GPX Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1scmn2zwhfsjo8/Pine%20Knot%20GPX.gpx
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Pineknot - Big Bear with C & A
The elevation calculation on this is not accurate from Garmin Connect, but the elevation image does seem accurate. The elevation gain was really 1818 ft. FYI that the GPX for this includes a detour as we got off course at one point. This hike is worth repeating.
GPX Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1scmn2zwhfsjo8/Pine%20Knot%20GPX.gpx
GPX Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1scmn2zwhfsjo8/Pine%20Knot%20GPX.gpx
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Big Falls - Mt. Charleston, NV
Big Falls hike isn't the first hike people think of when hiking to a waterfall in Mt Charleston. We had already done the more popular Mary Jane Falls a few times and decided to try out the this hike to get to Big Falls for something different. The trail starts out at the same parking lot as the trail head for Mary Jane Falls. The parking lot is the first on the left on Echo Road. If you miss the turn and continue on Echo Road, you will end up at the parking area for Trail Canyon. You actually start at the Mary Jane Falls trail head and make a turn towards the left when the Mary Jane trail curves to the right to start switchbacks to Mary Jane Falls. It's not that clear on the trail where you turn off, but we used http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/Mt_Char/Big_Falls/_Big_Falls.htm as a reference. Mary Jane Falls is an official hike of Mt. Charleston, and Big Falls is not, which is probably why it's not super clear where to turn off the Mary Jane Falls trail.
We had researched this hike and it was described as having a lot of scrambling and being short, but fairly difficult. We didn't experience much difficulty because of the time of year we went. It was too early in the season and the snow hadn't hardly melted from the Big Falls trail so we had a fairly easy, but cold climb, as we ascended to the falls. The reason we went so early in the year was that we wanted to make sure we caught the falls, as we know waterfalls in the desert are definitely seasonal. The snow acted like a buffer between us and the debris we were supposed to be scrambling up so we made quick time up. Poking through the snow blanket was a lot of tree debris and it looked as if an avalanche had occurred, although probably not true by any means. Under the snow blanket, you would normally climb a canyon full of boulders and logs.
Phil and I hiked with a couple of friends and none of us were prepared for the amount of snow we encountered and we (especially the girls in their shorts and t-shirts) shivered up the mountain. Once you get to the last steep hill, the snow was somewhat mushy and we picked up some walking sticks to hold our footing. The actual falls were flowing and the mist coming off the falls was substantial enough to get damp and chilled when you walked up to it. The falls were about 60 feet and pretty impressive. We didn't stay long, however, due to the cold and lack of proper clothing. In fact, the girls ate more than half their lunch on the way down.
Also, the supposed distance is 2.8 miles round trip, but we ended up shorter, probably due to the snow making our route more direct.
This hike is a definite must do again, as we want to experience it when there isn't quite so much snow and we can do some more scrambling and go up to the actual falls and enjoy a nice picnic lunch.
We had researched this hike and it was described as having a lot of scrambling and being short, but fairly difficult. We didn't experience much difficulty because of the time of year we went. It was too early in the season and the snow hadn't hardly melted from the Big Falls trail so we had a fairly easy, but cold climb, as we ascended to the falls. The reason we went so early in the year was that we wanted to make sure we caught the falls, as we know waterfalls in the desert are definitely seasonal. The snow acted like a buffer between us and the debris we were supposed to be scrambling up so we made quick time up. Poking through the snow blanket was a lot of tree debris and it looked as if an avalanche had occurred, although probably not true by any means. Under the snow blanket, you would normally climb a canyon full of boulders and logs.
Phil and I hiked with a couple of friends and none of us were prepared for the amount of snow we encountered and we (especially the girls in their shorts and t-shirts) shivered up the mountain. Once you get to the last steep hill, the snow was somewhat mushy and we picked up some walking sticks to hold our footing. The actual falls were flowing and the mist coming off the falls was substantial enough to get damp and chilled when you walked up to it. The falls were about 60 feet and pretty impressive. We didn't stay long, however, due to the cold and lack of proper clothing. In fact, the girls ate more than half their lunch on the way down.
Also, the supposed distance is 2.8 miles round trip, but we ended up shorter, probably due to the snow making our route more direct.
This hike is a definite must do again, as we want to experience it when there isn't quite so much snow and we can do some more scrambling and go up to the actual falls and enjoy a nice picnic lunch.
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| Her lips are blue from the cold. |
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| Phil pushing the limit and getting too close to the ice edge of the falls. |
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Pine Creek Canyon - K and C
A quick hike in Red Rock with C. I don't think we ever made it to our final destination as we got off course and ended up doing some bouldering and then turned back. Total miles: 2.58
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