The Challenge of Charleston Peak

Most people aren’t aware that the Spring Mountains, home to southern Nevada’s highest peak, are just 35 miles outside Las Vegas. The area is better known as Mount Charleston, and it’s typically 25–30 degrees cooler than the city. There’s even a reasonably respectable ski resort that operates during the winter months.At 11,916 feet, Charleston Peak itself is accessible only by a long, strenuous hike. It’s not a technical climb, just a steep, rocky trail that seems to go on forever. The round trip is nearly 17 miles, with an elevation gain of about 4,855 feet. That makes it a pretty serious undertaking for an old guy like me. Nonetheless, I’ve been trying to summit it over the past month.Why in the world, you might ask, would I want to do that? It’s a question I find myself asking somewhere around mile five.Back in the DayOur oldest son, Brennan, is an avid mountaineer. When we were younger and living in Colorado, our typical family outings during the summer involved camping and…