North Wind Wash - 1/16/22

Color in the North Wind Wash

Central Mountain between Fork

Valley of Red from Ridge

Starting up the North Wind Wash

Nine club members went out to Northshore Road MM 10 to follow David Hardy up into the wide North Wind Wash. The wash only narrows slightly for the first two miles as it passes a little bit of color here and there. Most of the wash is bounded by mud layers that have been turned on the diagonal. I wondered if there were any fossilized footprints hiding in the dried mud. At the two mile mark, there is a major wash fork. Today, we took the right fork to enter into the more narrowed wash. Almost immediately, smaller canyons began appearing on the right side. One by one, we entered the slots and followed them up to the top. Some of these slots were very pretty either inside or on top where views of the area showed vibrant colors everywhere.

White Hills

Colorful right fork (Today's Entrance) of North Wind Wash

Exploring a Side Slot

Hiking past a Green Spot

We explored four slots winding our way up the small drainages and finding small viewing treasures as we went. Leaving the last slot, we turned to the right and continued our journey up the right fork of the North Wind Wash. It was a jovial group and the weather started warming up quickly after a cold beginning. There were multiple wardrobe changes, shedding layers and layers! David knew the area well and after almost a mile, we climbed up to the ridge on the left side of the wash. This ridge gradually climbed higher and higher a little distance away from the central mountain on the left. We could see part of Lake Mead in the far distance in a 7:00 direction. 

Entering another Slot

Another Side Slot

Colorful Designs

One more Side Slot

We climbed up the ridge winding our way around to the left and right, ending on a rim high above a little red rock bowl at the northern source of the main wash. Following the ridge all the way to the end found us a good way to drop down into the bowl's south side. Not far away, we junctioned with an old road that may have, at one time, been used for mining the area. There were fresh tracks and it was clear that the road could only be used by 4WD high clearance vehicles. However, it is never a good idea to drive your vehicles off road destroying plants as you try to make your way around washouts. If you figure out how to get there in a vehicle, please remember to take care of Mother Earth.

Back in the Right Fork Wash

Right fork of North Wind Wash

Golden Sun

The Twins!

We found a little bit of shade ... in January ... for our break then spent about 30 minutes enjoying a rest. We were 5.5 miles into the 9.5 mile hike so we made sure we were ready for the long walk out. In the distance, we could see the Box Rock where we had taken our break on CH's hike up the North Wind Wash back in 2014. Both hikes used the same washes, however, the explorations were completely different. Both were beautiful and quite fun, but both of them used the same 2 miles of out and back wide wash for the balloon loop. There isn't a good way around this section which adds a total of 4 miles to the hike. (Perhaps coming in from the West End Wash Road would help a little. Explorations to come!) Starting back, we followed the road until we neared another wash (our exit wash) on our left side. It appears as a narrow opening with a "slide" down to the floor. The wash proceeds narrowly with mostly red colors on the walls. We stepped up our pace for the remaining 3 miles of wash walking. When the exit wash junctioned with the entrance wash at the fork, the main wash opened wide again. Two miles remaining!

Climbing along the Ridge Tops

Ridge High Point

Colorful Passage

Old 4WD Road

We talked and hiked, making the distance go by faster. It was certainly a good workout. Finally, Black Mesa and the North Wind Wash fence could be seen as we rounded a corner. Next stop, the cars. It was a great day out at the lake in the fresh air and colorful surroundings.

Stats: 9.2 miles; 950' gain; 4.75 hours

Dropping into Today's Exit Wash (Left Fork)

Exit Wash

Wash Fence & Black Mesa in Background