Charleston Peak via Cathedral Rock

pics by Harlan W. S.
July 26, 2009

This was my 3^rd time up Charleston in 2 weeks, and at least my 15^th time altogether. This route is just a little different from the normal class 1 slog around the NLT and SLT. The difference is a fairly quick ascent to the ridge via a bushwhack from Cathedral Rock Trail. Even so, there is a herdpath, with cairns, for most of the way, with just a few ambiguous spots. I really don’t recommend this hike for any substantial amount of people; the herdpath is not switchbacked, and encourages erosion.

The most exciting events of the day were 1) thunderstorms and much lightning when we descended, and 2) a significant injury in the last 0.2 miles of trail.

	Heading out on the trail to Cathedral Rock.	Much of the unofficial route involves travel near or over limestone cliffs/
Without the herdpath, the side-hill would quickly get old.		You can walk a ways along the pleasant ridge before dropping to the official SLT.
	Blurry… hit the shutter button and it focused on me, at that time.	I don’t know if this was a “flight for life” copter, but the pilot seemed to be making a bee-line for Vegas.
	The gray area corresponds to intense rain, falling on the town of Mt Charleston. The lightning was pretty much restricted to the valley.
View !NE across top.	After urging us to hurry, Judy stopped and talked to her vet for 5 minutes. Here’s photographic evidence.
	There were deep muddy cuts in the trail from recent rains.