Lake Mead National Recreation Area documentary racing my Bike

[Alex AVI]

Lake Mead National Recreation Area documentary racing my Bike

As a resident of Las Vegas, I have used this recreation area the last 20 yrs. for everything it had to offer - hiking, sightseeing, swimming, boating, fishing, and cycling. And as of last year, with our purchase of the AS AI, are now able to camp or go rv'ing here as often as we want, year round.

And now for my personal shameless plug
A few years ago, I worked with the National Park Service in the development of an updated film/documentary for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. I was chosen to be the cyclist/racer featured in the documentary.






Quotes from NPS.gov website:
"America's First National Recreation Area
Swim, boat, hike, cycle, camp and fish at America’s first and largest national recreation area."

The documentary park film received the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award distinguishing excellence in film, television and digital media, these awards are widely recognized as a symbol of the highest standards in media production.

The film, “LIFE IN THE DESERT: LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA” explores the nation’s first national recreation area as a vibrant, ever-changing, living desert landscape, with two lakes that provide a much-needed respite to millions of people. Narrated by Stockard Channing, the film describes the sacredness of park lands to Native Americans through the eyes of a local tribe member and also features unscripted interviews with park visitors enjoying the park as they pursue a variety of recreational pursuits, including hiking, bicycling, fishing, swimming and boating. The 21-minute film is shown daily at the Lake Mead Visitor Center, located three miles south of Boulder City on US Highway 93. "

Link to the NPS.gov short 60 second trailer below (or YouTube link). I am the cyclist depicted at timestamp 0:33. I have multiple apperances scattered in the film. I also close out the film in my own voice/narration at the end of it's 21-minutes.

The film can only be seen in its' entirety in the National Park visitor center auditorium as it greets all visitors to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. I am hoping this to be a film that outlives me and my perpetual legacy to the sport I love. I hope you enjoy our project during your visit to the park.

https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view...499AE78BB8EE81

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fk46TDwPY4

[wachuko]

Way to go!

[nateallen80]

Very cool! Congratulations, Alex AVI!

[Ray Eklund]

Boulder City, Nevada also appreciates the attention that Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the National Recreation Area receives with this video. This is what keeps the streets busy and the locals meeting people from all over the USA and from other Countries.

The southern most Camping Area is also conveniently positioned near Lake Mead. Tent and RV camp sites and easy access to Henderson and Las Vegas.

[Hittenstiehl]

Alex this is very special thanks for sharing it. Hope to see the film in full someday. If somebody ends up posting it on YouTube or Tubi let us know so we can watch before our next visit to the lake.

A Lake Mead special memory for us is as follows: 8 years ago we rented a vintage airstream from a small local business. We were exploring if we wanted a travel trailer instead of tent camping. We took a 10-day trip in a 1959 Tradewind in April. We had planned to visit the midwest but the midwest was in full tornado season and we didn't head that direction. We headed to the Mojave Desert, Death Valley and Great Basin with our last night's being at Echo Bay at Lake Mead. We got our self settled into a non generator very quiet spot with no immediate neighbours and a peekaboo view to the water. It was those last nights at Lake Mead sitting in our camp chairs, chill in the air, fire going that we decided a travel trailer was definitely for us this is how we wanted to continue to explore the country.

An absolutely beautiful treasure of a park a mere 40 miles from one of the more bustling cities in the country.

[85MH325]

Very cool, Alex. Well done!

I've not been to Lake Mead in many years, but I used to sail on a friend's Westsail 32 there. I remember the 'good ol' days' when the highway crossed the dam. I understand it's changed considerably since those days.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Boulder City, Nevada also appreciates the attention that Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the National Recreation Area receives with this video. This is what keeps the streets busy and the locals meeting people from all over the USA and from other Countries.

The southern most Camping Area is also conveniently positioned near Lake Mead. Tent and RV camp sites and easy access to Henderson and Las Vegas.

RAYEKLUND - Lake Mead and Boulder City are gems of that area. We visit both at least twice a month (when not scorching hot). Our favorite BC activities - the antique shops, chillin out at Centennial Park to admire the old brick homes, food from Chilly Jilly'z, and I like patronizing the old ACE Hardware store with any item I can buy each visit

[Ray Eklund]

Alex. I sent your first post to the Boulder City Review local newspaper. The editor said her husband had seen it. The video was at the Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and National Recreation Store before you enter the Park entrance.

For those of you who have never been on a man made lake in the Mohave Desert... surrounded by volcanic mountains, hiking/biking steep narrow canyon trails... take a Wave Runner after ten minutes to master... on and on.

A neighbor offered Nancy and I to come along and ride one of theirs. IF you are one who likes to try something new... we found doing 50mph on the lake... refreshing. They also rent them at the Marina.

Boulder City is mostly a laid back community. Many retired people, great schools, fantastic Police patrols keeping watch over this 'Andy Griffith Mayberry' community.

A Casino on the East Side and another on the West Side, outside the City Limits. Then Henderson and the Las Vegas Strip. Boulder City does not have gambling within the City Limits. And is the largest city in the State of Nevada... by land area.

Mountain biking Bootleg Canyon dug into the sides of the volcanics when Hoover Dam was being built... day or NIGHT biking. Hiking, galore. RV Parks at the base of the mountains or along Lake Mead Recreation area, north, to multiple sites. You can drive up to the top of the mountain, drop off those with no fear with their mountain bikes... See Las Vegas to the west, Boulder City to the east, Lake Mead into Arizona where the mountains catch some snow for a few days a year.

Skiing west of Las Vegas in the winter.

If that is not enough... the Buffets at the Casinos are fantastic. We play nickel video poker... get 'incentives' to lose or win with Buy One get One buffets. I love the omelet with three fresh doughnuts, my pick like I was a nine year old.

Alex knows. You can wander around the area, 24 hours and feel safe.

View from our back yard showing the BIG SNOW of 2018. View at the top of Bootleg Canyon hiking trail and Nancy with the hiking trail switch backing up to the Zip Line that has three stops to keep you entertained.

Us... we have EIGHT Palm Trees in our yard. Did not have that in Colorado. We may just stay... for the rest of our lives. Maybe about as close to Heaven one can find... all in one small town.

[Alex AVI]

RAYEKLUND - Boy, where do I start. The good folks in this forum might think we both work for the Las Vegas & Boulder City Tourism Bureau

This is the only place I have ever lived where in the winter, I can go snow skiing in the morning up Mt. Charleston, drive 1.5 hrs. down to go water skiing in Lake Mead midday, go ride my MTB or road bike around the lake that same afternoon, and then drive 30 mins. from there to hit the buffets and shows at the Strip at night. Then do it all over again the next day with a different buffet and different show. We've been here 20 yrs, twice as long as we have ever lived in all the other places before and have no plans to ever move again.

That 1st pic you posted, pretty sure it's Nevada Way going downhill to the lake - we almost bought that one house right on that retaining wall on the right side when they were first building them in 1999. Unfortunately, my wife would have had a very long commute to her job in Summerlin Hospital. So we bought in Summerlin with Red Rock National Conservation Area virtually as my backyard.. But I still wished we bought one of those with the lake view. Or the older brick homes near Centennial Park.

I gotta say while I have it nice where I am with my Red Rock & west side mountain views from the house, but you got it better with your lake views and the small town atmosphere yet still close to the big city.

[CDONA]

Did Boulder City ever construct a freeway bypass around town?
I was living in Bullhead City as the fight over traffic from Kingman to Vegas went thru Bullhead to Nv 95 when the Az 93 over the dam was closed because of 9/11.
Boulder City was pissed to get traffic back thru town when the new bridge on Az 93 was built.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by CDONA

Did Boulder City ever construct a freeway bypass around town?
I was living in Bullhead City as the fight over traffic from Kingman to Vegas went thru Bullhead to Nv 95 when the Az 93 over the dam was closed because of 9/11.
Boulder City was pissed to get traffic back thru town when the new bridge on Az 93 was built.

CDONA - Yes, there are now 2 ways to get to AZ (either via the old way through Hoover Dam or the faster non-tourist way which is the flyover bridge across the dam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnLuAH2mlIo

[Ray Eklund]

They also have Helicopter tours of the dam. Sky diving from the local airport- Boulder City International and 'tortoise reserve'.

This I-11, bypassing Boulder City is just great. Took yahoos from Arizona to figure out that with Four Lanes, two north and two south, that it is no longer a two lane highway into Las Vegas. Also with the perfect pavement you get the Super Hot Rods doing 140mph at night... with the friendly Highway Patrol and Boulder City giving them a Welcome to Clark County, but the speed limit is 65mph... NOT in KM per hour, which may seem faster.

Occasional you get a 'jumper threat' on the new bridge. So far everyone who manages to close the bridge, looks down... and decides this is not a very safe spot to get attention and gets a free ride into town.

Hiking to the Hot Springs downstream from the Dam is good exercise, and you repel with big ropes provided when the Summer months are over.

A 'paddle wheel' dinner boat cruises around several times a day with meals. No fishing off the boat, I assume.

The Marina docks... bring a loaf of stale bread, feed the 15 pound plus Carp and white Bass. They will take it from your hand... unless you want to try to pull one onto the dock. Just do not fall off the dock as there are hundreds once the feeding frenzy begins.

If, after all of this from Alex and myself... and find yourself bored. You gotta get with it.

The town is dog friendly. The people are people friendly. Pomegranates, lemons, oranges, limes... grow here if irrigated. We have one grapefruit, half a dozen pomegranates, twenty of so oranges... to be picked this Fall.

Some day we may have to move as we are... exhausted. Too much going on. The antique car shows in the parks. Weddings in the parks. Desi Arnaz Jr. Historic Boulder City Theatre who own the old theatre in town for special showings, lots of Old People, with families wandering around... If you get lost, the Police Department is in the center of town and will load you up and take you wherever you wanted to go, in the first place.

You know, now I am bored. We have $25 food credit at the Fiesta Casino about 15 minutes from the house and we are taking them up on it.

The only place we would have liked better may have been the Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry... in the Mohave Desert.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

A Lake Mead special memory for us is as follows: 8 years ago we rented a vintage airstream from a small local business. We were exploring if we wanted a travel trailer instead of tent camping. We took a 10-day trip in a 1959 Tradewind in April. We had planned to visit the midwest but the midwest was in full tornado season and we didn't head that direction. We headed to the Mojave Desert, Death Valley and Great Basin with our last night's being at Echo Bay at Lake Mead. We got our self settled into a non generator very quiet spot with no immediate neighbours and a peekaboo view to the water. It was those last nights at Lake Mead sitting in our camp chairs, chill in the air, fire going that we decided a travel trailer was definitely for us this is how we wanted to continue to explore the country.

An absolutely beautiful treasure of a park a mere 40 miles from one of the more bustling cities in the country.

HITTENSTIEHL - Great story on your rv'ing roots and beginnings at Echo Bay, great spot. I know that spot, not from my rv'ing, but we train and cycle there often and Echo Bay is our turn around spot. My initiation to rv camping was way on the other side at Boulder Beach in my friend's Monaco. They opt for full hookups at Lake Mead RV Village which is $50 for the expensive lakeview extra large sites, which can literally fit 2 ClassA's. But the park non-hookup sites are less than $20 with America the Beautiful Lifetime pass.

[CDONA]

I have been across that new bridge, but hopelessly stuck in stop & crawl traffic thru downtown Boulder City, a few years ago.
I took 95 Nv to Vegas from Bullhead this year to avoid Boulder City completely.
Bypass?

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by CDONA

I have been across that new bridge, but hopelessly stuck in stop & crawl traffic thru downtown Boulder City, a few years ago.
I took 95 Nfv to Vegas from Bullhead this year to avoid Boulder City completely.
Bypass?

CDONA - Not sure how/why you ended up in downtown Boulder City if you went through the new bridge UNLESS since you said a few years ago, I guessing the part of the highway bypass was still closed or maybe finished but they had to close to finalize the re-routing lanes of the old highway configurations. Anyways, if you took it this year, you would have just skirted the outer open fields of Boulder City. You actually have to deliberately exit the freeway to end up in downtown BC. We go through it every time we go to AZ and no issues around BC. But 95 is just as good, so I have no preference for either if my start point was Kingman. But from Bullhead, you did the right route by going 95 coz going to 93 would be longer (backtracking).

[CDONA]

When the new bridge opened, there was no bypass, straight thru town.
Boulder City failed to plan ahead, hoping Nv DOT would keep truck traffic thru Bullhead after the bridge opened.
Glad to hear about the bypass.