Sunset over Vegas from on high

My son had a day off today so suggested we all go on another hike - this time up Lone Mountain - to be at the top (3,342') by sunset. It took us about an hour to clamber up the 600' to the top along, initially, a gravel track which then very quickly led upwards across a mixture of rock and gravel. It wasn't particularly easy hiking and 2/3 up my DIL very sensibly decided to return down as she was carrying the 14lb L on her front and the dynamics were difficult and potentially dangerous. My son was carrying baby R and a big tripod, but he is sturdier, fitter and more sure of his footing so we continued up with Kymba loving the scramble. Eventually we made it and the view was superb with the lights of The Strip evident in the distance and in the foreground are the lights of Little Baseball - a pitch especially for children. I admit to being a bit puffed and I was very aware of my leg muscles but it was definitely worth it. We didn't stay long as we wanted to get down safely and still be able still to rely on our eyes getting accustomed to the gathering darkness without having to resort to torches. On the way down my son told me that "rock was good but gravel not" so that was my mantra as I slowly found my footing on the descent - it did occur to me at one time, as I was going down, that having to be airlifted from Lone Mountain with broken limbs would have been embarrassing. I think some of my abiding memories of my visits to Las Vegas over the last three years will be the many, varied and exciting journeys to find good vantage points from which to view the sunset.