Base Camp Las Vegas

Greetings and happy spring! We know that many of you are still experiencing the last gasps of winter, but, since we've returned from our Easter break, we've been enjoying beautiful blue skies, excellent hiking weather and the occasional need of air conditioning. 

There's a lot to catch up on. On March 18 we went on our last hike in Joshua Tree National Park.

Split Rock Hike

Tulip Rock along the Split Rock trail and...

Face Rock, a reminder of Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire.

Death Valley -

First stop, Shoshone, CA, where the Shoshone pupfish, once thought extinct was visible in several pools above the town. Tiny, about 2 - 3 inches, and bright blue.

Beautiful views in Death Valley from Zabriskie Point.

Along Artist's Viewpoint drive

Badwater (3/21/18)

Mosaic Canyon (3/23)

Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch Loop (3/24)

On to Las Vegas (it turns out there are some great hikes near Las Vegas!) -

Along Lake Mead - Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail (4/15)

approaching the first of five tunnels on along the Railroad Trail.

At the end of the Historic Railroad Trail is Hoover Dam and this Memorial Plaza.

Hoover Dam

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

First Creek Canyon (4/16)

Along the White Rock Hills Loop trail (4/17)

This next section of pictures is out of sequence, we hiked along the Las Vegas Strip on Saturday, April 14, from Treasure Island where we parked to the Bellagio.

Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio.

Dale Chihuly flowers at the Front Desk of the Bellagio.

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (4/19/18) -

North west of Las Vegas are the Spring Mountains, several thousand feet higher in elevation and 20- 25 degrees cooler. In fact, we hiked in our winter jackets, hats and gloves.

 Fletcher Canyon ends as a slot canyon and someone with long arms can touch both sides.

On the way back down it began to snow.

Built by the civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930's, the River Mountain Trail in Boulder City is one of the best-loved hiking trails in the Las Vegas area. The main attraction is the summit for far-reaching panoramic views of Las Vegas, the Spring Mountains, Lake Mead, and Boulder City.

Many blooming prickly pear.

Lake Mead from the summit of Black Mountain.

Las Vegas and the Springs Mountains in the distance.

Seven days of hiking out of Las Vegas, April 14-20-

Length - 34.63 miles

Duration - 18 hours, 18 minutes

Elevation gain - 5,192 feet (the equivalent of climbing the Empire State building 5 X's)