Monday, January 31, 2011

Liz's #93 - Hike to the Top of Lone Mountain

Hello!


I've hung out around Lone Mountain growing up before there was any houses, a park, streets, even the beltway. I never actually stepped foot on the actual mountain. It's always been something in the back of my head to accomplish. So what better time then this year!

Lone Mountain is 537 feet to the top. Without really scoping out the scene, Jen and I just dove right in. We started on the side that looked "easier", which was quite a walk to get to. There is a car path that doesn't require you to have a Jeep or some other kind of vehicle that can handle off-road terraine. So my Mustang could have made it just fine (next time).



Once we got up to a certain point we realized that there was a "trail" that would be a little easier than the path that we were on. So we jumped on that, which made it a little easier.

I am a smoker, for the time being, so I was taking many little breaks to make sure my lungs didn't explode. That would have been bad, because Jen would have had to carry me to the top and I'm sure she wouldn't have been excited for that. But I was trying to look like I was just admiring the scenary. ha!


Someone had the brilliant idea to plop a bench at what seemed like that middle point. I could and do see myself hanging out on this bench when I just need peace and quiet and maybe some time to think. It would be the perfect spot for that. Although, the natural dirty thought went through my head too and I wonder how many other people had that same thought and actually made it a reality. Lucky bastards!


This seemed to be the halfway point. 

Making sure my legs weren't going to fall off or my muscles weren't going to pop out.

We finally made it to the top! Jen made it there well before me. To be honest, I did have a thought or two that I wasn't going to make it. My next thoughts were I need to stick to going to the gym. And then the thought about it is on my list to quit smoking by hypnosis, so I need to start saving for that!

There is a little American flag at the top of the mountain that people wrote their names on, which is a little wrong, but ok! Naturally, some people have to deface things, so there is graffiti. Nothing cool even. Just random nothingness. I mean, come on people, if you're going to graffiti something at least be good at it, number one, and number two, make it something good!


We hung out up there for a little bit. I caught my breath and my lungs got a break. Took a couple more pictures:


I don't know if you can read that, but it says, "My folks house is somewhere in this box."

"There is my car"

Had to get a Wolak shot! Sports bras double for water bottle holders.

On the way down, we passed a guy that was carrying a baby. You read that right, he was carrying a BABY! in one of those things that people carry babies in that straps around you to hold the baby in the front. Make sense? This baby had to have been days, maybe weeks old. It was crazy. He had his dog, I'm assuming his wife and some other lady with him. Classic stuff! ha. We tried to get a picture of him, but it would have been too obvious.

We found a trail that would take us to the bottom of the mountain far better than the way we got up. Going down was harder than going up (hehe). On the way down you have to worry about slipping and rolling all the way down the mountain. Round trip it took us about an hour and a half. I was thinking it had taken 3 hours round trip, but I was way off.

There's a little cave on the side of Lone Mountain as well, so we walked up there to check it out. I haven't been there since I was a teenager. I remember it smelling less like urine then, but it has been years.




Again, with the uninteresting graffiti! People obviously hang out here; there's broken glass, candle wax, urine.

Overall, it was great. It's not too hard to get to the top. If anything is more of a walk up a steep hill, or mountain in this case. I would love to do it again when it starts staying warm at night. I think the Las Vegas lights would look amazing from up there. It may be my new go-to spot to get away from the world, instead of Mt. Charleston, when I want to clear my head.

Here's a link to some more information on Lone Mountain http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGS505-050. Seeing as Las Vegas really isn't the place filled with trails and things of that nature to do, that don't require an hour drive or more to get to, this was fun!

Ok, I've wrote enough. I'm outtie!
~liz
**********************************************************************************

Jen here! I just have to say I am so happy Liz had this on her list. I loved doing this and even though I almost fell on my booty a couple of times, I have enough cushion to bounce right back up. It was a great workout, a beautiful day and felt great to be out in nature! Looking at this mountain or when we were starting it, I really didn't think we could make it to the top. But it is amazing what can happen when you take one step at a time....eventually you are there! At one point I thought we had made it to the top but when I got to the "top"I saw there was a whole other peak we had to go up that was hiding behind the other one. I was PISSED.........BUT once I got up to the actual highest peak, it was well worth it. The view was a million times better and the feeling of being up that high and knowing we actually climbed it was amazo! 


I would like to take a second to thank the man above for giving me the perfect cup holder in between my lovely bossoms. Note to self- bring a backpack next time!

Lovey, Jen




No comments:

Post a Comment

 
Blog Design by Edub Graphic Art and Design