A one-legged Vegas pigeon, living the good life.
I'm back from Interbike, or as I like to call it "5 days in the unhealthiest city on earth." Only in Las Vegas can you carry a mixed drink down the street, smoke inside, watch dancing fountains of water in the desert, see giant billboards advertising surgery to remove your sweat glands, and watch people choose the elevator over the escalator. You know, because an escalator is too much effort. Two things make the trip worth it; great food and the annual climbing trip afterwards.
This year none of the usual culprits could make it except my lovely wife Leah who flew in Friday night after working all day. A recuperative night's rest in the hotel and we hit out for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I promptly lost the guidebook somewhere in my gear (boo!) and we discovered Saturday is free day so no entry fee (yay!) Without a guidebook we stuck to old and familiar haunts like the Black Corridor and Panty Wall in the Calico Hills. Temps were sizzling so finding shade was key. Some locals gave us the lowdown on a newly bolted wall of moderates at the First Pullout called Hamlet. The routes were named in a Shakespeare theme but no one seemed to know what the names actually were. Nameless but quite fun.
Our little Yaris was a mobile base camp for the weekend
The Red Rocks campground was closed for renovations so Leah and I drove over to the west side of the Spring Mountains and pitched our tent in Lovell Canyon for two nights. Unrelenting sun and 100 degree temps drove us out of the desert and we drove up to Mt. Charleston just north of Vegas. Gaining 5,000 of elevation was enough to cool us down and provided some great hiking opportunities.
Bristlecone pines march up to Mt. Charleston
Leah posing against the aspens on our hike. The colors were amazing, too bad the iPhone does such a poor job of rendering them. Next time I'm bringing a real camera.
Leah had to head home on Monday so after dropping her at the airport I drove back up to Mt. Charleston for the night and had a campground all to myself. It dropped drown to 40 that night and I slept out under the on the ground. Or at least I slept until the field mice started waking me up by running across me and sniffing my face. I don't know if they were after the salt from the dried sweat on my face, the warmth from my body, or just thought some feathers from my down bag would be a nice addition to their mouse condo but it was annoying for me and potentially lethal for the mice (I don't like to be awoken).
The next morning I had some excellent oatmeal with almonds and cranberries than hit the North Loop hiking trail towards the summit of Mt. Charleston. It was 12 miles and 4000 feet of elevation gain from the trailhead to the summit so I didn't have time to make the top before my flight left but it was a great hike along the north slopes.
Welcome to the wilderness, please enjoy your stay
Obligatory self portrait
The map said 3.2 miles to the juncture, this sign says 4. It only took me 60 minutes so I think they both lie.
A perfect lunch spot, being enjoyed by a group of four retirees
A view south looking down the switchbacks and towards the where Leah and I hiked through the aspens.
The wind-stripped bristlecones made for great photos, even on a camera phone.
You can faintly make out the "B", but it works both ways
Alpenglow lighting the western slopes of the Spring Mountains
A great trip and a great way to relax after working the tradeshow all week.
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