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Allison McNickle (53er) and Bruce Small (Triple 53er) started their “Epic” Hike in the Charleston Wilderness Area on Aug 27th and finished on Sept 1, 2020. The stats: 50+ miles, 26,000 feet of elevation climbed and 21 peaks tagged...4 nights, 5 days Two plus years of talking, several months of planning, and over 60 liters of water cached on the route to ensure they had a successful hike.  Day 1: After being dropped off, Bruce and Alison started their Epic hike at Bonanza trailhead. Their first of 21 peaks was Bonanza Peak (10,400 feet). They continued on the Bonanza Trail losing almost 1,800 feet of elevation and then regaining most of it to the McFarland turnoff. They hiked up to McFarland Peak (10,742 feet) and then over to Baby McFarland (10,436 feet), sub-peak on the mountain. From there they descended to the Bonanza Trail hiking about 6 miles to the Old Bristlecone Trail. Just before the junction of Old Bristlecone and Upper Bristlecone they turned off to the west and gained the northern ridge line below Lee Peak and camped in the forest that night. Three peaks this day.  The start of the Epic Hike: Bonanza Trailhead Day 2: Up bright and early Allison and Bruce ascended nearly 1700 ft in less than ¾ of a mile to summit Lee Peak (11,312 feet). From there they hiked over to the recently named Rocketship Peak (11,140 feet). Their next peak was Charleston Peak, the highest peak in southern NV. They descended to the North Loop Trail and followed it roughly two miles to Charleston Peak (11,918 feet). Next up was Griffith Peak. They followed the South Loop Trail to Griffith Peak (11,056 feet). Allison and Bruce descended Griffith Peak via South Loop Trail and hiked over to and up Trail Canyon a 1/2 mile to their camp for the night. Four peaks this day.  Allison on route to Lee Peak  At the summit of Charleston Peak Day 3: Another early start had Allison and Bruce hiking up Trail Canyon to the junction with North Loop Trail. They scrambled over to Cockscomb Peak (9,650 feet) and back to the junction. They hiked North Loop Trail to Raintree, a 3,000 year old Bristlecone Pine. From Raintree they hiked out to Fletcher Peak (10,319 feet). After a short break at that summit, they retraced their steps to Raintree and hiked the Mummy Springs route to Mummy's Toe (10,319 feet). They camped at the base of Mummy's Toe. Three peaks this day.  At the summit of Cockscomb Peak.  At the summit of Mummy's Toe. Day 4: As the sun rose Allison and Bruce traversed the legs/shin of Mummy Mt. over to the east route to summit Mummy Mt (11,529 feet), the second highest peak in southern Nevada. On the way, they went up to a peak that they thought was MJ, but later found out it wasn't...so they counted this unnamed peak since it was 11,300 feet. Leaving Mummy Mtn. they did the route to Chin (11,040 feet), Forehead (11,043 feet) and Nose (10,748 feet), a popular hardcore route often done by members of the 52 Peak Club. They descended Mummy’s Nose via the typical route out to SR 156 and hiked it up to the Sister's exit route. From there they hiked in about a 1/2 mile to their camp in the forest. Five peaks this day.  Down climbing to Mummy's head loop.  At the summit of Mummy Mtn (Tummy)  At the summit of Mummy's Chin.  On route to Mummy's Nose.  At the summit of Mummy's Nose. Day 5: After a quick breakfast, Allison and Bruce headed up the scenic, tree lined ridge on the east side of the Sisters exit route until they gained the main Sister's ridge and went east to Black Sister (9,650 feet). Then they did the Sister's route in reverse, climbing North Sister (10,175) and then South Sister (10,040 feet). They descended South Sister to the Sister's ridge line following it west to the big, light-colored, gravel, high spot and turned north to follow a ridge that runs between the Sisters and Mack’s Peak. As they crossed this ridge line they discovered another Peak...Rick's Peak (9295 feet)...newly named after Kevin Humes's father who passed away a week earlier. They then connected with the route up to Mack’s Peak, just below the first climb up, and went up to Mack’s Peak (10,033 feet). After this summit they traversed the top of the mountain (not the knife edge...they did that a couple weeks earlier) over to Mack's North Peak (9,820 feet). The start of the descent route from Mack's North Peak was via a ledge that runs down the south side of the peak. The final descent was down the forested ridge that runs on the east side of the normal descent route. This took them back into Mack’s canyon where they ended the "Epic" Hike at the Upper Mack’s Group Campground. Six peaks this day.  Landmark on route to North Sister.  Summit of North Sister.  Summit of South Sister.  Downclimb to Mack's North.   Epic Hike completed. After the completion of the hike their comment was, “If it wasn’t for Hiking Las Vegas and the 52 Peak Club they may have never known how to link all these peaks together in one “Epic” Hike.”
Branch: In my 25 years of hiking in southern Nevada I have never heard of any hiker attempting a hike like this. Congrats!  The great outdoors! Hiking across vast areas of the countryside has a huge appeal to many of us. Fresh air, open spaces, away from the annoyances of modern life. But there are a few things you should always be aware of, to avoid making mistakes while hiking! Why Go Hiking Anyway? Listen, many of us hate to admit it, but we work long hours in cramped spaces feeling rather stressed. John Beye of Outdoorsr.com suggests the outdoors “may even begin to feel like home” which sounds like a magical escape from the cubicle office! The pull of the outdoors is getting away from it all. Tips For Hiking Safety But what mistakes are there which could cause issues while out hiking? The last thing you want is to get in any dangerous situations or cause yourselves any harm. Here are a few tips to make sure your hiking trip is a pleasant one and not a scary affair! Wear The Right Shoes A hugely common mistake when hiking is not wearing adequate shoes or boots for a long journey. Starting a hike in a standard sneaker will only get you so far! You will probably end up with blisters and soaking wet feet. Hugely unpleasant. Make sure you source some proper hiking boots for your trip - and break them in before you leave! Pack For Every Eventuality Underpacking is a huge mistake when hiking. Firstly you need to be prepared for all weather types. It may be sunny and mild when you leave, but in some areas temperatures can change rapidly - not to mention the constant threat of rain! Be prepared with waterproofs and warm clothes. Also, make sure to pack everything you need for an emergency. If you get an injury you need to be able to apply a basic treatment. If you end up lost and out for far longer than planned, you may need supplies for the night! Learn To Read Maps Another common issue people may encounter is their inability to read maps. Even if you are an experienced user of maps, make sure you have the right ones for where you are heading. Also, check over the maps before you leave to familiarise yourself with your planned route, landmarks, and other important spots along your journey. Knowing these things ensures you know you are in the right area if lost.  Understand Nature
Though there’s usually no need to fear wildlife, being completely unaware is certainly a mistake. Make sure you know which animals may be in the area you’re hiking in, and understand how they behave. Pay attention to smells and noises while you walk, helping you know where wild animals may be. Never wear headphones, or walk alone in particularly dangerous areas. These tips will keep you alert and aware of which animals may be nearby. Hopefully, these tips are useful for you when it comes to staying safe while on a hike. A few simple steps can ensure you have a great time whilst out in nature, and not have any issues. Follow these and enjoy your walking! From Red Rock Canyon publicist:
We had to address this issue. We've been pursuing a solution for the last few years, and also contracted a capacity study to help us identify and suggest solutions to address the problem. The Timed Entry Reservation system became available to us this year through Recreation.gov, and it's a path forward to a solution. It won't be an immediate fix, but over time, word will get to our visitors and the majority of people will only arrive during their one-hour timed entry window -- reducing the safety issues and providing a better visitor experience by not having to wait in a line to find out the gates will be closed for a few hours and turned away. The year 2020 has shown us a multitude of ways that the country, Las Vegas included, can adapt to social distancing and a pandemic. The world of real estate has especially seen a shift in the way that business is done. Usually, the process involves multiple people meeting up for showings, signings, inspections, and closings. However, given the current circumstances, more and more people are turning toward the internet and the postal service to complete their bearings. One question that people ask, even pre-coronavirus, is if the seller needs to be present during the closing process. The short answer is: no!
We’re going to go over the ways that buyers can proceed with the closing process without the seller present. Perform a Remote Closing Online One of the easiest and most common methods of closing on a house without the seller present is to do so electronically. Electronic closings became a lot more commonplace in March when the initial, strict lockdowns began to take place in the country. You may be wondering if electronic closings are secure, and the answer is yes. Certain document signing software and applications, like DocuSign, come equipped with security systems to ensure your privacy. Additionally, the process to do so is reported to be seamless and easy. It’s important to note that electronic signings aren’t allowed in every state. Be sure to check with your real estate agent to see what the laws are in your state of residency. Close Via a Mobile Notary While this situation might not be as ideal during the coronavirus pandemic, some areas provide the option to close via a mobile notary. A mobile notary will bring the documents to you and be present during the process, either in your home or your office. Or, they will mail the documents to you and show up at a designated space to approve the signing. Either way, the process doesn’t need to involve the seller. Perform Closings Separately While this option does involve leaving the house, it can be done without the seller or others—aside from the notarizer—in the room. Separate closings will have you come into the notary office and sign any necessary documents under the oversight of the notarizer. The seller would complete a similar process but in another room. This way of doing things also became more prevalent in the recent months due to social distancing measures. In states where this option wasn’t available, there were setups including a long table where both parties were seated opposite from one another. And, even in these cases, there were minimal people involved in the process. The Bottom Line There are several ways to go about closing on a house without the seller present, especially during coronavirus. If remote closings aren’t available in your state, contact your Realtor about ways to workaround the regulations to perform a safe, socially distant, and fast home sale in Las Vegas, NV. The area’s gorgeous landscape, social scene, and hot weather are constantly enticing people to move to the area. Real estate agents and government officials are working hard on finding ways to make the process of buying and selling homes safe and easy. If you’re someone moving to the Las Vegas area after buying a house, be sure to become acquainted with many of the stunning hiking areas in the region and stop by the Hiking Las Vegas blog regularly for more information on exploring the nature in the area! |
AuthorBranch Whitney is the author of Hiking Las Vegas and creator of the 52 Peak Club where members hike to the best 52 Peaks around Las Vegas, NV Archives
October 2023
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