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| Hollow Rock Peak as seen on Approach |
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| Overlook into South Canyon |
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| Big Bubba and Mt. Potosi from Hollow Rock Peak |
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| Heading out the Bike Trail |
Possibly the last adventure up on the escarpment of the season, we decided to hike to Hollow Rock Peak. This time, there would be a twist! I had yet to get that Second Ridge Trail on a GPS track so we made it a long loop so that we could make the descent on that trail. What a workout! The Fearsome Foursome carpooled for the first time since the pandemic began up to the Mountain Springs Trailhead. There we met a hiking group out of Pahrump, NV preparing for a climb to Mountain Springs Peak. We headed out first on the Forest Road that runs down parallel to SR 160. After passing the driveway of a residence, our target bike trail led off the road to the left. We have enjoyed this bike trail from its creation a couple of years ago.
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| Trees along the Bike Trail |
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| Rock Wall on Bike Trail |
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| Abandoned Road |
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| From Overlook to Ridge Junction |
The bike trail twists and turns in and out of the drainages among desert vegetation. Essentially, it traverses across the hills and nears an old abandoned road. The bike trail continues but we made a short hop up to the old road and climbed up to an overlook of South Canyon, south of South Peak. As we turned to continue up, we spied a large gray burro way up the hill who was spying us! When he left, we continued to the end of the road and began a sometimes trailed climb up through sandstone rocks and slabs. This route circles a drainage dip and ends at the top of a ridge that trails up to the Hollow Rock Trail. We climbed the rocks and the trailing ridge and arrived at a fire ring and campsite that have been there for many years. This is also the junction of the ridge trail.
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| Burro Eyes on Us |
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| Climbing the Sandstone |
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| Windy Peak from beginning of Ridge Trail |
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| Hollow Rock Peak rises at end of Ridge |
At the end of the Hollow Rock bench, is a narrow sandstone ridge that ends at Hollow Rock. We started out the ridge with Grapevine Canyon and Windy Peak on the north side and South Peak then South Canyon on the ... south side. At first, the trail balances on top of the ridge. Next, the route drops down to the south to enter and exit Dip #1. Up and over the next saddle and you are met with Dip #2. Both of these dips require a small amount of scrambling and there are different ways to tackle the job. At the second saddle, after Dip #2, Mike, Ralyn and Rita climbed Big Bubba, Hollow Rock Peak's little brother. I sat below and played with the camera! From Big Bubba, it's just a little sandstone traverse over to the peak.
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| Starting Dip #1 |
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| A Short Break to Take in the View |
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| Dip #2 from Rock Outcrop |
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| Starting Dip #2 |
Although I have never been on top of the peak boulder, I have heard that there is a large crack in it and, perhaps, that is where the name "Hollow Rock" comes from. As I understand, climbing the rock isn't too hard. But, the descent can be scary. At times, there is a rope fixed from the top that really helps but the last two times we have been there, there has not been a rope. This hike, we just sat at the bottom and enjoyed our break in the shade or sun and took our group photo. Only 2.5 miles into a 6 mile hike, we were ready to get on our way. We started back the small traverse, did Dip #2 in a different way, then did Dip #1 the same. Back up on the ridge, we crossed back to the Hollow Rock Trail and started into the limestone.
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| Small Scramble |
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| Coming out of Dip #2 |
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| Coming and Going at Big Bubba Side Climb |
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| Arriving at the Peak |
For years now, we have avoided returning from Hollow Rock Peak via the Hollow Rock Trail that runs along the bench between the sandstone ridge and the Heartbreak Hill Saddle. We reminded ourselves why on this hike! The trail back to the saddle is up, up, up and up! Quite a climb back to the last "up" which is normally the high point of the hike. We told ourselves it was good preparation for the return of the summer season in the mountains. At the last peak before the saddle, we took a rest. From there, we dropped down to the Heartbreak Hill Saddle and continued straight on the Windy Peak/Mountain Springs Peak Trail. This began a new climb. Keeping our eyes on the goal, we passed the First Ridge and kept climbing. Finally, we reached the Second Ridge junction not long before the "fork."
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| North View from Peak |
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| Fearsome Foursome on Hollow Rock Peak |
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| Starting Back |
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| Climbing out of Dip #1 |
There isn't much of an indicator at the junction but once you make that turn onto a clear trail to the left, you see a large rock outcropping on the ridge ahead. And ... you will immediately note that there are tons of cairns! Someone got crazy! But, it is much appreciated! Hopefully, someday this trail will be used regularly. It already seems to have a lot of fans. The trendy balanced rock cairns are stiffly standing all along the trail and the trail, itself, is much more worn than even the last time when Mike and I discovered it. We followed the cairns down, down and down. Some parts were steep but the trail is mostly a gradual slope. At the bottom, we crossed a big gully for the first time. The trail continues down to a forest road circle.
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| Colors at Trail/Ridge Junction |
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| Climbing the Hollow Rock Trail |
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| Mt. Potosi from Hollow Rock Trail |
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| Looking Tough on the High Point before Saddle |
From the circle, the trail continues and crosses the gully for the second time to join another forest road running parallel. The road takes you around and up across the gully from a farm house. Keeping eyes open, find a shortcut trail turning right off the road just before you begin a descent. This trail takes you to the Heartbreak Hill road just before it flows into the trailhead. We were quite pleased with our route today considering the great workout it offered. But, the best part of the day was piling into the one car to carpool back to the meet point, being able to relax while the driver drove. No worries. We will all be taking turns!
Stats: 6 miles; 1550' gain; 4.25 hours
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| Starting down the Second Ridge Cairned Trail |
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| Tree with Many Rocks |
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| Second Gully Crossing to Forest Road |
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