Guardian Angel Loop (aka Red Springs Loop) - 10/17/24

The Guardian Angel Carving

 

The end of the descent Canyon

Rabbithole at Angel Pass

Starting out from Red Springs Picnic Area

As we drift slowly into the lower elevations for the cooler seasons, the temperature is dropping fast as I speak. It will become a little warmer after the cold front passes through but, alas, it is time for us to think about moving the hikes back to Red Rock Canyon NCA. So, we started from the Red Springs Picnic Area and headed northward around the Calico Hills and into the first large canyon on the left. This canyon has a few use trails that climb up to the pass above, Guardian Angel Pass. Usually, we climb up a trail on the left side of the canyon but, for this hike, we stayed to the right for much of the climb. It was interesting to change up the route. We followed David Hardy at a fast pace getting a good workout as we scrambled.

Steep Scrambling

View back down ascent Canyon

Taking a breather at Angel Pass

The descent Scramble

Descending on the other side of the pass has fewer use trails. In fact, there is only one way to get through the boulders and brush several times. But, it is almost impossible to miss the angel carving on the side of a large rectangular boulder as you near the bottom. We passed this and continued all the way down to the Calico Wash to turn left. After passing the usual snack area above, we crossed over to the left side of the wash on the rock shelf. This "trail" led us through the rock slot and up to the upper and former Grand Circle Trail. We dropped down and climbed up to the Calico I area and dropped down the other side to continue either in the wash or around on the parallel trail to the petroglyph area below some more climbing walls.

Reaching the Guardian Angel Carving

Starting down through the Calico Wash

Rock climber sandblasting some Graffiti (Thanks)

Climbing up to take the upper Route

From the bottom of the hill, we climbed up to the overlook saddle that rises above the Red Springs parking lot where we saw a group of rock climbers that appeared to be learning how to rappel (french) or abseilen (german) or, in english, to rope down. It was a fun hike as everyone was giving it their best effort to keep up with the fast pace.

Stats: 3.5 miles; 1000' gain; 3 hours

Sliding down the Dryfall

Following the Calico Wash

Finishing the hike by way of the Overlook

Lower Showgirl Trail O&B - 10/15/24

Rita gazes at desert Mountains

The Lower Showgirl Trail rests in the Transition Life Zone of the Spring Mountains at around the 7000'-7500' altitude level. This life zone includes Pinon-juniper woodland, sagebrush, ephedra, and grasses. There is also vegetation that belongs to the Upper Sonoran Life Zone such as joshua trees. Manzanita belongs in the upper portion of the Transition zone and they are there, too.

The different climatic zones encountered as one goes up in elevation result in notable differences in vegetation type. The 10,000 foot ascent from Las Vegas to the summit of Charleston Peak is equivalent, in terms of vegetation associations, to a trip from Las Vegas to the Canadian arctic and passes through six different life zones. You will pass through only four of these life zones on the trip up Kyle Canyon. You would need to hike to the top of Charleston Peak to encounter the upper two life zones.

~Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area (Expanded Edition with GPS Coordinates), Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16, University of Nevada, Reno, Mackay School of Earth Sciences, 2008, Bear Printing, Sparks, NV; page 37.

The Lower Showgirl Trailhead is located just under 13 miles up Kyle Canyon Road from the interstate exit. It is on the left and really difficult to see before you get there. The trail is mostly used by mountain bikers but it is a very pleasant trail for hikers as well. You can park in a small gravel area off the paved road and hike down the hill to the wash as the trail begins by going under an overpass. There is a newly installed trail sign at the bottom of the hill. Hike as far as you wish then turnaround and hike back. Or, by leaving a car at the lower end of the trail and driving up to the top end of the trail (Juniper Trailhead), you can hike 9 miles point to point all downhill. The represented hike for this entry is an out and back hike of 5 miles total. Today, we only hiked to the high point for this section making the hike 4.5 miles.

Stats: 4.5 miles; ~650' gain; 2.75 hours
 

Ice Box Canyon - 10/14/24

Around the Bend Friends in Ice Box Canyon

A good hike to start the fall season in Red Rock Canyon NCA is Ice Box Canyon. It's cooler in there even when the summer heat continues into October. David Hardy led us from the trailhead located on the Red Rock Scenic Loop (near MM 8) down across the Red Rock Wash and up along the rocky trail into the canyon in front of us. Finally, the trail drops down into the rocky wash and an easy scramble ensues. If any of the scrambles become too difficult ... or even impossible ... seek a use trail to your left (south side of canyon). At the end of the canyon, as you near the seasonal waterfall, a tree scramble rises on your left and allows you access to a rock shelf where it is comfortable to sit. (See above.) After the group took a short break and returned to the cars, we were all in good spirits.

Stats: 2.5 miles; ~500' gain

Dry seasonal waterfall in Ice Box Canyon

Stepladder & Odie Peaks Loop - 10/11/24

Odie Peak from top of Stepladder Peak

Griffith Peak from top of Odie Peak

Upper part of Shady Hollow Trail

Starting out the trail from the Trailhead

I know. Not many blogs lately. Onyx is still missing. It is possible that a "Ring" notice was put up by a person living outside our "Ring" jurisdiction that had a dog that appears very similar to Onyx. We cannot get in touch with this person and they are not returning any calls by others trying to help us. Blah. Blah. Blah. Anyway, I guess there is a 50/50 chance that they have her. There is also a 50/50 chance that Onyx is still out there playing with the foxes somewhere in the Spring Mountains. Honestly folks, we have done everything that we can think of and hiked everywhere within a 5-8 mile radius of the runaway point looking for her. 😩 I pray a lot.

Sun rising on Stepladder Peak

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Stepladder Peak Trail

Harris Peak from Stepladder Peak Trail

Entrance to Kyle Canyon from Stepladder Peak Trail

So, on another mission, Rita, Ralyn and I created a new hike using Stepladder Peak in a loop route. We started at the top of Stepladder Loop on Deer Creek Road (Top TH). Quickly connecting with the saddle junction, we turned right to climb Stepladder Peak on the trail that ascends up the first false peak and on up to Stepladder Peak. After signing in the log book, we started down on a different route than what is traditional. We turned to descend through widely scattered trees and brush on a 90 degree angle to the left. Paralleling a wash to our right and a cliff to our left, we easily reached the saddle between Stepladder Peak and the next little rise we affectionately called Odie Peak. After all, Odie was the first to peak out here a couple of weeks ago when he and Ralyn bushwhacked up from the other side following one of those frustrating barks that sounded so much like Onyx.

Rita and Ralyn climbing Stepladder Peak

Starting down from Stepladder Peak to Odie Peak

Odie Peak (foreground) from bushwhack Descent

Telephone Canyon and Angel Peak 

We made it to the top of Odie Peak taking in all the new views then started down on the south side connecting with a vague game trail. This trail spiraled down counter-clockwise until we junctioned with the Shady Hollow Trail on the east side of the little peak. The trees and brush were very easy to navigate through. Once we were on the Shady Hollow, we continued following it up in its north and northwesterly direction. At around 2.5 miles into the hike, we came to Onyx Point. This is my husband's name for where Onyx got spooked and ran from the bicycles who had come up behind us and didn't slow down. We stopped here for a break where the sunny trail began being covered by shade. I had removed the food and water bowl from this location the day before. (Too soon? I just don't know.) We sat and talked for a few minutes then continued up the Tin Can Alley / Shady Hollow Trail. It was a Friday so there were not any bikers around. Besides, the weather has finally turned a little cooler and the bikers might have moved down a little in elevation.

Telephone Canyon and Mummy's Nose from Odie Peak Saddle

Starting descent from Odie Peak

Fletcher Ridge from Odie Peak Descent

Shady Hollow Junction

At a junction sign, we made a sharp turn to the left to continue our hike on the Atomic Duck. (This is actually where the original Shady Hollow Trail continues as well.) Taking the long switchbacks up to the Cowboy Trail, we eventually connected with that trail that parallels old and new Deer Creek Road. Soon, after taking a left, we were at the saddle junction and took a sharp turn to the right on the trail that led us back to the cars at the Top Trailhead. I like this new route. It can be tweaked in different ways to adjust the total length of the hike. We welcome Odie Peak to the Spring Mountains!!!

Stats: 4.25 miles; 1300' gain. 

Atomic Duck (L), Original Shady Hollow (R)

Shady Hollow Trail joining Cowboy Trail

Return to Top Trailhead (Stepladder Peak in Background)