Hiking Las Vegas Newsletter for November 2003
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In this issue:
* Welcome
* Updates
* Weather
* Hiking Tips
* Products
* Computer Information

Welcome
The Scenic Loop Road at Red Rock Canyon closes at 5 pm starting November 1. Be sure to exit the loop by 5 pm to avoid a $50 fine. You can get a Late Exit permit by calling (702) 515-5050. The LE permit allows you to be parked along the Scenic Loop Road after the closing times for up to three hours.

Make sure to dress in layers this time of the year. It can get cold at Red Rock and even at Lake Mead area. Stay away from cotton, instead wear materials that wick moisture away from the skin. A windbreaker is a must. They are lightweight and really stop the wind in its tracks. The key to enjoying hiking and climbing in the colder months is to stay warm.

Congratulations to the following additional members who are now members for life: Gary Bodell, Harlan Stockman, Bill Love, and Paul Hillinger. These hikers have either renewed their memberships each year or paid for a lifetime membership. They can enjoy all the hikes, information, and photos on the Web site for the rest of their lives for free!

Updates
The following hikes were added to the Member's Only Club last month: Gunsight Notch Peak via The Notch - The route travels through Juniper Canyon and up Gunsight Notch. Difficulty: 4 Bryce Canyon Hikes: Fairyland Loop: One of the most scenic hikes in the southwest.
Difficulty: 2
Queens Complex: Easy hike that travels to the bottom of Bryce Canyon
Difficulty: 1
Navajo Loop - 2 - This must do hike passes favorite formations such as Wall Street, Twin Bridges, and Thor's Hammer.

The following pages were added or updated in October: Charleston Peak via Carpenter Canyon - New write up, new photos and waypoints added. (Member Only Page) Eastern Sierra - information about trails and peaks near Bishop and Lone Pine, CA Eastern Sierra Peaks - new peaks added. Photos of Eastern Sierra Peaks - This is an ongoing project. The first set of photos depicts peaks seen from Lone Pine. You can click on a hyperlink within the photos to get a closer view. Panorama from Mt. Wilson to Bridge - Huge interactive panorama with additional panoramas, photos, and slide shows. Photos of peaks More photos added to help you identify peaks. Some peaks now have photos from all four directions. Photo of the Week and Scrambling Photo of the Week - These photos change on a weekly basis. Climbing routes on Brass and Lotta Balls Walls (Member Only Page) Charleston Peak Page - In-depth information about routes to Charleston Peak (Member Only Page) Begin ad copy***************************** A.M.D.G. TAX SERVICE, INC.

10% discount if your name is in the book on Mt. Wilson
5% discount if you bagged Bridge Mountain in 2002 or in 2003. 364-1488 Ask for Tom
End ad copy ************************************

If you own a business that caters to hikers and are interested in sponsoring a hike description, selling the CD, or advertising in this newsletter or on the screen saver (it has been downloaded hundreds of times), contact me at:
BranchWhitney@hikinglasvegas.com

Recommended Hike of the Month:

Juniper Peak - The best moderate hike in Red Rock Canyon. The route passes the 1,200 foot Rainbow Wall and the 600 foot Brownstone Wall before reaching the peak.
Difficulty: 3

Featured Web Page: http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/Rainbow_Peak.htm
A page devoted to Rainbow Peak with plenty of photos, a slide show, panorama, topo map, and a great interactive photo of the route.

Weather outlook for November, 2003 for Las Vegas, Nevada - by David Geier

The weather continues its rapid drop in temperatures although the last part of October didn't reflect it. The average high temperature will drop to 69 degrees a full 16 degrees from October! The lows will drop 11 degrees. For the record, the maximum temperature for November was set in 1980 at 90 degrees. The record low was set in 1976 for a wintry 17 degrees. Average rainfall is 00.29".

So what does the outlook look like? Well it calls for temperatures to be above normal with average amounts of rainfall. It appears temperatures are going to be above normal for the next several months with rainfall fairly normal.

The El Nino forecast is calling for near normal conditions for the remainder of 2003 and early 2004. However, some indications are that the waters in the Pacific may be slightly warmer. We'll see if it develops into a trend.

For more weather information please visit: http://www.davidgeier.com/Weather.htm

Happy Hiking

David Geier

Hiking Tips
Do your feet hurt during a hike? If you are near water, take off your boots and socks, place your feet in the water, and enjoy. The colder the water the better. After a few minutes the pain will disappear. This tip is more appropriate for the Sierra than southern Nevada, but it's a good tip.

Speaking of feet, Red Wing Shoes has a new product. The product is similar to Superfeet, but it's a moldable foot support system. I just got a pair. They have more arch support and are better cushioned than Superfeet. And they come with a 90 day full refund if not satisfied! As many hikers know, you have to take care of your feet. I'll report more about this product next month.

Did you know Nevada has 312 hot springs! Here's a list of all the hot springs in Nevada: http://www.hotspringsenthusiast.com/Nevada.htm

This is the time of year hikers get caught coming down in the dark. Plan your hike accordingly and allow time for mistakes, taking photos, and time at the peak. You should be at the peak by noon. Make sure to bring a headlamp or flashlight.

Hiker of the month: Henry Dziegiel. No one has improved their fitness and hiking ability like Henry. He has lost over 30 pounds, did Mt. Whitney via the Mountaineers route, and now handles class 3 rock with ease. When he started hiking, less than two years ago, Turtlehead Peak was an extremely challenging hike for him.

Products
Member's Only Club Membership $50 first year, then it decreases ten dollars each year until it's free for life! Or you can pay $100 for a lifetime membership, a savings of $50.
Currently, 219 hikes, over 1000 pages, 1215 color photos, enhanced topo maps, and waypoints. Login and download all the hikes and topo maps you want. New hikes added monthly. I have personally done every hike at least once and many of the hikes I have done several times.

120 Best Hikes in Southern NV and Beyond(CD-Rom) Includes hikes Sedona, Great Basin, Yosemite and Zion. $25 includes shipping.
Hiking Las Vegas (book) $20 includes shipping and updates.
Hiking Southern Nevada (book) $20 includes shipping and updates.
Sedona Hiking Package $10 includes 5 hikes, fast facts, camping information, and more.
Zion Hiking Package $10 includes 4 hikes, fast facts, camping information and more.
Individual Hikes $3.00 each
Download individual hikes. These are the same hikes
in the Member's Only Club.
Which option is best for you? To compare go to: http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/compare.htm
Computer Information
Do you use the Google Search Engine often? Do you want to track the same query over time? Google Alert is a free service that does this for you. It will run a query, and then check each day to see if there are any changes. If so, you'll be informed of these via email. The service is free but does require you to signup for an account. For more information: http://www.googlealert.com

Do you travel and need Internet access? Check out the following Web site. It lists which hotels/motels have Internet access and the costs: http://www.geektools.com/geektels/

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