Difficulty: 3 of 5
Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Change: -800 feet
Scrambling: 2/3/4 of 5
Pace: 2 of 5
Goal: 6.5 hours
Danger: 3 of 5

Hazards: Fear factor, slippery rocks, sting bush, tarantulas, naked people.

Bring: 3 liters of water (or double your usual; hotsprings are very dehydrating!) You'll burn lots of calories, so pack good snacks. You'll also benefit from a hat and sunscreen, perhaps gloves to avoid sharp rocks on the rougher scrambles. Wear a swimsuit or trunks under your gear, and shoes you can change into for the water. You might want a small towel and dry clothes, though I don't mind walking out wet. No children, and no dogs please.

Carpool at the Fiesta Henderson sign at 10am, get on the road by 10:15, start hiking by 11am. Home around 6:00?

Trailhead: Before Hoover Dam, half-mile past the Hacienda Hotel in Boulder City, turn right onto the dirt road. After going under the bridge, turn left and drive down to the end.

We'll hike through a picturesque slot canyon with towering walls on each side and then soak in several hot springs pools and waterfalls. This event is for soaking only, but advanced hikers can go all the way down to the river. Either way, you need to save more than half your energy to get back out, the gravel wash makes for quite a workout.

The hike is less than three miles each way and requires climbing down (and up) several massive boulders. You may be intimidated by some of the obstacles we will encounter but we'll move at a slow, systematic pace to ensure everyone gets through safely. It's normal to be scared at first, but you must be able to act through your fear. Ropes are attached in some of the more challenging places as an added measure of safety, but serious injury is a possibility.

This hike is good for moderate and advanced hikers who are patient for a leisurely pace. We'll keep it moving, but it's very important there's a top and bottom helper at every big obstacle, to make sure everyone safely gets through. Nobody gets left behind, and nobody rushes ahead, capiche? If you want to hike faster or leave early, pick a faster leader or go on your own. For me, this one is doable but scary, super fun, and in the top range of my ability.

If you end up on the Waiting List, plan on a spot opening up; we get a lot of drop-outs and no-shows.

Dinner and drinks will be at Eldorado at 140 Water Street, Henderson, NV 89015. They have a tasty turkey dinner for $7. ^_^ From Fiesta, turn right/East onto Lake Mead, and then right/South onto Water St a mile down.