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 You have joined the 52 Peak Club and wondering what is the best strategy to earn the cards. There are a lot of factors, but I will try and generalize so anyone can benefit from my suggestions. There are three hiking areas that have peaks where you earn a card when you hike to those peaks with the 52 Peak Club. They are Mt. Charleston, Red Rock and Lake Mead. Mt Charleston Peaks/Cards: There are 14 Mt. Charleston Peaks where you earn cards. These peaks are normally only offered in the summer. It's way too cold and too much snow in late autumn, winter, and early spring. Strategy: Do all the Charleston Peaks in the summer. If you don't, you will have to wait until next summer. If you join the 52 Peak Club in the summer, do as many Charleston Peaks as you can. Charleston Peaks are tougher overall due to the elevation and the length. If you see McFarland Peak on the schedule, sign up for it. This hike is not posted often. Start with the easier Charleston Peaks, like Bonanza Peak, Fletcher Peak and Mack's Peak. Do not wear good rock scrambling shoes; the rock will ruin them.  Red Rock Peaks/Cards: There are 34 Red Rock cards, the most of the three hiking areas. If you a new to rock scrambling, start with the lower value cards: Kraft Mtn (2H), Calico Tank Peak (2C), White Rock Springs Peak (3H) and Gray Cap (3C). Red Rock hiking season begins in mid-September and goes through mid May normally. There are times during the winter that we do not hike in Red Rock because of snow and ice. Strategy: Sign up for the following hikes: First Creek Peak, Global Peak, Holiday Peak, Terrace Canyon Peak, and Lost Creek Peak. These hikes are not posted often. Also to become more comfortable on class 4 rock, start rock climbing. Good approach shoes are a must. Work on your balance.  Lake Mead Peaks/Cards:
There are only four Lake Mead Peaks that you earn a card. These peaks are the easiest peaks due to lower elevation and minimal scrambling (Exception is Frenchman Mtn which does have class 3 scrambling.) Lake Mead hikes are posted during the winter months. They are not posted in the summer - too hot! Note: Hamblin Mtn and Anniversary Narrows Peak are the same card. Do not wear good rock scrambling shoes; the rock will ruin them. Other Strategies: Get to know the hike leaders. If you have a 4WD vehicle, offer to drive. Some trailheads need a 4WD to drive to them. Don't do too many hikes in a row. This can burn you out and you are more likely to get injured. Download the Meetup app on your phone and as soon as you get a notification about a hike, sign up if you can do the hike and need the card. If you hike once a week, you will do all the peaks (52) in one year. Helpful Links: List of all the peaks. FAQs To join the 52 Peak Club  After a few months, Anniversary Narrows is closed again. This is one of the most magnificent hikes around Las Vegas. This blog will describe how to find and hike through the Narrows. Tips to hike to Anniversary Narrows Peak are also included. I am keeping this post hoping Anniversary Narrows will open again. Driving Directions:From the intersection of Lake Mead Blvd and Northshore Road go north (left) on Northshore Road, drive 13.0 miles to mile marker 16 and make a left onto the signed, gravel Callville Wash North Road (94). Drive less than .01 of mile and make a 180 degree turn and go down a steep grade. (You might need a 4WD vehicle to get up this grade.) Drive east two-tenths of a mile where the road divides. Take gravel road 94A (signed) and follow it about 1.8 miles to an unsigned parking area on the left side of the road. This is just before the road drops down into Anniversary Narrows Wash. For longtime hikers of Anniversary Narrows this is the same road we have always taken and it is in better shape now.  Steep Grade - it's steeper than it looks in the photo  Park here. Do NOT drive down into the wash. You can't. There's a big drop off. The Hike to the NarrowsFollow the gravel road in the above photo 75 yards down into Anniversary Narrows wash. Head north (right) in the wash. The wind and rain have created fantastic sculptures into the sides of the wash. As the wash curves to the left you can see remnants of Anniversary Mine (1922-1928) on the right bank. Do NOT enter the mines. In about 100 yards beyond the tunnels, the wash narrows and you’ll enter the locally named “Anniversary Narrows” section of the wash.  Start of the Narrows It’s unbelievable that thousands of years of wind and rain created the Narrows. At times the walls are only five feet apart. There are now three Class 3 climbs in the Narrows. They are all very short. Hikers can assist each other if needed. Watch for slippery boulders. The are numerous photo opportunities as you walk through the Narrows. The light in the Narrows is different depending on the time of the day. See the below photos. After 150 yards the walls recede and the wash widens again.  Photo taken in the afternoon  Photo taken in the morning Anniversary Narrows Peak Hikers at Anniversary Narrows Peak Since you can again drive almost to Anniversary Narrows Wash, the best way to do this hike is an up and back. This has two advantages: You avoid the loose junk the old descent route has and you hike through the Narrows again. The light will be different. Follow the original ascent route. It is very well cairned. Once on the summit ridge go around to the left side following cairns. Once back on the ridge, continue on the ridge to the peak. Do not drop off to the left side again. The only class 3 climbs are in the Narrows. There is a sign in book at the summit. Descent TipsSince this is now an "up and back" hike, here are a few tips to get back to the Narrows. Retrace your steps down the ridgeline to the saddle. From the saddle you can see a green patch of landscape. You want to head to the left of this and look for cairns that mark the wash you need to cross.  Once out of the wash you cross, look for the ridge circled in the photo below. Head to the right of it as indicated by the arrow. You will drop into a minor wash that leads to the main wash. Go left in this wash about one mile back to the Narrows! That's it. Have fun.  |
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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