What we’re about
WELCOME!
VegasHikers is the premier hiking group in the Desert Southwest! We take more hikes to more places and have the friendliest, most welcoming organizers of any group around. We feature hikes for all skill levels, road trips, camping, and social gatherings. We have events at a huge variety of times, places, and days. We even hike at night! With dozens of organizers and an average of more than an event a day, you're sure to find activities to suit your fancy.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS.
Our organizers are not tour guides, we're not rangers. Going out with us is the same as going out with a few friends. Expect the same risks, take the same precautions. As organizers, we will do our best to give accurate descriptions of the hikes we post. If you're a beginning hiker, a hike's elevation and distance may not mean much to you. Likewise, difficulty ratings are subjective, and a hike that is "easy" to one person may be "moderate" to another. Err on the side of caution. You're much better off going on a hike that's too easy for you than a hike that's too hard or too dangerous for you. As you go on more hikes with us, you'll become more familiar with our ratings and our descriptions, and you'll learn more about your own limits. Ultimately, it's up to you to keep yourself safe out there. You're an adult. Hike within your abilities.
DUES/FEES
There are no membership dues to be a part of this group. It does take money to pay for this site, fill up first aid kits, and keep organizers prepared, so we gladly take donations any time they're offered.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our group can be defined by five terms, which help guide every decision we make. They are as follows:
- All are welcome
- We hike together
- We come prepared
- We're all adults
- We appreciate the outdoors
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- full Pink Moon dune hike and sledding + maybe Teutonia Pk (Mojave NP)M Resort Spa Casino, Henderson, NV
Take advantage of the almost full moon (the Grass Pink Moon, Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and — among coastal tribes — the Full Fish Moon) and join us for a moonlit evening hike to highest dune in Mojave and then sled down on a "vehicle" of your choice. This time, I hope to add Teutonia Peak to the adventure. Most of it is walking on the sand without any real elevation difference, the highest dune rises maybe 400 ft above the surrounding terrain. Teutonia is a reasonably easy trail hike with maybe 650 ft of elevation change.
📍 Trail
~3 mi in and out • ↑ < 500 ft • ↓ < 500 ft for the dune
~3 mi in and out • ↑ ~ 650 ft • ↓ ~ 650 ft for Teutonia Pk
Total time to complete hikes: > 90 minutes for the dune, > 90 minutes for Teutonia🚌 Travel
→ ←
Carpool from the M, approx. 87 miles.⚠️☢️☣️ Danger level: 0.8 of 5 for the dunes (if you are clumsy and fall, you land on sand). 1.5 ouf 5 for Teutonia (NPS designated trail)
Scrambling: none.
Resources:
https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/sandboardingsandsledding.htm
(Thank you, Paul C.)🛍️ Gear & Paraphernalia
Time and again, I've received (mostly unsolicited) advice about gear. I've always taken it just like weather talk. When it comes from the old guard, usually meant well, I guess, just like Gilgamesh, trying not to become irrelevant, I try to take it in with respect. But lately, there seems to be this new thing shaming people for the lack of particular brand name gear, often from people who have achieved nothing much and don't really have any experience, except talk. And I really detest that. I don't want to exclude people. At the same time, however, please use common sense: the desert can get both really hot and really cold. You need enough water. It can get windy. Your feet need protection. You need to see.As always:
- Judge your limits when signing up
- Leave no trace behind
- RSVP with integrity
- Use common sense
Disclaimer:
Please be aware that your Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being. By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event. All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or any injury to themselves or their guests.By signing up for this event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer, and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.
At the same time, however, hiking is not the construction of a nuclear power plant, but rather a natural activity for humans. If you really want to take it scientifically, the local library system has quite a few resources. You can start with McManners, H. (1998). Hiking (101 essential tips). ISBN 9780789427762 and take it from there.
- Reimagination TrenchNeeds location
THIS HIKE IS INVITE ONLY
Only those who have successfully made it through the Smokestack with me on either The Crossover or Hole in the Wall hikes will be invited.
This hike is part of the Double Diamond series. You can earn a Double Diamond pin by doing all of the hikes in the series. Here's a list of the people who have earned a Double Diamond pin.
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Double-Diamond-Pins-21-04.pdfHIKE DESCRIPTION
I created the Imagination Trench hike many years ago. It has been duplicated by many different Organizers, some of whom I've never even met. I rarely do the Imagination Trench hike because I do not want to drive the loop any more.
This hike goes from Calico Basin to the Imagination Trench. On the way there it goes through numerous new obstacles that are not on any of my other routes. It has taken me years to put this route together, mostly because it's very long.
No guests will be allowed on this hike.
Stats for this hike are only approximations at this time.
Distance: ~ 4 miles loop.
Elevation gain: ~ 2000 ft.
High point: 4900
Low point: 3700
Difficulty: difficult
Pace: ~ 1 Mile Per Hour.
Children: no.
Dogs: no.
Time: 11 hours max. YES! 11 Hours.INFORMATION LINKS
Scrambling Tiers
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rickw-scrambling-tiers.pdfPassages
http://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Passages.pdf
Pin Programhttp://richardwaltjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Pin-Collection.pdf
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