Blue Diamond Hill

Richard and I did this 2.25 mile horse trail up to an overlook of Las Vegas. From the trail head it looked pretty easy, but it was a relentless incline all the way to the top. We stopped many times to catch our breath. It was a nice outing. I took a reading of my blood pressure two different times after resting, and it was the lowest reading I can remember taking. I am very pleased with this graph!

Upper Calico Tanks & Lost Creek Upper Falls

Today we had a crew of five that included John, Jeff, Anthony, Alyssa, and Mackenzie. We did two hikes today; never take kids if you want to take it easy. We had to tread lightly due to snow, ice and frost on the rocks making some parts more treacherous than they looked. The falls were running pretty good in Lost Creek, but we were disappointed that the tanks were not frozen. That didn't stop a flurry of snowballs and ice sheet shatterings. The views from the upper tanks are just incredible. It was a fun day for all. The best part might have been hitting the bed when we got back.

What a difference a day makes...

Jeff and I had arranged to hike today, but when we got up, it was raining. Determined to go anyway, we discovered that most of the Red Rock valley was dusted with snow. Because of this, and our time restraints, we decided to do Calico Hills II Overlook again today. He had never done the scramble, and I had never seen the air so clear before. Plus, the route looked to be snow free. Well, not exactly. Same calories as yesterday. Better views. Check out how clear Las Vegas was today. Montana skies.

Calico Hills II Overlook

I set out today to do a scramble in the Calico Hills at Red Rock Canyon. I was again by myself, so I had to be very careful, especially in the Class III sections. In one particular spot, I was holding myself up with only my arms. This scramble is tiring for me because it is very steep up the gully. At the top is a playground of sandstone and an incredible view. The pictures never do it justice, but it gives you an idea. I've also included a snapshot from my Figwee page showing the exercise entry for today.

A third of the way up the gully:


This wall is about 8 feet high; the gloves came off for this one.


Near the top, after the class III section.


A tenaja tank at the top


Don't look down!


Where's my hang glider?

Calico Hills I Peak

I ate very bad things yesterday in honor of the championship games. Today, I had to pay the price with a short rock scramble to Calico Hills I Peak in Red Rock Canyon. While it is clearly unwise, I had to make the trek alone today. This is the third time I've done this particular route, so I chose it for its relative safety. There is only one class III section (this means that you must use your arms for more than just balance.) Here is the fool about to climb:





The route is very confusing as you weave back and forth through the rocks. It is not something I would attempt without knowing the way, which I learned through a hiking book by Branch Whitney (see links).




I have to go up there?




The uphill sections really kill the heart and lungs in a creepy way. I find myself scrambling pretty easily until I get to a spot where I can rest that's flat-esque, and then I realize that my heart is beating out of my chest and I can't breathe. Oops!

The proper shoes are critical for traction on the steep parts:




The views from the top are quite worth the trip. I could see 360 degrees.

Jeff and I Hike "The Park"

Jeff Gobel (the other Figwee co-founder)and I set out today to finish what I had started last week (I got lost the first time, and I had to turn back). From the backside of the sandstone bluffs at Red Rock Canyon, you can reach the top of the bluffs through varied amounts of pain and risk. One of the easier routes for this is to a place called "The Park", which is an amazing area where the sandstone is relatively flat and very smooth from erosion. Up high on the edge of the sandstone crags, the views are incredible. There is no trail; you just park your car and make your way through about 2.5 miles of washes and brush to get there. About halfway there you are thinking to yourself: "why am I doing this again?" However, as soon as you reach the ridge with a view that stretches for over a hundred miles, you quickly realize why. There is no trace of people here; this is not a popular or publicly known route. You could spend hours playing around the bizarre formations of sandstone. It was a great day; we think it would be a perfect place to camp and watch the lights of Las Vegas glow in the distance. We will be back.

Hiking Time was about 3.5 hours
Distance was about 5 miles round trip
Elevation gain was +600 feet, but with a lot of whoopdies
Calories earned: 1,950

A commitment to fitness is born

I wanted to start a blog to track my thoughts and progress toward my fitness goals. Since I have the good fortune to live 15 minutes from Red Rock Canyon outside Las Vegas, NV, I have gravitated to hiking as my primary means of exercise. I combine this with lifting weights, and I use Figwee.com for watching what I eat.

I have been hiking / scrambling regularly for about three months now, and I haven't scratched the surface of nearby hikes. I have the good fortune of having a hiking buddy in Richard (my brother-in-law) and / or Jeff (my brother and co-founder of Figwee.) Hiking has its inherent risks, so always be careful and don't go alone.

To bring things up to date, I got started when Costco had a hydration pack (a backpack designed to hold water with a tube with a bite valve for easy access) for a mere 20 bucks. I thought it was cool, so I picked one up. I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I knew it would come in handy. Being a former boyscout, I have always had an appreciation for the outdoors, but haven't done so much in the last decade or so. However, since we moved to Las Vegas, my wife Jennifer and I have made it a point to explore.

I bought an annual pass to Red Rock for another twenty bucks, and started on one of the "easy" hikes in the brochure they hand out at the booth. I had to stop about every 30 feet or so on a mild uphill grade to catch my breath. The next day, it hurt to get out of bed. I knew things had gone bad, but I had no idea how bad. The area has world-class scenery and rock scrambling, and the only way I was going to get to experience it was to work my way up slowly to the challenges.

If I do my job properly, anyone who visits Las Vegas should be motivated to see Red Rock, as it is truly an awesome place to explore.

Maybe I'll see you out on the hill!

John Gobel