Moapa Peak (Mormon Mountain Range), Lincoln County, Nevada (with Jerry & Cheryl Thomas) - 10/25/19

Moapa Peak is in the Mormon Mountain Range (route = green line)

Trailhead Sign

Jerry starting up the Approach Wash

Cheryl at the top of the Approach Wash

Jerry and Cheryl were at it again! The last of a series of summer peaks for the pair was Moapa Peak, a unique and dangerous endeavor. They sent these photos and Cheryl wrote a few words for us as follows:

 Moapa Peak is seen to the west as one drives on the I 15 north just a few miles south of Mesquite. Take the Carp/Elgin exit and drive the nine mile dirt road to the trailhead. It takes two hours from Las Vegas. We left around 6 am and started hiking at 8:12 am.

The sign in the second photo is at the trailhead. We got a laugh out of it as there is no trail and what may pass as one is sporadic and stops well before you get near the last saddle. Not to mention it isn’t a good idea to suggest going to the summit. The warning here doesn’t do that knife edge the credit it deserves.

This is the gully which tops off at the first saddle.

After climbing the Approach Wash, Jerry and Cheryl veered to the left and climbed the following gully as seen above.

Virgin Peak in the Distance

 At the top of the first saddle, Virgin Peak could be seen across the desert and I-15.

Continuing up to Second Saddle

Traversing beneath the Cliff Bands

 We started up a wash that led to a gully that led up to a saddle. From there we traversed on a ledge that led to another saddle. Then we traversed along a wall of cliff bands to the east side of the summit where we climbed onto the knife edge. In between these sections we climbed up class three and four cliff bands. The hike leading to the knife edge was steep with loose rock and brush. In many ways it was typical of a desert peak’s terrain. What made this peak unique was the knife edge crossing to the summit. 

Heading to Knife Edge Saddle

When we get to the top of this hill (photo above) we will climb a fourth class section that takes us to where we climb onto the knife edge.

Precarious isn't a strong enough word!

 On the knife edge, Jerry prepares to straddle the sharp knife edge in the photo above.

Cheryl appears Happy to be Balanced

 The knife edge is approximately 100 yards long and varies in width from one foot to about ten feet. There’s a 15-20’ section that has to be straddled and the climber scoots along. The exposure is severe with drop offs of hundreds if not a thousand feet. Any fall would be fatal. Concentration is a must! 

This required a lot of balance. I followed about five feet behind. Summit in the distance in photo to the left.

  

The Knife Edge and Peak

There were several places where we carefully walked across. Others where we had to down or up climb. Places where we scrambled on rocks. And of course that one straddling spot. 

Knife Edge View Down

 On the knife edge, it was like sitting on top of a rock suspended in the air. Notice that rock in the foreground with the white spot two photos above? That’s a bulge that we had to get over. It took some extremely careful maneuvering to lift ourselves to do this. 

Crossing the Knife Edge on one of the Wider Sections

Moapa Peak Summit Photo (Knife Edge Behind)

 Directly in front of that rock is a ten foot drop onto a small ledge which led to a short up climb. Jerry eventually decided to push off and jump onto that ledge. I watched with my heart in my throat as he leapt and landed safely on the ledge. He then leaned carefully on the bulge to assist me.  I carefully maneuvered myself into position, pushed up and over the bulge and then jumped off while leaning on his arm. When we returned we didn’t try to get up and over that bulge. Instead we approached from the side and basically did an exposed climb up the side onto the top to then straddle the knife edge. That worked well.

Great job guys!

Descent across Knife Edge

Down Climb

Success! Moapa Peak in the Rear View Mirror!

The indicated route does not represent an exact route.