7-1-07 Mt Charleston Summit Hike, NV |
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20 viewsHeading West towards the Spring Mtn Range. The summit is the barren peak in the middle of the picture.
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35 viewsDriving up Kyle Canyon Rd (Rt 157) towards the trailheads. The summit peeking from behind some trees...
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23 viewsWe started just before 7AM at "Trail Canyon" trail. Starting on Echo Rd, it is 2 miles of relatively steep uphill hiking, but it shaves 2 miles off the "North Loop" trail to the summit. You can start the hike on Deer Creek Highway (Rt 158) and you don't have such a quick elevation gain, but it adds 2 miles to the trip.
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28 viewsThis is Andy at the Trail Canyon junction with the North Loop trail. At this junction, you cut West and it takes you to the summit. It's still before 8AM!
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38 viewsOver 10,000 ft in altitude, the clouds are so close you could hit them with a rock!
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28 viewsThe scrub brush starts to thin at this altitude, but there are still bristlecone pine trees.
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30 viewsLooking back down Kyle Canyon- you can just barely make out the homes in the center of the picture.
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30 viewsLots of interesting trees at this altitude. They are gnarly looking, partially due to the altitude, and also due to the many forest fires that they have endured.
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33 viewsYes, there are sections that are this steep. HEaven help you if you slip and start to fall. The rocks are so loose, and there is evidence of rock slides.
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23 viewsOne of the many ridges that provide a spectacular view of the mountain ranges around Las Vegas. You could see Lake Mead from some of them!
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28 viewsWe're getting into the thick of the mountains now. Behind the ridge behind us is the small community of Mt Charleston.
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23 viewsCamera facing South. Cottonwood Valley and the Red Rock area are behind the peaks in the distance.
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25 viewsCathedral Rock looks tiny from this vantage point. It's in the very center of the picture. The Cathedral Rock hike is good for leisurely stroll with "only" about 1000 ft in altitude gain.
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20 viewsThe summit looms in the distance, getting closer, but still so far away.
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20 viewsAnother ridge with a view of the Vegas valley.
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18 viewsWe pick our way along a ridge, walking West, then South towards the summit.
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23 viewsA small plateau, popular for camping. In the other direction, you can see the valleys to the North and West of the Spring Mtn Range, including Mt Whitney in California. (It was too hazy to pick it out this day)
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25 viewsSummit, getting closer....
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19 viewsLess and less vegetation. Generally, this terrain produces only "dwarf" bristlecone trees.
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28 viewsA better view down Kyle Canyon. You can see the loop at the end of Kyle Canyon Rd just above center.
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23 viewsSame vantage.
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29 viewsA particularly treacherous section. The drop off to the left is dizzying.
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26 viewsCloser...
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31 viewsStill hiking West, then South. You can just make out some of the final switchbacks leading to the summit. At this point, we couldn't figure out where the trail was going to take us!
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