29.11 Las Vegas: The Frenchman and Sunset Mountains...vive la Francais. 29.12 Sunrise in the rain.
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...