Griffith Peak

"Happy August! 8.1.19....Griffith Peak #21 on dead legs (after yesterday’s Griffith summit) but somehow I was floating along anyway and achieved grand PR’s. 9.7 miles, 3,800’ gain in 2:48hr (round trip PR, 1st sub 3hr) Other PR’s~lot to Griffith saddle in 1:35hr, lot to summit in 1:52hr, Griffith Saddle to lot in :46min. By the end my legs went dead but I managed to keep them turning. With a 10am start it was hot! I traveled light with only one bottle. I ended up drinking my stash from yesterday too. This is a 2 bottle peak. Meh." — paula.raimondi • Aug 1, 2019

"7.31.19....Griffith Peak #20, 9.7 miles, 3,800’ gain, 3:36hr recovery trek/water stash w/Karla. I got to steal away girl time with my buddy Karla for a Mtn Summit. We got caught up on life and had great chit-chat about this and that and this and that. I believe all problems can be solved on a mountain....The sky rumbled and the clouds hugged the canyon walls to add to the drama. This mountain gives so much to me. It’s always different....The flowers were amazing. Thanks for letting me tag along. I stashed my final bottle of water on the mountain. Only thing left for me to do is motivate myself for the multi peak I’m planning and just get it done." — paula.raimondi • Jul 31, 2019

"My first summit (probably of several?) of Griffith this season. Still plenty of snow on the South Loop trail - I'm glad I had my yaktrax with me, and one of these days I need to invest in microspikes instead for more grippiness. We left the trail several times and just cut straight up switchbacks as there was so much snow covering the trail, it was more effective. Same on the way down. Felt pretty good for only my second hike at elevation this season! Great time with great hiking friends. :) " — psychikingjes • Jun 29, 2019

"There was still a decent amount of snow covering some of the switchbacks up high, so we had to veer off-trail a few times on the way up. The weather was very pleasant. Joel and I decided to see if we could find some good snow to glissade down, which we did! Ran into a few friends on the descent & was back to the car nice & early!" — Kevin • Jun 29, 2019

"Snow climb of Griffith Peak via Mazie Canyon. It has been so hot, we didn't know how much snow we would have. We were lucky, as the snow level in this drainage was still pretty low. I anticipate maybe only 1-2 weeks left of decent snow, at the most. " — Kevin • Jun 15, 2019

"6.9.19 Griffith peak #18, solo, 2nd time this week by the most heinous, rough route that ever existed in the universe. Many downed trees, unstable earth and rocks made this an epic obstacle course. 10 miles 4,100’ gain to 11,100’ above the sea. Up Rainbow Subdivision to the Harris saddle, then Griffith trail through the burn area to the summit. I usually only use this as an ascent route but I didn’t have much snow gear so I had to take it down too....in the most uncomfortable boots I have. It was a beautiful day. It was hot and most of the route had no snow except the last 1000’. My thoughts were my only friend today as my body and feet got battered. I meditated and burned off all my stress...." — paula.raimondi • Jun 9, 2019

"6.5.19...Griffith Peak #17, in snow conditions via the avalanche chute, 7 miles, 3,800’ gain, 5:23hr w/Harlan & Karla. Wow...wow...wow. I blew my own mind. First time ever using an Ice axe and crampons (Harlan graciously lent to me for the day) Last night and this morning, I studied you tube videos about using this gear, self arrest, glissading, along with tips from Harlan and Karla. With all that, I pulled off a win. Thank you Buddies! I don’t know who I am anymore! How did I become this competent strong mountaineer with just enough bravery to accomplish these things?! I was inspired by the love of the mountains to learn to climb them even in snow. Harlan and Karla are super strong and brave. They were extra patient with me today. I have to go slow and think when I’m afraid and doing something new. They gave me space and we were a great team. So lucky to live in an area where this can be my workout. Pinch me...am I dreaming?" — paula.raimondi • Jun 5, 2019

"11.5.18. Griffith Peak #16....These Mountains give me so many happy memories. The year is winding down and the days are getting shorter so I’m taking every chance I can to get up here. I invited Harlan to join me today for some mountain cleanup duties. He also wanted to test his altitude tolerance so I was happy he decided to go. Taking the trails is repetitive so we decided on a route when we got there. Mazie Canyon (which is normally a Snow and Winter snowshoe route) was the route he chose. Neither of us had been up that way. It was very challenging. We were both a bit beat up from the 7 Peak quad massacre on the Summerlin Ridges Saturday. We worked our way up to the South Ridge like a team. It was the hardest climbing I’ve ever done and the terrain got difficult. We negotiated up and around cliff bands in the gully which had some ice. There is a pretty waterfall running through parts as well. We crawled through nasty brush and a giant hellish matrix of Aspen Branches. There were hidden Bristlecone giants on the slopes that were almost as big as Raintree! Harlan has taught me a lot over the last 3 plus years we’ve been trekking together. Today I had to implement all of it. I’ve..." — paula.raimondi • Nov 5, 2018

"10.20.18 Harris & Griffith Peaks loop. 5,200’ of vert in 7 (off trail) miles on rough terrain....12 miles total. We used “Old” South Loop trail as a descent route. I had the pleasure of spending the morning with beautiful and strong Maia Detmer on this special and challenging route (I am learning to love.) I learned of this route from my Buddie Harlan but I take the Harris ridge up from a different area. I’ve done it several times this year in different ways and it’s always a hard fight. I’ve almost convinced myself to never do it again. Today I was totally zen and seemed to follow the route better than I ever have. It didn’t feel like a nightmare like it always does. It has such unique views of the mountain. It was lovely sharing the experience with Maia. We had wonderful conversation and the hard miles flew by. Thank you for a great day 🤗 (She is steady and strong and I did it faster than I ever have before. I was starving because I’m use to hiking alone and eating 10 sandwiches along the way. I learned today that I am still strong without eating 10 sandwiches!!! We were on the top of Harris in 2:09hr (from Echo Lot) ...on the top of Griffith at 4:31hr into the trek. And done..." — paula.raimondi • Oct 20, 2018

"This was an incredible hike in a breathtaking region. I'm from California and I wasn't expecting this level of alpine splendor in Clark County NV. Did the big loop up the South Trail and down the North Trail / Trail Canyon. A light dusting of fresh snow and some brilliant yellow-orange-red aspen trees made this a very memorable outing. " — klotito • Oct 4, 2018

"A great hike on a beautiful morning to make sure we all got outside and got our exercise and dose of mother nature's finest scenery for the weekend. We took a leisurely pace up the South Loop Trail, and Kevin picked up a geocache on the switchbacks just past the avalanche chute, before the first overlook. There was some discussion about calling the hike at that point - I know I was a bit tired and waffling - but we soldiered on. The leisurely pace came from me being out of hiking shape. Still - a 6:45 AM start, and my butt was on the summit just before 10:30. Back down to the cars by 1 PM. Gorgeous weather with clear skies - a bit breezy at the saddle of the South Loop Trail and the Griffith Summit trail, but very nice on the peak. Sunshine and clear skies all the way back down. " — psychikingjes • Sep 8, 2018

"6 peaks (Mummy, Lee, Mt Charleston #61, South Mt Charleston H.P., Griffith & Harris) 23 miles, 8,400’ gain (the most vert. gain I’ve ever done in one workout), 14 hours. Very epic day in the mountains for me. My plan was my own version of a multi peak hike in the Spring Mtns. I woke a bit late so I was discouraged at the start but I kept moving forward and accumulated what I could. I got my 10th new ascent route to Mt Charleston. I traversed the entire North Ridge from Mummy (for the 1st time. Very sketchy in spots) I ascended Lee Peak from the ridge for the 1st time and went farther on South ridge than I’ve ever been before bagging So. Mt Charleston H.P. for my 2nd time. The sun was sinking in the sky when I arrived at Griffith but I wanted to include Harris (because I’m never doing this again) so I raced the shadows...but lost! The traverse from Griffith to Harris is a complete nightmare Barkley’s experience choked with debris, downed trees and is impossible to move quickly through. The old trail is destroyed and impossible to follow. I summited Harris with a big moon rising but darkness fell and I had to descend the rough Harris ridge in the dark from memory as my beam of light ..." — paula.raimondi • Aug 25, 2018

"8.21.18 Harris/Griffith Peaks clockwise Traverse. 12 miles, 5,300’ vert. gain. Ascent route was direct to Harris Peak via the NW ridge (in between Fletcher campground & Rainbow subdivision). I descended Griffith using old South Loop and the hwy. That was a very satisfying epic accomplishment. I’m really proud of this one. It was an obstacle course of downed burned trees and tree limbs trying to poke me in the eye all day. There was nice cooling wind and dramatic lenticular clouds above me (and below the sun 😉) My hamstring is strained so I couldn’t scamper as fast as I usually do so it was 7:11hrs (including 1 hr worth of breaks on the summit and photos) What a gorgeous route. It definitely looks easier on paper. There was a cliffy area on the traverse that I didn’t expect but I dealt with it and got it done. That was hard!" — paula.raimondi • Aug 21, 2018

"Griffith Peak #12 ~ 6.28.18. Solo Summer Mountaineer Route. A few months ago I wandered off the SLT out of boredom and went partway up the waterfall/Avalanche Chute East of the trail and took a nap. I wondered if there was a safe way up to the ridge from there but that day I didn’t explore it and got back on SLT to summit Griffith.... Today I went for it (after learning from Harlan’s trip report that it was mostly class 2 and a scoatch class 3)...It was a challenging route that took a lot of my courage to do alone. Luckily today my mind was mostly calm. At a certain point, I knew I didn’t want to go back down because it was kind of dangerous so I climbed and clawed my way to the ridge... I’ve never been on the East side of Griffith Peak so that was really spectacular! Just below the peak there was a beautiful grassy flowers filled meadow with deer running through it. Seeing something new was pretty cool. I took the old South Loop trail down and ran into Susan and Joel which was a treat. They had done the LaMadre Wilderness Highpoint and Sexton Ridge. I’d never heard of those places! I will have to google it! Great day up there. I’m glad to have these victorious mountaineering days..." — paula.raimondi • Jun 28, 2018

"Practicing for Boundary Peak in June. Needed a conditioning hike! Went with friends this time instead of rocking it solo. :) A lovely day - it got cloudy as we were on the peak, but never any rain or thunder. Great day and great company!" — psychikingjes • May 26, 2018

"I’ve got Summit Fever for my Fav Mtn but I must admit the 1st one of the season is a bit overwhelming for my brain since is an epic endurance day. Today I headed up with that goal then felt lazy and explored an avalanche chute waterfall next to SLT and napped on a rock listening to the water. After, I scrambled back down to SLT and to Old SLT (stopped for a picnic and another nap). There was too much snow on Old SL at the Gully so I got back on The normal SLT. Showing no athletic prowess, I lazily climbed to Griffith peak and was on top 5:05hrs after leaving the car! (Lame) Lol. There was about 10-15 nuisance patches of snow before the saddle but I never had to use spikes and was only wearing running shoes. I did have to put baskets on my hike poles. From the summit back to the car I tried to give more of an effort ... 1:15hr. (Sort of ok but still lame) It was so nice just being up there. The smell of Ponderosa butterscotch was in the air...11.2 miles, 4100’ gain, 6:29hr. To 11,000’ ish above the sea." — paula.raimondi • May 8, 2018

"Karla and I took SLT in the snow. It was deep but firm so only boots and spikes were required. We saw wild horses in the picnic area. There was 50mph wind flowing through the canyon but we were mostly protected. Up in 3:30...15 min on top and down in 1:45hr. My 1st winter Griffith " — paula.raimondi • Feb 6, 2018

"Last climb of the year! We started at the South Loop trailhead and took the South Loop Trail to Griffith Peak. None of us had been at altitude in a while, so we were huffing and puffing a bit. From Griffith Peak, we descended south, through the burn area. We followed Sexton Ridge past the Sexton Ridge 'peak' and to the La Madre Mountain Wilderness Highpoint. That stretch of the hike was extremely pleasant. The views were great and the terrain was pretty easy. From LMMWHP, we descended SE down a steep ridge. That part was horrible! Lots of bushwhacking, grabby vines and burnt trees made it difficult to stay on the ridge, so we had to sidehill through steep talus slopes. Finally, we made it down to the wash, where we met up with Rob, who dropped us off at the other trailhead this morning. We followed the wash for a while, then took the Griffith Shadow trail system back to the Griffith Shadow trailhead, where Rob had cold drinks and his FJ waiting. We gained about 4100 feet and lost about 5700 feet over 14ish miles. " — Kevin • Dec 30, 2017

"Tried a new (to me) route up to Griffith Peak via Cathedral Rock Ridge. Stopped at Cathedral Rock on the way up. We took the 'Old' South Loop Trail down, which is steeper than the standard route." — Kevin • Aug 26, 2017

"Took a new route to Griffith. Headed up the South Loop Trail, then turned off up a steep gully towards a spring. From there, we ascended a few cliff bands until reaching the ridgeline, which we followed to the peak. Descended the South Loop Trail." — Kevin • Jun 24, 2017