Sunday, 12th of July 2009 at 03:51:06 PM

Wave 2009 Day 1, Thursday May 28th 2009: Flamingo Pool + Ephemeral Arch

I usually plan my 1st day in Las Vegas with little activity to overcome the Jetlag. Part of this is also some shopping tours to buy stuff for the trip.  I started the day with a nice breakfast at Bellagios Buffet which is my favourite LV Buffet. Afterwards I went to Albertsons to buy an ice chest and plenty of water bottles which I deposited in the trunk. 

Also I bought a mobile phone  at Best Buy for 29 USD including 300 minute calltime. Then I returned to the Flamingo Hotel and spent 4 h sleeping and sun bathing at the Flamingo pool. Late Afternoon around 4.30 pm I drove 70 miles north of Las Vegas to make some evening-sun shots in the Valley of Fire state Park. To warm up I had planned a small beginners hike to visit the Ephmeral arch. Afterwards it proved that this had been a really good idea.  I learned two important hiking basics: 1) Do never forget plenty of water even on a short hike and 2 ) having a GPS with you does not mean you will easily find your target or will not get lost. In fact I forgot to take water with me and I used and practised the first time my new Oregon 300 GPS. I had the short hiking description from Laurent Matres’ book and didn’t find it too easy to discover the right direction from the Cabins car park towards the Ephemaral Arch trail.  Sooner or later I reached the Fire wash and noticed the may sun was still burning hot although it was already around 6pm. I got thirsty but had forgotten the water. Of yourse I did not want to go back to the car. The hike in the sandy wash was exhausting and I was sweating a lot.  I was looking for the Arch. With help of my GPS I approached the location where it should have been. I didnt see the Arch although my GPS said I had reached my destination. I walked another 10 minutes around searching and just when i wanted to give up and go back to the car I spotted the Arch on the right of the wash. The sun was still great for some shots and I was happy not to fail on my first small hike. I had all the time noticed that I would really need to drink some water. I knew it would be around 45 min back to the car. On my way back I had also this first important experience that it is not easy to track back the way in this deserted rocky landscape cause everything looks differnet on the way back. I must admit  that I got a little bit scared of missing the right hill to cross to find back to the car. Fortunately at the intersection of the Fire wash with the hiking trail towards the car park a stone cairn helped me. I arrived totally exhausted and dried out at the car opening my trunk and drinking a bottle of water. It was late evening in the meantime and  my first mini hike had been close to a disaster, scaring, but very instructive fo me. From now on on following hikes I never forgot my water supply and I was warned enough not to overestimate my apparently poor route finding skills.

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