52.02 Nevada: Las Vegas: The Frenchman, 'Oui'. Jenni's love-hate relationship with this tough, rough but worthwhile challenge.
Jen reaches the second of 4 climbs, steep and rugged. Approaching the top of number 4 of four. This is on the way home. A truly golden day. We returned to the winter deserts for a quick sojourn. We never thought a desert would become one of our favorite places to visit, hike and enjoy its beauty. Beauty? Isn't it in the eyes of the beholder or should that be hiker? We've been to the peak of the Frenchman on numerous occasions. Like many other climbs, it seems to be getting more difficult, not easier. Obviously, it has nothing to do with age—perhaps to use the standard phrase we hear so often these days: Must be climate change. Today, the climate changed considerably. The last time we were in Las Vegas, mostly Boulder City, the temperature reached 107 degrees. This morning, it changed. At the peak it was in the low 30's but returned to 60 degrees when we reached the trailhead. The hike has 4 separate steep climbs which test one. Add to the challenge is the s...