Hiking
For many years we attended conventions in Las Vegas. Jodie's friend, Maggie, from Macalester College days invited the two of us to go hiking with her and her husband. That year, Maggie and Mike opened up a new world to us--one that led us to purchase Hilton Grand Vacations time shares so that we could spend more time hiking.
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While we love staying at the condo right behind the Flamingo on The Strip, we love to get out and enjoy all the other interesting spots in and around Las Vegas.
We have hiked in Nevada, Arizona, California and Utah.
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On the left is a view of Red Rock which is right in Las Vegas. It is a wonderful spot with so many hikes that we keep going back there each year. In the center is a view of the Colorado River across Hoover Dam in Arizona. We have completed this hike several times trying to find some hot springs located there. We have never found them and the hike to reach them is quite challenging. Perhaps one of these years . . . This is a gorgeous hike--unfortunately, it is all downhill to the river and then uphill to the parking area! On the right is a hike that we love to take near Boulder City. At the end of the hike we are about 400 feet above the Colorado River and it is a magnificent view. There is also a spot where we have a view of Hoover Dam; we watched the new bridge going up for several years. This is a view of the bridge which is now finished and quite the sight!
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Hiking, 2011
Left: Warren, Lee, Jodie and Sandy hiking at Snow Canyon in Utah.
Center: Homer, Sandy, Jodie and Gayle hiking in Red Rock Canyon.
Right: Sandy, Maggie, Mike and Jodie hiking in Cedar Canyon in the Mojave National Preserve.
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Left: Lee, Warren, Gayle, Jodie, Sandy and Homer on the day we went to California to explore a turquoise mine.
Right: Homer, Lee, Warren, Gayle, Sandy and Jodie the day we went to a new area near Mesquite.
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We have visitors while we are in Las Vegas: Jodie's niece tries to visit every year for about a week. We do a lot of touring and shopping with her and follow her around while she does some gambling. Sandy's daughter and son-in-law visit for a long weekend and we do a lot of hiking. On the left, we are with Kathy on the walk to the new bridge over Hoover Dam; on the right we are at the top of Black Mountain, overlooking Lake Mead, with Mary and Brian.
Maggie and Mike have taken days off from work while we are there; they plan the most outstanding hiking trips--usually in very remote and unique areas. They are both retired, so we look forward to some more great hikes and outings with them.
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Left: At Valley of Fire with Maggie in 2004. Right: At Keyhole Canyon with Maggie and Mike in 2005
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Left: Lee, Warren, Sharon, Jodie, Sandy, Homer and Gayle hiking near Cima, California. Right: one of the amazing views on that hike.
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Left: 2004 on the north side of Lake Mead with Gayle and Homer from Seattle. Right: 2005 near Oatman, Arizona with Homer and Gayle.
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Warren and Lee and the two of us enjoy a rest at Bowl of Fire near Lake Mead in 2004. On the right is a view from that area in 2005 with the flowers just getting ready to bloom.
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2010:
Left: At the China Ranch Date Farm: Sandy, Jodie, Homer, Gayle, Warren and Lee.
Sandy is always looking for sheep. We saw one in Arizona when we were on an adventure with Maggie and Mike.
Right: Sharon, Gayle, Homer, Jodie and Sandy on a hike to a mine.
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On the left is a hike we took near Mesquite, Nevada. It was a gorgeous hike on the desert floor on a perfectly clear day. On the right is a view from the top of a hike we took at Zion in Utah.
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This is the view from our condo in Las Vegas at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at the Flamingo. All of this keeps us going back there each winter!
