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| - Early last year my friend Paul W planted the seed of an idea to hike the 30 plus mile RMLT in one day. Soon after a date was set and logistics were mapped out.
The day came and with gold bond and glide in hand, the journey began. We started in the evening at 7 ish planning on a graveyard shift grind. Our start point was railroad pass just behind the hotel casino. As we traveled northwest back towards the Las Vegas valley spirits were high and testosterone railed through the atmosphere symbolic of a junior high school boys locker room after an epic win. As we crested the highest point of the trail the jewel of the desert glowed radiantly in silent chaos.
The trail shoots mostly straight along the east end of a henderson residential area with the mountains along the other side to keep the trail honest. The trail is nicely maintained and we'll marked. It continues for several miles to lake mead blvd right at the entrance to lake las vegas. There are covered benches and motion activated lights at this part of the trail. This is the area we preformed maintenance on some hot spots on our feet.
We continued to our first cache by the park entrance. Once you enter lake mead recreational area the trail utilizes the old highway. It brought back many memories as I drove this stretch of road often in the 80s. As we walked along the old sunscortched and neglected highway, there were weeds and sagebrush growing out of every crack in the asphalt. With the full moon shinning bright and ancient desert silence resinating in the shadows, it was a post apocalyptic scene devoid of any life but our own.
Through the LMRA the route goes up and down as it winds around washes and hills. Lake Mead was to our left and glowed in the light of the moon. There is a random large tree along the route that has been an unsanctioned camp site in the past. Large pipes protrude from the earth adding to the post apocalyptic aura as you get closer to the pump station. You then turn towards the lake and surpentine through the pump compound that acts as the heart pumping water to the Las Vegas valley. This adds a mile and if we had to do it over we would have skipped it and traveled 200 yards down the highway where the trail picks back up.
By this point, I won't lie, I contemplated calling my wife to come get me several times. Feet and backs ached and blisters were imenant. Our second cache was along the highway just north of the marina. At this point we laid on the ground and gazed at the moon lit lake. No words were spoken at this point as we pushed past multiple pain limits. At that point if any one of us suggested to end the journey, it would've been welcomed by all. We begrudgingly continued on. Two thirds of the journey was complete when we stopped at the lake mead camp ground. Egos and testosterone were put aside and the trip was over when common sense prevailed at 4 in the morning. We called a friend to come pick us up. 20 plus miles in just under 11 hours including food breaks and physical maintainence.
The remaining 13 miles haunted my friend Paul W and I for months. We decided to complete the journey on November 29th. With a truck parked at the finish line we took another to where we left off. We stayed true to the route and picked up exactly where we left off. With better shoes and provisions we were off. The trail parallels the highway to the visitor center then began uphill toward Boulder City.
After the visitor center the trail heads away from the highway, then turns away from the city. This was a touch demoralizing as it added miles to the trek. We fought the urge to cut across the desert and remained true to the route. As we got closer to town, we fought another urge to detour to one of the many watering holes in Boulder City proper to partake in some libations.
Like soldiers on a mission, we continued up the hill through town. Once at the top, the trail skirts bootleg canyon. As you pass that point you are back in the desert with a view of pure dryness and desolation to the south. This part of the trail has a lot of bicycle traffic so watch you six and stay to one side. As we walked the trail the BC tour train roled by. Like a horse headed to the barn our pace quickened as we knew the 13 mile journey was coming to a close. Finally we arrived to the finish line at railroad pass. Elation and a great feeling of accomplishment coarsed through my body. It was complete.
If you want to walk this loop, I would suggest dry camping along the way or do it in sections. It would probably take 14 to 16 hours to walk the entire thing. It was a great experience with views that can only be seen by getting out there.
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