On a beautiful Saturday morning 10 great friends joined us for a hike to the summit of the second highest peak in the the Spring Mountains of Southern Nevada -- the 11,528 foot summit of Mummy Mountain. In total the trip is a nine mile, in-and-out hike with a gain and loss of about 4,000 feet of elevation. It's not an easy hike, but it is very scenic and a great way to escape the summer heat of the Las Vegas Valley.
For a map and GPS summary of our trip, Click Here.
The gang about four miles into the hike with only a half mile and 500 feet of elevation gain left to go.
Paul and Summer Mudd taking the last few steps to the summit of Mummy Mountain.
Joining us on our trip was 13 year old Johnathon Capitini. Johnathon lives in Florida and had never hiked before. Taking on Mummy Mountain as your first hike is a little much, but Johnathon did great, never complained and only said he was a "little" tired when he got back to the car.
Kathryn Bruce and Lisa making their way across the beautiful summit geology of Mummy Mountain.
Our good friend Darryl Seale, with brothers Conner and Jacob Szczepanski enjoying a well earned lunch on the summit.
The summit gang left to right; Bob, Phil Spargo, Kathryn Bruce, Paul Mudd, Johnathon Capitini, Paul Capitini, Jacob Szczepanski, Summer Mudd, Lisa, Darryl Seale, and Conner Szczepanski.
Darryl "fitting" into the scenery.
The ancient Bristlecone Pines of the high altitude regions of the desert southwest are amazing. These majestic trees can be up to 5,000 years old. Who knows how old this root system is?
The last few miles to the summit of Mummy Mountain are off-route. Here Kathryn Bruce, Summer Mudd and Paul Capitini downclimb one of the summit chutes.
The beginning of a majestic Bristlecone Pine.
The summit of Mummy Mountain is really breathtaking (beyond just the altitude). As you get to the summit the geology and plant life change dramatically with vibrant multi-colored and lichen covered rocks, alpine flowers, and stunted, wind eroded Bristlecone Pines. Below are a few pictures that only touch on the beauty of this place.
The two of us on the summit of Mummy Mountain with Mount Charleston in the distance.
And still no one either one of us would rather hike with.