Blue Diamond Bike Trails - 11/21/11

The Blue Diamond Bike Trails are located behind the small community of Blue Diamond, Nevada on Red Rock Canyon NCA land. Nine hikers came out for a loop hike which winds its way up to the high point of these hills then descends through a canyon on one of three trails. Although these trails are used by cyclists on a regular basis, only one cyclist passed us today.

There was rain in the area last night and we were wondering if the rain had finished its thing. The black clouds were still covering most of the Spring Mountain range and behind the Red Rock escarpment. But, the sun peeked through the clouds here and there and we enjoyed the beauty that the clouds added to the vistas. There was very little wind and the temperature raised up to somewhere in the 50's. We were all ready for the cold but we didn't get it!

The beginning of the trail is part of the old Spanish Trail and the marker (seen in the first photo) still sits albeit broken just off the trail. The trail zigzagged up the highest hill as we strained our eyes to look for the burro herd that grazes here. No such luck! The burros must have been foraging either across Highway 159 or over toward Bonnie Springs. They could also have been in Red Rock Canyon proper. There was a rumor that they were seen there two days before.

We decided to take our break below the famous sandstone snack rocks that are perched twenty feet above the trail. Then we followed an easy route back down through the adjacent canyon. We returned to our cars after 4.7 miles in a fast but leisurely 2.5 hours. No rain. And, no burros.

The return route taken today is indicated by "Option #1" on the map above.

Badger Pass - 11/19/11

With a chilly breeze in the air, seventeen hikers bundled up against the wind and set out for the Badger Pass Loop hike from a small dirt parking lot located off of Highway 160 in the Bird Spring Range of Red Rock Canyon NCA. The sun was shining and wind was not predicted to be very bad but, for some reason (perhaps because it is on the unprotected southern side of the escarpment), this area is plagued by cold windy days.

Anyway, we were bundled and we began by climbing a nice trail up a long hill with about five hundred feet in elevation gain. The seventeen hikers separated but rest stops were frequent and the group did not lose each other. Finally, after about a mile, we hit our high point and enjoyed a large view of Mt. Potosi. Behind us, we saw the escarpment and Calico Hills. The air was unclear due to high winds the night before that probably stirred up the dust but it is difficult to ruin the views around here.

After topping out around 4750 feet, we began our descent and found a trail junction at the pass for which this hike is named, "Badger Pass." These trails were made and named by the bicyclists in the area and three cyclists passed us as we hiked. We turned right at the pass and switchbacked our way down to another trail junction. This trail is called Deadhorse Trail.

We took our break on the rock seating area at the junction. It was nice here; out of the wind. We talked about food as we are approaching the Thanksgiving dinner season! Eager to finish out the hike on a more flat terrain, we turned right on Deadhorse Trail and hiked back to the cars. The views from this trail are beautiful as seen in the first and last photos of this entry.

Sandstone Quarry / White Rock Hills Loop - 11/17/11

Beneath a waning moon, twenty hikers left from the Sandstone Quarry on the Red Rock Canyon NCA scenic loop for a seven mile hike around the northern section of the canyon. We began by hiking the Grand Circle Trail which lies to the left of the quarry. This took us across the desert not far from the High Point Loop turnout. In fact, we crossed the scenic loop twice.

We hiked the half mile up the White Rock Springs Road and with only a small break at the restroom, we continued forward on the White Rock Hills Loop Trail until we had to turn right at the Keystone Thrust Trail. This group wasn't messing around. The breaks were few and far between, and then only brief.

The climb went on and on! It was a steady climb up past the Keystone Thrust (seen in the photo to the left). The views of the escarpment behind us, La Madre Mountain in front, Cactus Hill to the immediate right, Keystone Thrust below and Turtlehead across the desert were grand on this absolutely beautiful day near Las Vegas. The temperatures were in the 60's today.

Reaching an almost obliterated agave roasting pit to our right, we turned right down a small wash. We took our break on rocks within the wash then continued down. The wash began small and brushy but gradually opened out to a very wide gravelled wash that flowed at the base of Turtlehead Peak. From the wash, we connected with the Turtlehead Trail which led us back to our cars. We had finished this hike in record time of three hours.

Red Cap - 11/14/11

Eleven hikers met up in the Sandstone Quarry parking lot at Red Rock Canyon NCA to do a "relaxing" hike up to the top of Red Cap today. The plan was to do a plain vanilla hike up and down the standard way. We had four newbies on the hike and it is always fun to introduce this wonderful short scramble to new people.

On our way out to the beginning of the scramble up, we interrupted two jack rabbits. One went one way and the other went the other. (If it was true love, they will find each other again.) The first and second cracks of the hike are seen in the second and third photos. Then, as you see in the fourth photo, it was a steep climb up the sandstone while keeping the wall above us to our left.

There was a third and fourth crack to negotiate and then we were climbing onto the red sandstone. Here's where there is some exposure. We perched on top of the easier side of the twin peaks and took a break. It was a beautiful day and the weather had become a little warm again.

After our break, we came down to the tank plateau where we toured all of the completely dry tanks. From there, we dropped down into the large tinaja below and began our final descent to the Calico Tanks Trail by way of the sandstone slab next to Mass Production Wall. The Tanks Trail led us back to our cars. In the photo below, Don says "Bye!"

Summerlin & Bighorn Peaks - 11/13/11

On this Super Duper Sunday, eight of the Around the Bend Friends set off for an epic hike up to Summerlin and Bighorn Peaks from the parking lot found off of Cheyenne Avenue just west of CC-215. These two peaks are seen prominently from almost anywhere on the west side of town, basically from Summerlin. While the picture to the left is a view of the peaks from Summerlin, the photo above is of Bighorn Peak from the ridge approach.

We began our 2400 foot elevation climb from a gravel road that leads to the base of the mountain. The steepness began very quickly as we picked our way up a limestone ridge filled with scrub brush and red barrel cacti. We tried to climb from limestone slab to limestone slab. This rock was very sharp and our hiking boots stuck to it very well eliminating any unplanned falls on the steep terrain. Summerlin Peak was our first target and for most of the first climb, it loomed unreachable on the other side of a steep- walled canyon.

This first climb claimed the first victim. Although indigestion sounds rather innocuous, try climbing 2000 feet in 1.5 miles when you have been so affected. This normally competent hiker retreated back to the cars and then there were seven. Up, up, up we went. Finally, we reached a small rest which the writer called Kay's Peak out of appreciation of the small outcropping. A little more up and we began a traverse around the top of that canyon that lay between the "up" ridge and the summit.

Views of the city were amazing even though the weather was dreary. We decided that it was a decent sacrifice, though, since we were very comfortable temperature- wise. Very little wind with highs in the 50's. Our traverse brought us to the final ridge up to Summerlin Peak. We climbed up and enjoyed a long break on top. Summit photos were taken.

The views around us included all of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon NCA, little Red Rock, the Sheep Mountains, the Spring Mountains and the "piece de resistance" Bighorn Peak and its approaching ridge. There it was calling to us and, until then, it was not on the itinerary. Yep! Now it was. How could you resist?

So, after our break, we began a dip down to the approach saddle and made our way up around 300 feet in elevation to reach the opposite ridge. When we got to the top, we quickly realized that we would not be going over the ridge to the other side ... at least, not if we could help it! Yes, it was straight down about 200 feet. Needless to say, we continued our climb along the ridge just slightly away from the top of the knife edge for most of the way.

We summitted on an intermediate peak that we dubbed Don's Peak. We had two Don's on this hike and this was where one of them decided to begin his descent. So, now, we had six hikers left. Onward to the next and final peak. This portion of the hike was perhaps the most interesting as we were obliged to walk along the knife edge for part of the way. Again, sticky shoes and good balance made the going safe.

On top of Bighorn Peak, we signed a third log book having to provide our own paper. The tablets inside the metal box were completely and thoroughly wet. Not sure how that happened. From here, we could see Mt. Charleston, covered with snow, along with Mummy Mountain. We began our descent by traversing back over to the ridge that Don went down. At the bottom of this ridge, we reached the point at which the "up" trail and "down" trail met. However, we decided to take a slightly less steep ridge to descend ... SLIGHTLY.

This ridge had lighter colored rock that was not as slabby as the route we came up. However, we made it down to a saddle ... slowly but surely. We took a water break as we pondered the route for the rest of the descent. A steep wash lead down to the bottom, but, was that a cliff near the end? Don't know until you try! So down we went. About half way down, we began seeing cairns that someone had built. With a bit of relief, we followed the cairns down the wash and, eventually, the wash became a slight trail. The photo below, the writer calls her "Happy Photo!" This photo was taken when we reached the bottom of that extremely steep descent. Back to the cars and the epic hike had come to an end.

John S. a wrote blog- worthy poem about the day as follows: (He also suggests to read it with the music from "There is a House in New Orleans" in mind.)

There is a mountain in Las Vegas
They call it 'Summerlin Peak'
And it's been wanted to be climbed
By many, I know I'm one.

My daypack is complete
With water and some nuts.
My boots are roughly soled
The better for steep rock.

Now, the only thing a hiker needs
Is a GPS and a walking stick
And the only time that he's satisfied
Is when he's on the top.

Oh, Nature, tell your children
To do what I have done;
Spend your days on high trails and aching muscles
Heading for the risin' sun.

Well, I've got one foot on a rock
the other reaching steeply up,
I'm goin' up to Summerlin
To conquer that peak and view.

Well, there is a mountain in Las Vegas
They call it Summerlin Peak
And it's now been attained by a group;
And me, I'm one of the seven.

J*S