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| The
Trip:
In Bootleg Canyon, we meet Jeff Spriggs, the owner of Bike Stuff in Boulder City. Jeff is an avid mountain biker and has agreed to be our guide to some of the mountain bike trails in the canyon. Mountain bikers have been coming to Bootleg Canyon for years, but the amazing 36 miles of interconnecting trails here were improved and extended in the past decade by trailmaster Brent Thomson. Now top riders from all over the world enjoy the variety of cross country and downhill-specific trails. There are bathroom/shower facilities and trail information available at the parking area. The season for mountain biking here is mainly September to June due to the intense southern Nevada summer heat. Views from the trail are stunning and include panoramas of Boulder City, Lake Mead and Las Vegas. Bootleg Canyon’s downhill trails are narly and extreme. With names like Armageddon, Dominatrix, The Reaper, and Elevator Shaft (which features a 22 percent downhill grade!), these tracks would probably do us in. Jeff takes pity on us and keeps us on the two cross-country paths — Boy Scout and Girl Scout. These we can handle.
We make it back to the parking area with just enough time to thank Jeff and start off for our afternoon adventure. We follow Highway 95 to Lakeshore Road and just beyond the Alan Bible Visitor Center to the U.S. Government Construction Railroad Trail. Here we meet Julian Rhinehart, an authority on the trail. The railroad originally used this route to transport supplies to Hoover Dam during its construction in the 1930's. Now, with its commanding views of Lake Mead's Boulder Basin, it is a popular hike destination.
Although the trail is flat and easy to walk, keep in mind its over five miles round trip, so you’ll want to bring good walking shoes when you come here. For us, it is a great way to finish off the first day of the trip. The second day of the adventure begins with an adrenaline rush, because we are going skydiving with the jumpmasters of Sky Dive Las Vegas at the Boulder City Airport. From Highway 95, we take Buchanan Road south and soon find ourselves at the Boulder City Airport and the facilities of Sky Dive Las Vegas.
As the plane takes off and we settle in for the short flight, I’m still trying to decide if I have enough nerve to do this. But, Simon Wade and Brad Wedge, our jumpmasters, are such pros that their assurance and confidence helps us keep the worst of the nerves at bay. Although Sky Dive Las Vegas allows you to back out at any time, but as the excitement builds who would want to! When the jump door opens there is a sudden rush of wind and we find ourselves staring at the ground 15,000 feet below. I want to say to “Come on and let’s get this over with.” But before I can, we pitch out of the plane and into our freefall.
We return to the center of town and the Boulder Dam Hotel, where we meet Dennis McBride, who probably knows more about the history of Boulder City than anyone. Although many people know Boulder City as the gateway to Hoover Dam, they don’t always understand how vital the city was to the dam’s construction. Las Vegas was the nearest town to the dam site, and the combination of distance and the Las Vegas lifestyle were deterrents, so Boulder City was constructed by the Federal government. The city planners tried to create a model community, with everything planned out, including landscaping for all parks, public buildings and streets. With the desperation of those hoping for work during the depression, this might have seemed like paradise.
Geocaching
is a relatively new activity. The concept is pretty simple: people place
cache containers in hidden locations all over the world, then record
the location on the world wide web so that others, like us, can go searching
for them using GPS devices. The containers have rewards inside, and
the only rule is this: If you take something, you have to leave something
for the next person who finds the cache. Thanks to the advisors and contributors of Wild Nevada Program #212:
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Our
first adventure finds us just a couple of miles from downtown Boulder
City. From US Highway 93 we drive to Yucca Street, where we turn right
and drive just over a mile to the Bootleg Canyon parking area. 
Before
heading back to the parking area, Jeff’s friend Mark Erickson
shows us what it’s like to ride the advanced trails. He is wearing
body armor and a full-face helmet as he tackles some of the rocky, steep
single track. Even with the additional protection it is a serious, risky
athletic challenge.
The
history of 
Before
we even get into the jumpsuits and gear, we go through a brief 40 or
45-minute class on equipment and procedures. The training includes a
video presentation that explains what we’ll be doing and how we’ll
be doing it. We’re
a little nervous about this already, but when we begin signing our paper
work the seriousness of the jump begins to hit us. We’re really
going to do this!
How
can you describe this feeling? Well, at first it’s all wind. I
instinctively close my eyes with the wind impact, but quickly open them
again to see an indescribable view. After
the initial shock and jerk of the parachute being released, we settle
in for an amazing and enjoyable glide down toward the ground. Our jumpmasters
guide us in steering the chute a bit.
This
is, to put it simply, an unforgettable experience. We can’t thank
Brad, Simon and everyone at Sky Dive Las Vegas enough. We’re back
on the ground, but we’ll be flying high all day. 
Today,
Boulder City continues to provide the inviting, family-oriented atmosphere
that its founders envisioned over 70 years ago. We’ve just scratched
the surface. There’s a lot more to know about Boulder City, and
you can arrange for a walking tour with the Boulder City Museum. We
thank Dennis and move on to our final stop.