Page 26 - 2009 DT 7 issues

Goldstrike Canyon way. After passing the boulder, you Fifty feet beyond these pools is
Hot Springs Adventure come to a wide-open area where three the end of the trail for the causal hiker.
canyons converge. Passing through There is a small, hot waterfall, and the
by Norm Kresge this open area are wired utility poles runoff continues along the wash and
placed there years ago. One obstacle down some rocks on the left side of
remains to reach the upper hot spring the canyon. To continue from here is
his is a strenuous hike that pools. You come to another boulder. risky if you’re not into some severe
includes six fixed rope sites, You get by this boulder by using a rock scrambling and using ropes.
Tsome beautiful waterfalls, and There is a large boulder with a fixed
fixed rope and sliding down the left
several hot springs. Having a snack side of the boulder. Again, it’s easier rope. The boulder is quite smooth. As
along the Colorado River before Jim Boone says on his website, “Just
to go backwards. A short walk later, after turning the corner, an enormous,
heading back just adds to this very
water-polished smooth boulder
special hike. Sometimes called
blocks the canyon. A fixed rope
the Nevada Hot Springs, the road
to the trailhead is near the Haci- helps here, but the last step is a
enda Hotel, previously named the doosey (especially on the way
back up). Be sure you can get back
Goldstrike Hotel, not far from
up before jumping off the end. If
Hoover Dam. The hike down
the rope is missing, consider not
the canyon, an elevation drop of sliding down the boulder.” The
just over 600 feet, is fascinating. first time I hiked Goldstrike I was
The canyon walls are steep and
alone, and this was the spot where
narrow in places and quite open
I turned around. Not knowing
in others. The rock is volcanic,
what came after the large boulder,
and some of the formations I chose to soak my feet in one
are very interesting. In places, of the pools for a time of relax-
the conglomerate seems like it ation. One caution—if you soak
doesn’t belong with the rest of in the pools, be aware that there
the rock. We watched bighorn may be an amoeba present called
sheep watching us as we hiked Naegleria fowleri. Caution should
one section of the canyon. be taken not to get water in your
The first obstacle is a large nose or ears.
dry fall with a steep drop. There Once past this boulder, it’s only
is no way down the face of the about 45 minutes to the Colorado.
falls. There is a walk-around on Tom Hughes comes down the rock steps There are several waterfalls, some
the left side of the trail that brings with cooler water than others,
you down to the wash below the while others have quite hot water.
falls. After about 1 ½ miles, you arrive There are 5 more fixed ropes to get
you come to the remnants of some
at another obstacle. A large boulder past boulders. Footing is problematic
old pools that were filled with gravel
blocks the trail, but you can bypass at times because your boots get wet
it by going down some rock steps cut during the wet fall and winter of 2005. and you have sand and small gravel on
into the canyon wall. The top steps Beyond these are three larger pools the soles, which make the scrambling
are not very deep, so you have to take that have been built of rocks, sandbags, harder. It’s also an elevation loss of
special care. It’s easiest climbing down and some mortar. These are now the another 300 feet. Eventually you ar-
backwards, but it seems scarier that main soaking tubs on the hike. rive at a hot waterfall that is quite large

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