyon area. The early morning began very cool and stayed cool throughout the four hour hike. There was some wind during the middle of the hike.

The trailhead was located off of Hwy 160 at the top of the pass to Pahrump. We began the hike going up around 800 feet within the first mile and a quarter. At this point, the trail began ascending and descending a few times. Each time we lost elevation, we would gain it back with another steep climb. The total amount of feet climbed during the complete hike of 5 miles (out and back) was 1941 feet.

About 2/3 through the hike, the ground under our feet changed from limestone to sandstone. In the picture above, you can see the line of change being carried through on around the Escarpment which we were standing above. Word has it that the limestone is creeping ever so slowly into Las Vegas from the Death Valley region. But, don't worry! It has taken it thousands, maybe millions, of years to get this far!

After reaching the sandstone portion of the hike, there was a steep descent into a small crevice or wash followed by a steep climb up to the final destination. The footing was loose but everyone made it through without problems.

The views from Hollow Rock Peak included the Las Vegas Strip in the distance, Grapevine Spring Canyon below and Mt. Potosi pictured at the top of this entry.

The peak is topped off by a large boulder. A few hikers attempted to scale the beast, however, it wasn't to be done today. We sat here taking in the view and chattering about everything and nothing while just enjoying being in the desert once again.

Cathedral to Mt. Charleston Hotel - 9/19/09

The hike for today began at the Cathedral Rock Trailhead parking lot. Twenty-nine hikers began by climbing the hill just up from the actual trailhead to a small trail that led to the Cathedral Rock Picnic Area. It was a cool morning which made the hike very pleasant.

We hiked through the picnic area to site #47 where we stopped for a moment to admire a hut someone had built with sticks and logs. Then we continued our hike through the site and ended up on a portion of the Rainbow Loop Trail. Here, we headed downhill with a nice view of Mummy's Toe across the canyon. The hike travelled through the lower part of the Rainbow community and went into the first of two campgrounds.


All around us, there were blooming rabbitbrush and aspens with leaves changing to bright yellow. Fall is in the air ... if not in the valley temperatures which are still hanging around at the one hundred degree mark. But, the Spring Mtns. are dipping below fifty degrees every night now and the leaves are responding.

After passing through the first camp- ground, we hiked past the Visitor's Center where we took a small break. Then we took a trail behind the Visitor's Center that led to the parking lot for Fletcher Canyon. We hiked through the second campground then stepped into the main Kyle Canyon wash and continued down the mountain. By the way, there was no water in the wash ...!


At the end of the wash section of the hike, we took another small break. One hiker spotted bones lying in the brush nearby. It appeared that a small deer had had an invitation to dinner that it could not refuse. Perhaps the recent invitation was offered by a mountain lion.

After the break, we began the old golf course portion of the hike. We found ourselves hiking on a cart path of the course which had been in existence a short 5 or 6 years ago. The steps to the left probably led to the next tee or something. Rabbitbrush had grown up all over the fairways and it took a large imagination to see anything that resembled a fairway, bunker or tee; much less to imagine golfers swinging their clubs.



The one way hike was a total of five miles which was virtually all downhill losing around 1000 feet of elevation. When we reached the hotel, it was sprinkling a little rain which didn't last too long. Drivers of carpool cars were shuttled up to the Cathedral Rock parking lot to retrieve their cars and head back downhill to pick up their riders.

The GPS waypoint map show the trail we took from the left to the right. The lighter areas show where the satellite authorities are updating the images.

Big Falls / Mary Jane Falls - 9/17/09

We found Waldo at Big Falls!

There were eighteen hikers today to do the double header of Big Falls and Mary Jane Falls. After parking at the Mary Jane Falls parking lot at the end of Kyle Canyon below Mt. Charleston, we proceeded to hike up the Mary Jane Falls trail. When the trail heads off to the right, we continued straight and curved around to the left where we began an ascent along the side of the washed out wash.

Eventually, the trail dipped down into what was then a very rocky wash and we climbed our way up skipping from boulder to boulder, stepping over logs and finding our way around "obstacle rock." After working at this for a seemingly short amount of time in the cool mountain air, we arrived at the huge cliff inlet which is Big Falls during the spring snow melt. Today, however, is was bone dry! (In spite of efforts of fellow hikers to provide some small waterfall with their supply of bottled water!)


Several hikers climbed up to the perch above the floor of the dry falls providing a nice silhouette for the photog. Others stayed down below where they took a break and had the first of two small snacks. At this point, we had only hike around two miles and climbed around 800 feet of elevation. It was here that we discovered Waldo. Although the painted rock was a nice effort given by an obvious artist, it still ranked in the category of graffitti in most of our books.

Going back down the wash offered a slightly different route around the obstacle rock leading the group to a small trail found on the opposite side of the wash from where we came up. Although this trail was treacherous, our group is usually "game" for anything doable. You can see on their faces what kind of fun the challenge presented.


Arriving almost all the way back to where we left the Mary Jane Falls trail, we turned left and began the climb on the old Mary Jane Falls trail. The old trail had no need nor desire for switchbacks, the civilized answer to a steep ascent. No, the old trail goes straight ... and I mean straight ... up to the falls. The only relief we were given was when the trail had to make slight detours around fallen trees! Most of us stopped for several breathers. From Big Falls to Mary Jane Falls by this route is almost a mile.

We arrived at the top just under the falls. The final ascent, completing the second 800 foot climb, was made in two different places; one was on the gravel slope below the water run and one headed directly to the trail entrance to the Mary Jane Falls area. After climbing the steep route, there were no takers on the famous cave excursion. We readily sat for our second snack break and talked to other hikers who had made the climb the usual way.

We enjoyed viewing the falls coming over the cliff. They had more water than they would normally at this time of year due to heavy rains in the area last weekend.

According to Wikipedia, Common Mullein, or verbascum thapsus, is a hairy biennial plant that can grow to 2 m or more tall. Its small yellow flowers are densely grouped on a tall stem, which bolts from a large rosette of leaves. It grows in a wide variety of habitats, but prefers well-lit disturbed soils, where it can appear soon after the ground receives light, from long-lived seeds that persist in the soil seed bank. It is a common weedy plant that spreads by prolifically producing seeds, but rarely becomes aggressively invasive, since its seed require open ground to germinate. It also hosts many insects, some of which can be harmful to other plants.

We completed the double header hike by going back to the parking lot via the new trail with switchbacks adding another mile and a half to the total. At the finish, we had done a rough and tumble 4.25 miles with two 800 foot ascents.

Mormon Girl's Camp - 9/12/09

Camp Stimson is owned by the LDS church and is occupied by young ladies throughout the summer. Generally, the Around the Bend Friends hike the small trail associated with the camp after Labor Day when the camp has seen its last camper for the year. So, today, thirty hikers arrived at the starting point and, eventually intruded upon a large group of boy scouts who were using the camp for the weekend. They were very hospitable and allowed us to hike through as their meeting continued.

The camp has many interesting apparatus, not all of which we felt comfortable using. The first challenge was the rope climb. Some hikers used the rope and others didn't feel the need. The hill was steep but negotiable either way. One option to the rope climb was a 15 foot dry waterfall which two of our hikers conquered.












Other points of interest included the climbing wall and an amphitheater made of logs complete with spotlights hanging from a rigged wire!


The aspens continue to change colors and we hiked right through a beautiful stand of them beside a small running stream which we crossed a few times. The trail was short and, since this was our Saturday hike, we chose not to go exploring to extend the hike's length.

The hike ended up being only two miles with a few hundred feet of elevation gain. Above us, there was a small rain cloud which doused us with a few drops of rain. We came. We hiked. We left. Interesting place, but unless you know the area really well, the hike doesn't go far.

No Name Trail - 9/10/09

The drive up Lee Canyon Road was beautiful as the rabbitbrush was beginning to bloom in the upper part. By the time we arrived at the trailhead which is located just past the ski area, the temperature had dropped to 52 degrees. The mountain air was fresh and clean and we began with no clouds in the sky up through the aspen forest.

There were six hikers on the hike up No Name Trail this morning and eight hikers coming down! The hike up to the summit of this trail requires effort as the elevation approaches the 10,000 foot mark. After passing through the aspens and reaching the turn-off point on the Bristlecone Trail, the six of us began the climb up the wash through brush and rock.

This is not a maintained trail and the regular Joe & Jane Public does not know of its existence as the forest service prefers it that way. Serious hikers of Las Vegas respect the trail's features and learn of the route through other seasoned hikers of Las Vegas. The No Name trail is actually an historical route of the Bristlecone and Bonanza Trail as part of the Spring Mtn. Divide.

Perhaps the route of old was given up for the modern route in interest of saving the integrity of the bristlecone forest through which it passes at the top of the climb.

Just after the six of us arrived at the trail's summit, two more hikers who missed the meeting point by a few minutes, joined our group. There is something about the comraderie one feels when meeting friends in the forest on a trail seemingly so far from anywhere that just makes you feel good.

The bristlecones which began their bloom and crop of new cones in the beginning of July are now well on their way to making the six inch seeds and foodstuff for forest critters. These trees are protected and it is unlawful to disturb even the dead limbs lying on the ground much less to use the deadwood as campfire fuel. This has been happening around the Spring Mtn. area as careless hikers attempt to warm themselves or cook while spending the night under the stars. People! Just come prepared with a cook stove and a really warm sleeping bag!

Pinus aristata can be thousands of years old and can produce pine cones of varying colors. Even though I read that the color of cone depends on the species of tree, these two cones were found on the same tree. (There blows that theory!) Just after blooming, the cones release their seeds. Therefore the small spray of fibers seen at the end of the red baby cone above.

The aspens have just begun changing their color. In a couple of weeks, the leaves will be completely yellow in color. The club plans to hike some of the more colorful trails in the Spring Mtns. during this time. Hopefully, we will get some good photos of the fall color coming up.

After walking through the old bristlecone forest on the summit of the hike, the trail meets with the Bonanza Trail seen to the right. We used this trail to connect with the new Bristlecone Trail below and hiked two miles back to the parking lot. Even though a large black cloud hovered above us for much of the hike, it never threatened with a single drop of rain. It did, however, intercept the sun's warmest rays and the hike was cool and pleasant from beginning to end.

Mary Jane Falls - 9/5/09

No, this isn't Mary Jane Falls! This is Multnomah Falls just outside of Portland, Oregon. (But, I thought the waterfall was appropriate...!)

Today, the Around the Bend Friends are hiking up to Mary Jane Falls found at the end of Kyle Canyon. The switchbacks up the side of the mountain bring the hikers to a trickle of water falling from a cliff. If you hike on around the cliff wall, you will find a cave with a view. The total steep hike is around 3 miles with a gain of 900 feet. For anyone who made the hike today, please feel free to comment below.

Rainbow Loop - 9/3/09

No, this picture was not taken on the Rainbow Loop hike! It was actually taken at Yellowstone but I thought the colors were appropriate.

This morning Ed was kind enough to coordinate the hike around the Rainbow community. The smoke had cleared somewhat but the afternoon rainstorms came early and it is possible that the group got wet. Perhaps someone who did the hike would like to tell us how many there were and whether or not conditions were favorable by leaving a comment below.