Go take a hike!!

I'm officially committed to a new hobby! It seems that I was bitten by the hiking bug on the trip to the Grand Canyon a couple weeks ago. I don't know if it was the tiny trek down the Bright Angel Trail that did it or the more leisurely walk along the Rim Trail, but I've definitely got a new interest in getting out and seeing some of what the great southwest has to offer. Actually, now that I think about it, my interest in hiking might have something to do with the fact that its pretty much an activity that is an antithesis of anything to do with casinos! While walking a nature trail, there are no slot machines, no smokers, no Let It Ride douchebags complaining about their cards, no LOUD HOUSE BANDS, etc.

So a few days ago, Danielle and I went shopping and I splurged a good day's wages on a pair of light hiking shoes and a hydration backpack....as seen here:
The shoes feel very good and seem to be very well made and the backpack is already packed and ready to go, with various items such as first aid supplies, flashlight, water, multi-tool, emergency poncho, etc. etc. I found a list of the essential hiking items on this web site:

http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/

Danielle turned me onto that web site and it looks like it'll be extremely useful! There are three major areas in the Vegas vicinity that have maintained hiking trails (of various difficulty). Red Rock Canyon, the Lake Mead area and Mount Charleston. I'm not sure about Red Rock, but unfortunately, the Lake Mead area is pretty much out of the question for a few months since its hotter down there than it is in Vegas, and the temps in Vegas are already eclipsing 100 these days. However, Mount Charleston is usually 20-30 degrees cooler than Vegas, so some hikes up there this summer should be a nice respite from the unending summer heat in the dessert!

Another nice aspect of that web site is that it breaks down all of the possible hikes into difficulty categories. I'll obviously need to take it easy the first couple times out since I'm not really in that great of shape. Danielle tells me that the Mary Jane Falls hike is something I'd probably like and one that she has taken her dog on in the past. The next catch is to find a day to go. I'd prefer to go with Danielle instead of taking my first hike alone, but I seem to be working every Saturday and Sunday lately and she has a normal M-F job. So maybe one of the days of Memorial Day weekend will work out. When it happens, I'll try to post some pics and a report on here afterwards.