This year we had another great group of 11 joining Lisa and I for our annual Mount Charleston Outdoor Adventures group hike.
This is the picture us at the Trail Canyon/North Loop trail junction
2 miles into the hike.
Joining us on this trip was our very good friend Alisa Acosta. Over the years Lisa and Alisa had become very good hiking buddies and friends, but then Alisa moved to Reno and their special times together became few and far between. About a month ago Alisa sent me (Bob) an e-mail letting me know that she and her boyfriend Mitch were going to be able to join us on this hike. We managed to keep it a secret, had other good friends, Mike and Wendy Brunson, watch the kids so Lisa could go, and we totally surprised her. It was a lot of fun to see the genuine surprise and smiles on Lisa's face.
Our good friends Leslie Nilsen and Summer Mudd.
Hiking down the North Loop Trail through the beautiful Spring Mountain scenery.
This turned out to be one of the best weather days we've ever had in the Spring Mountains. The temperatures were just right and there was no wind.
Mount Charleston
Kathryn Bruce, Summer Mudd, Tim Hunsinger, and Lisa with Mount Charleston behind.
Our good friends Paul and Summer Mudd on the more technical ridge route to the summit of Mount Charleston.
The view of the summit of Mount Charleston as seen from the north ridge.
I took this picture in part because there was a helicopter on top and this is the first time I'd ever seen that. As it turned out, the Forest Service was replacing the electronic repeater they rely on for ground crew communications.
(If you look closely you can see a couple of hikers on the left skyline making there way to the summit via the North Loop Trail)
Paul Mudd, his wife Summer, and Tim Hunsinger further below on the north ridge.
Most of our group within yards of the summit of Mount Charleston (11,1918 feet). Everyone made it but some were ahead and some behind this group.
The Forest Service crew that was installing the new electronic repeater on the summit.
One of the pictures I took of the Forest Service helicopter as it flew off the summit after the crew had finished installing the repeater.
Another wonderful summit for Bob and Lisa.
All along the trail were amazing alpine flowers.
This picture was taken low on the South Loop trail and near the end of our hike, somewhere around mile 15. This is when everyone is talking about food and how ready they are to get off their feet.
One of our last views before getting to the parking lot, the "toe" of Mummy Mountain.
It was another wonderful day with great friends in this surprisingly beautiful part of Southern Nevada.