"Excellent outing with Las Vegas Mountaineers Club! We tried a new route that I wasn't sure would go, but it did! Parked along Gilbert Canyon Road and hiked up a wash, then followed a steep, loose ridge to just below Arch Mountains Highpoint. This was the final peak that Amber & I needed to finish the Lake Mead Peak Challenge (all peaks within Lake Mead National Recreation Area with at least 1,000 feet of prominence. We weren't done, though. After a short champagne toast, we continued along the ridge to Black Benchmark, then dropped down and climbed back up to Arch Mountain, which is where the Hoover Dam was originally supposed to go by. We returned roughly the same way, making for a 4k gain day. " — Kevin • Jan 25, 2020

"1.20.2020.....Arch Mtn trifecta. 3 peak out and back mondo traverse. Arch Mtn HP, Black Benchmark and the most important, Arch Mountain. 10 miles, 4,000’ gain in 7:30hrs. This was one of the hardest, most rugged and remote solo mountaineering accomplishments I’ve ever done. So satisfying and exciting. I’ve wanted to do this peak ever since I laid eyes on it while on top of the Guardian, across the narrows (on the NV side). It has taken me 3 days of recon and 1 failed attempt (1.19.2020) to get these beauties. 1st recon was to see how my Kia did on the road to Bonelli landing. I had the kayak but it was a late start and I could see I needed a sunrise start or it was futile, so I returned the next day with the Durango. After 13 miles of kayaking and trekking my turn around time came and I was no where close to the ridge. My approach was a wash. I fought huge dry-falls on the way up and down and vicious terrain. Some dry-falls over 100’ high that I had to find go arounds for. It was exhausted and I was demoralized. It was a great workout and I saw 2 bald eagles for the 1st time in my life! So majestic. And a Burro. Kayaking 7 miles in the Virgin Basin of lake mead was sublime!(The kay..." — paula.raimondi • Jan 20, 2020