Climbing Sunrise Mountain- A Rewarding Climb With AMAZING GEOLOGY RIGHT OUTSIDE VEGAS!!!

In this episode of Solomon's Vegas Adventures, Solomon, Alexis, Alonso, Angel, Anthony, Cassidy, Christian, Dr. F, Eric, Eyubed, Isabel, Taylor, and Wilver climbed Sunrise Mountain, a beautiful, seldom-visited peak right outside of Las Vegas with gorgeous views and stunning geology.
Located in the Sunrise Mountains, Sunrise Mountain is often confused with Frenchman Mountain, but it is north of the more visited Frenchman Mountain and is lower in elevation, at 3,363'. Don't let its lower height discourage you though, as I believe this hike is far more beautiful and enjoyable than the Frenchman Mountain hike.
Geologically, the Sunrise Mountains are a fault-block mountain range composed of tilted Grand Canyon Strata, bounded by the Frenchman Mountain Fault to the west. The mountain range was tilted and transported 120 km west by the Lake Mead Fault System. The ridge near the apex of the peak is intensely steep and treacherous, with a vertical cliff on one end and a 60-65° dip of rock layers on the other. I took several strike and dip measurements en route to the summit, and included a tutorial on what strike and dip is and how to measure it.
The hike itself is roughly 7 miles with an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet. To access it, park at the Frenchman Mountain Trailhead Parking Lot, but head north instead of south. Go through the saddle of the two buttes north of the road, and it will drop you down into a valley. There is a trail, and it will take you to the base of the mountain, where you can go up via the western washes. Be careful towards the summit, as it is very steep and treacherous and should not be attempted in bad weather.
All photos property of their respective owners, no copyright infringement intended.
#adventure #geology #mountaineering #mountainclimbing #mountain #lasvegas #nevada #explore