Cathedral Rock - 8/6/12

                                Flowers on the Cathedral Rock Trail

                                          Trailhead Preparations

 Not sure, but approximately twelve hikers showed up for a misty hike up to the top of Cathedral Rock today. Yes, it rained but only lightly! We enjoyed the cool 64 degree temperatures and the sprinkles only added to our comfort. We were all able to park at the trailhead and then we proceeded up at our own pace. For the most part, we stayed pretty much together.

                             Dry but Moss-Covered Echo Falls

Only the photographer took the side trip over to Echo Falls just to see if there was any water at all dripping down the cliff. Moss covered the falls but there was no visible water coming down.

                                Final Approach to the Rock

When we arrived at the top of Cathedral Rock, our view of Kyle Canyon looked a bit damp. We enjoyed our break while watching another hiker's dog drink from a bladder tube! We also watched the chipmunks scurrying around hoping to catch a crumb or two. We made our descent at our leisure and enjoyed good conversation.

                                Finishing our break at the Kyle Canyon view.

                                View from circle trail on top of Rock.

Mummy Springs / Wild Horse Canyon Loop - 8/5/12

                                               Raintree

                                Tree Marking Ascent Ridge

 Even though the pace of today's hike was not rushed, it seemed like it was over quickly. Nine hikers got an early start and due to the chosen route down (Wild Horse Canyon), Mummy Springs Loop was shortened by about a mile. We parked across the road from the Deer Creek Trail dirt road and hiked up the road towards the cabins. At the cabins, we kept going straight up the spring wash on a small trail that took us steeply up to a ridge. Continuing up the ridge, we finally reached the Mummy's Toe Trail and hung a left.

                                Mummy's Nose from Ascent Ridge
                             

We passed Mummy Springs without a visit up the hill and continued to Raintree where we did not sit on the roots and took our break. Afterwards, we hiked down the North Loop Trail until we hit the meadow then hung another left onto the Wild Horse Canyon Trail. Conversations kept us going without noticing the passing distance and soon, we were back at the cars. Five miles and 1500 feet of elevation gain for a good morning's workout.

                                View from Mummy Springs

                            Old Bristlecone at North Loop Meadow Junction

Cockscomb Ridge - 8/3/12

                                Cockscomb Peak at the end of Cockscomb Ridge

 It was a dirty dozen hikers today on Trail Canyon located near the end of Kyle Canyon. The trailhead has a nice new parking lot on Echo Road. We hiked from there up past the water tank and into the trees. The pace was our own to set and the twelve hikers spread out over the the mountain from the water tank up to the North Loop junction.

                                Hiking the switchbacks of Trail Canyon.

                                Resting at the North Loop junction beneath Mummy's Toe.

 Several hikers reached the junction and sat to wait for others to come up. Five of these hikers decided to extend the intended hike by going on out to the end of Cockscomb Ridge. The rest of the group would take a break either there in the shade at the junction or on the cliff overlooking Fletcher Canyon as seen in the photo to the left.

                                Mt. Charleston from Cockscomb Ridge

                                Cockscomb Ridge

 The five hikers made quick work of the half mile length of the ridge and took a short break there at the base of Cockscomb Peak. On returning to the junction, there were still hikers taking their break there. As this was a casually led hike today, several hikers decided to go on back down Trail Canyon to the cars ahead of the slower group. The clouds were coming in and one just never knows what they might be bringing with them. Anyway, it was a nice workout today.

                                Returning to Trail Canyon

Griffith Peak via Rainbow - 8/1/12

                                Lovell Canyon from Harris Springs Trail.

                                Spring Mountains, Clouds, Fog and Rainbow

 Should we, or shouldn't we? That was the question this morning as rain in the Spring Mountains was predicted. "Well, why not," said eight hardy hikers when they showed up at the meeting point with rain gear in their packs. We got quite a show from Mother Nature as we drove up to the Rainbow trailhead in Kyle Canyon as seen in the photo collage above. Then we started up the hill behind the little community of Rainbow on a very steep incline. The only thing that kept us in good spirits was knowing that this first couple of miles was the major work of the day.

                                Cliff area from Rainbow Canyon Trail.

                                Hiking up the cliff area.

Thankful to be up on the ridge and heading to the right on the Harris Springs Trail, we immediately began enjoying the view of Lovell Canyon and the cliff area. We hiked up through the cliff area and took several photos as these are perhaps the most beautiful views that the Kyle Canyon area has to offer with the exception of Mt. Charleston itself. We were also enjoying a bit of blue sky above us.

 Limestone Cliffs with Lovell Canyon beyond.

                                Kyle Canyon overlook in the clouds.

When we passed Marbles' home on the way up, we saw her outside searching for the illusive chipmunk in the wood pile. Next thing we knew, she was bounding up the hill with us, very excited for an outing of adventure since Mom and Dad were not around to call her back. We fed her and watered her and she stayed with us for the whole ten miles and 3700 feet of elevation gain. There were so many chipmunks to chase and so little time.

                                Leaving the cliff area.

                                Marbles sees a chipmunk!

From the cliff area, we hiked up to the campsite and began hiking around and behind the Griffith Peak area. There are many very old and large bristlecone trees on this side of the mountain and the views were enchanting as we watched the clouds moving in. We took as few breaks as physically possible hoping to get the long hike over with before a thunder storm popped up. Finally, we were facing the up hill climb to the peak. This was very challenging as we approached the 11,000 foot level of altitude.

         Brian enjoys the cloudy view of Kyle Canyon from Griffith Peak summit.

                       Mummy's Toe from the peak as the clouds are moving in.

We watched the clouds threaten to smother us on the peak but they never quite did. Instead, the display around us was a mesmerizing show. Brian, our coordinator du jour, encouraged us to be quick with our break so we signed the book, stuffed down a snack and got ready to go again, this time down. We hit the trail, turned right at the South Loop junction and began switchbacking our way down through the clouds. At the end of the steps, we turned to our right, again, to finish the hike on the Rainbow Loop trail. It was here that we heard our first rumble of thunder. Marbles got distracted by one more chipmunk at the weather station above Rainbow and we completed our hike passing the upper level of cabins. Nary a drop of rain touched our boots!

                                Hiking down the South Loop Trail in the clouds.

              Reaching the Rainbow Loop turn off before the first clap of thunder.