I did the standard route today, starting from the Frenchman parking area. There is a new gun firing range in the valley southwest of the peak with live fire aimed at the route. This is the same valley which you used to be able to hike up from the Albertsons parking lot.
The firing ceased while I was hiking at the head of this valley, so they must have seen me, but the firing resumed with intensity after I passed. I felt my life was endangered. If I had know about it before hand, I would not have gone this way.
Long distance targets were not far from where I was hiking. This new gun range does not yet appear on satellite images, so it must be a recent developed. I descended a canyon on the east side of the mountain. I suggest that future parties avoid the firing range completely. A new route needs to be explored and described.
Furthermore, there are several summits of nearly equal height about a third of a mile apart. Anyone claiming the peak should visit both.
Looks like this is the "John T. Moran" (LVMPD) firing range, which is now on the map. What a shame. Looks like its neighbors aren't fans, either. I heard it all the way from Frenchman's summit this weekend.
There's nothing new about that range, it belongs to Metro (LVMPD) and has been there for years. While it has expanded a bit over the years, the original facility is visible on June 1994 satellite imagery (Google Earth). And I doubt that was a target you saw close at hand, it was likely just a sign. You're over a mile from the range at that point!
gimpilator - Feb 22, 2018 2:16 am - Hasn't voted
Standard Route ruinedI did the standard route today, starting from the Frenchman parking area. There is a new gun firing range in the valley southwest of the peak with live fire aimed at the route. This is the same valley which you used to be able to hike up from the Albertsons parking lot.
The firing ceased while I was hiking at the head of this valley, so they must have seen me, but the firing resumed with intensity after I passed. I felt my life was endangered. If I had know about it before hand, I would not have gone this way.
Long distance targets were not far from where I was hiking. This new gun range does not yet appear on satellite images, so it must be a recent developed. I descended a canyon on the east side of the mountain. I suggest that future parties avoid the firing range completely. A new route needs to be explored and described.
Furthermore, there are several summits of nearly equal height about a third of a mile apart. Anyone claiming the peak should visit both.
T. White - Jan 21, 2020 11:41 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Standard Route ruinedLooks like this is the "John T. Moran" (LVMPD) firing range, which is now on the map. What a shame. Looks like its neighbors aren't fans, either. I heard it all the way from Frenchman's summit this weekend.
Candace66 - Aug 18, 2021 3:03 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Standard Route ruinedThere's nothing new about that range, it belongs to Metro (LVMPD) and has been there for years. While it has expanded a bit over the years, the original facility is visible on June 1994 satellite imagery (Google Earth). And I doubt that was a target you saw close at hand, it was likely just a sign. You're over a mile from the range at that point!