The Whale

"Great day with the ladies. Our down route is normally a bit smoother, but as of Nov 2023, was quite roughed-up by Hurricane Hillary. Our up route has the same crux as the route with Paula in 2018. The name "Gottlieb" was a joke I put in a register in early 2004. Unbeknownst to me, Ed F had named it "Little Red Rock Peak" about 2001 (there was no real cairn on top, and I found just fragments of a plastic container, frozen in ice, in 2004). So Paula redesignated another peak as "Little Red Rock" in 2018. Gottlieb" was a boss who "Looked down on Summerlin" so I thought this was an appropriate name." — hwstock • Nov 12, 2023

"The first of a 6 peak ridge line traverse. We took a very direct, quick, short route up the west side of The Whale in a very favorable chute. Nothing very difficult. It can be a loose route if you don't pick your way up the solid rock areas. The ridge line traverse is pretty straight forward. At one point you will have to loose more elevation that it looks like you need to. There is a cliff band that won't give way until you drop down along the top of it to find a break to climb down. This route will not be accessible by HCV for very much longer. The new housing development that is being developed all the way out to and in and around Little Red Rock will eliminate the Jeep trail and several bike trails. You could still walk in, but it may be too long of an approach and the conventional route could be the better option. " — Heartattackbruce • Jan 18, 2023

"1.15.2023~Gottlieb & The Whale CCW Loop W/Laszlo. 3.5 miles, 2,000’ gain. This use to be a long distance trek but Las Vegas has parked its a$$ below the peaks and now you just drive up and hike. Convenient yet sad. Laszlo needed to return the reg he dried out after his visit to Gottlieb the day before so I tagged along. He led this loop variation and I appreciated the less technical way he took down. I wasn’t up for a lot of adventure or excitement a creepy descent route would deliver since I was weary from working 11 hrs yesterday. We were graced by a curious golden eagle and views ta die fer. " — paula.raimondi • Jan 15, 2023

"11.3.18. Summerlin Logo multi-peak CW loop. Aka “The long way to Cheyenne Peak”... 7 Peaks~The Whale, Gottlieb, Little Red Rock Peak, Woody, 5356, Summerlin Peak & Cheyenne Peak~11.3 miles (through insanely tough terrain), nearly 5,000’ gain. Harlan and I trounced up and across these rugged ridges and peaks on the Eastern end of the LaMadre range like there was no tomorrow, making the most of the last Day of Daylight Savings. We gobbled up peaks along the way like pac man. Nom nom nom times 7. I experienced pure bliss on the ridge as I scampered and pranced across it next to steep cliff drop offs. It was originally going to be a 6 peak day but someone had the idea of adding Cheyenne Peak for an epic finale. This Day was one of the most exciting days I’ve ever experienced in the Mountains. Thanks Harlan Stockman for keeping me safe today on the hard climb." — paula.raimondi • Nov 3, 2018

"We parked at the end of Lake Mead and followed a dirt road for a ways, before dropping into the wash. We followed the wash into the gully between Gottlieb and Woody, then took the east ridge up to The Whale. From there, we made the short climb to Gottlieb Peak, then traversed over to Little Red Rock Peak (my third time there). We took the main drainage down, which wasn't too bad. The hike back across the desert sucked, though." — Kevin • Apr 14, 2018