fire peak

[goofball]

when i first moved to vegas i spent a couple weeks out in the lake mead nra before i started work. i explored one canyon off the north shore road w/ some real fun upclimbs and short narrow sections. after lookign at ti on the map i saw fire peak was above it. having got out of the canyon and trekkign around the ridges some i knew it was going to be a not very difficult hike to the summit. got to go back out today and finish the loop. the 1st 2 upclimbs are short, ~30', not to hard. uc2 kinda pinches at top. sans pack was much easier.

below uc1



uc1 from above



teh 3rd is ~70' and is a harder start, plus its reeeeeealy high penalty points for the sorta awkward moves at the very top. not hard moves but i am not a regular climber and the exposure atop 70' w/ chunky rocks awaiting below was nerve wracking. but fear has never stopped me.





then some more open hiking for awhile until the next kinda narrows



and 3 more upclimbs. teh final one we did not choose to do. much smaller handholds and ~100'. outside our free climbing comfort zone.



after that easier going till the wash opens up and we make for the ridge



to gain the summit.



and some awesome views !

valley of fire to the north



muddy peak over there in them muddy mountains



and some other pretty



then off the peak down teh east face and into another wash. eventually it drops off pretty big so we bypass on down canyon left and hit another slope to gain teh wash we initially came up. exit out above the 3rd upclimb to the ridge above then down the east face of the initial slopes to gain teh car on north shore road.

yay !



http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/566082511UamzNj