Waterfall Canyon - 1/6/12

Ed M. (narrative) and Sue B. (3 of 5 photos) offer this report on the hike to Waterfall Canyon today. The trailhead for this hike is located at the Willow Springs Picnic Area off of the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop. Ed's rendition of the hike is as follows:

It was a beautiful day and 23 hikers took to the waterfalls. Fewer than half of the group had tried this before. After about 40 minutes on Rocky Gap Road , and filled with anticiption, we turned into the canyon. We were met with quite a bit of water as well as ice and snow.

We climbed up slowly because of the conditions and due to some who were inex- perienced with scrambling. We got all but 4 to the top of the highest waterfall. (No, we didn't forget the others. They waited just below.) There we had our break before we returned. The pictures should tell the rest of the tale.

Gold Strike Canyon - 12/29/11

From Gold Strike Canyon up river to the O'Callaghan- Tillman Bridge.

One week ago, fourteen ABF hikers ventured down the foreboding canyon called Gold Strike where the Nevada hot springs are located. The trailhead is reached by exiting Highway 93 south of Boulder City at Hoover Dam and turning right at the stop sign. About a third of the group of hikers had not been down the canyon that is filled with obstacles, ropes and hot springs. We were all anxious to reach the river this time with the exception of two who were prepared to turn around when we reached the pools.

Obstacle with chiseled- in foot ladder.

First obstacle with a rope found above the hot springs.

There are five obstacles in the wash that have to be negotiated before you even reach the hot springs including one that requires the hiker to go up and around to the left. Since the canyon is hiked quite frequently, other hikers have painted arrows and built cairns to show the way. Although they are not always a welcome sight, they do help sometimes. All fourteen of us scrambled down the canyon with fury led by our fearless coordinator John B. John knows this canyon very well as he volunteers clean- up in the canyon once a week. A lot of trash is left in the canyon on a constant basis and we all wish that people would pack out what they pack in.

Rosie gracefully steps over the stream of hot water coming from the springs.

Mary skillfully lets herself down the rope at the pools. There is also a less challenging way to come down through the small waterfall on the left side of the canyon.

After the pools, the obstacles become a constant presence. The hiker meets one challenge after another. The total number of ropes in the canyon are perhaps five but none of the ropes are longer than four or five feet. Other obstacles that have no rope are a little more difficult. They require a lot of upper body strength ... not to mention a little creativity.

The first sight of the Colorado River.

The view down river from the mouth of the canyon where we had our break. The water was low this morning. The gate keepers usually let water out through the dam at 2pm and 8pm daily.

Sauna Cave Excursion

Three hikers decided to wade through the river to a small island to get to Sauna Cave. Two kayakers graciously offered a ride but the ride was declined since they were already wet! The water was reportedly not cold since this area was being fed by the hot springs.

After reaching the island and replacing their shoes, they crossed the island to get to a hole that was bored into the wall when our forefathers were searching for the right place to build the dam.

The dam researchers struck a hot spring so they decided not to place the dam here and went up river a couple of miles. Now, the created cave is filled with hot water and the air inside the cave reaches around 120 degrees. Who needs a health club?!

Only ankle deep, huh John?

Just up river from Gold Strike Canyon is a small waterfall of hot spring water. Steam hisses just above the surface.

Climbing back up the canyon, well, is a whole 'nother story! It is definitely a full body workout!

Hamblin Mountain - 1/5/12

Mike and Janice reported on the hike to Hamblin Mountain today. The trailhead is located on Northshore Road at mile marker 18 and begins toward Lake Mead. Mike O'C's words are as follows:

There are blue-ribbon views from loftier spots, but few rival the Lake Mead panorama from atop Hamblin Mountain. Eleven hardy souls made the seven-mile trek. Astonishingly, seven trekkers were Hamblin virgins. Amazing. Less than an hour into the hike, a warm winter sun dictated a mass shedding of clothes. T-shirts seemed to be the apparel du jour.

Gazing down at the water from the summit made sunglasses a necessity, as a glaring January sun reflected harshly off the shimmering lake. Brilliant rock formations brought forth a kaleidoscope of colors. After some friendly banter and an unhurried lunch, it was with some reluctance that we finally abandoned our lofty perch. Time to go down.

Looking for a bit of variation on the descent, we veered off the trail and eventually intersected the 100- year- old Arrowhead Trail. This was the first highway built between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, running through Las Vegas of course. The Arrowhead was the precursor to US Route 91 and eventually Interstate 15. Hiking across the rough terrain, it was hard to imagine vintage Model T Fords running over that same road. Our forefathers were a rugged bunch.

Sunshine, conviviality and a little bit of history. We had it all on this fifth day of 2012.

Boy Scout Canyon - 1/4/12

Only nine hikers came out for a brand new hike for the club called Boy Scout Canyon. It is located south of Hoover Dam and north of Arizona Hot Springs on the Nevada side of the Lake Mead NRA. There are two approach roads coming from Boulder City. One road follows along the power lines to the top of the canyon. This road is very rough. The road we took leads down a canyon wash in sand to Boy Scout Canyon at midpoint.

We stepped out into the chilly morning and began our hike by going down first. The wide wash became more and more narrow as we negotiated easy to moderate dry waterfalls laid out in our path. The closer we got to the river, the more colorful the walls of the canyon became.

Our stopping point was the top of the first rope. It was a thick rope about 1.5 inches in diameter that the Lake Mead NRA people had attached to the rock. We could not see the river from where we were and the rope fell about twenty-five feet down. One hiker decided to go down the rope.

Down was easy, he said. Then it was time to go back up. Uh, Oh! Well, it took almost all of us to pull him back up to safety. I guess it wasn't as easy as it looked. Regardless of the scare, an adventure was experienced.

We hiked the 1.75 miles back up the canyon and had our snack break back at the cars. The sun was warming things up and some of us preferred the shade. Next, it was time to go up canyon. Our quest was to find the pictographs that were supposed to be on the rocks above the uppermost dry waterfall.

We did some more trudging up the wash through sand and small gravel. Staying to the side of the wash seemed to help. Taking a short side trip up another canyon, we found an interesting dry waterfall that we could only climb half way up.

We came back down to the main canyon and found several more waterfalls that we were, indeed, able to climb up. As we hiked, we looked and looked for the advertised pictographs. At the uppermost waterfall, several hikers continued up wash a little. The ancient rock paintings must be there somewhere!

We never found the pictographs so we returned down the sandy gravelly wash to our cars. Boy Scout Canyon is a pretty canyon, however, it is assumed that the real attraction of this canyon is the rope climbing and repelling that is necessary to go all the way to the river. Perhaps the answer is a kayak put out from Willow Beach!