Lazarow World-Hike-About

You never know what surprise nature has in store...each moment. We returned to Boulder City to hike the 'color mountains', Black and Red, because snow was falling when we arrived at the Calico Basin area hike earlier that day. We find these two irresistible because they are reasonable workouts but in addition, the sights are always fantastic and vary greatly. Standing on either peak, one has views of the city below, Las Vegas in the near distance and Lake Mead on the opposite side as well as many mountain ranges both in the state as well as in Utah and Arizona. Add sunrises, sunsets, the bighorns, snow-covered mountains and there's not much else a person needs for the recipe of life with nature. Not often we see this background in Las Vegas; from Red Mountain. Contrast with similar picture below. A week before above picture, early evening from the summit of Black Mountain. On the way down Black Mountain, looking toward Arizona and Utah as sun catches a se...

Second of three sections of inclines up the Frenchman. (One of us might be spotted on the trail...see the dot.) We hiked the French Mountain last year. It is very steep, the path is a 4-wheel drive road covered with loose stones. I'd like to see a car negotiate that road. The editor, for reasons that sort of make sense, hated the hike last year, particularly the downhill stretch. On the other hand, I think it is a great workout with incredible views of desert mountains, Lake Mead and Las Vegas. In fact, it is difficult to argue against the experience because of the many positive elements. Anyway, the editor decided she would not climb it on principle. I had never seen her so adamant about a hike or the fervent passion not to attempt it again. We climbed part of Sunrise Mountain which sits opposite the Frenchman, earlier. The weather turned poor with the winds blustering at dangerous levels of velocity for mountain edges. So we headed down and I could not help noticing the i...

A view of the 'beaut', taken after our return. Lava Butte is one of the most attractive volcanoes/mountains in the region. What it lacks in height it compensates for in its shape, color and setting. From our approach, there was no trail from the car to the mountain, some 3 miles cross-country, no path up the steep slopes but easy views of the target. The volcano can be seen from so many places around Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City. It has always, or at least since we discovered it last year, held a special place for one of us (Jeffrey). When Jenni was sick last year, I went on my own and enjoyed an incredible experience. I would admit there is an element of fear or at least, trepidation, as one climbs the steep mountain side over rocks, some gravel and black boulders. In fact, it gets worse on the way down; the gradient is some 70%. The view from the top is stunning especially the colors of the desert. Lake Mead is in the distance and Lake Las Vegas is close and ...

Perspective on the way down after enjoying a great 'up'. We revisited this interesting, colorful and breathtaking area when we decided to reach Hamblin peak, in the Lake Mead National recreation region of rugged heaven. It is obvious, should anyone read some of our comments, that this part of the country is stunningly beautiful in a harsh and rugged manner. The next few hikes, and we suppose a few of the recent, portray this part of Nevada as a painted desert. We doubt whether any human artist could capture or have envisaged the form, shape, molding and shades of the deserts with its mountains, and even lakes, had they not seen it firsthand. For the initial few miles, there is no trail. A person follows instincts and suggestions, read beforehand, as one moves in, through and out of washes. The ascent is easy to follow as a rough path exists to guide one to the summit. What a peak it is. The color of the desert in chocolate brown with various shades leading to grey, oran...