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| Anniversary Narrows Peak from Exit Saddle |
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| South and North Bowls of Fire from Peak |
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| Elephant Arch in South Bowl |
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| Desert Hike Approach |
Another forecasted chilly and windy morning that turned out to be a very nice day! Anniversary Narrows Peak is a high point on the Lovell Ridge that rises to the south of Anniversary Narrows. The peak separates the Lovell Wash and the South Bowl of Fire. A geological explanation of the Bowl of Fire seen below is taken from:
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 72.
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| Target = Ascent Crack in Ridge left of Center |
The Bowl of Fire has formed in the heart of an anticline - an up-arched fold that exposes older rocks at its core. The rocks in the core of the Bowl of Fire anticline are Aztec Sandstone (about 180 million years old).
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| Ascent Crack from Approach Wash |
The younger rocks on the flanks include various members of the Horse Spring Formation (17 to about 12.5 million years old) that lie unconformably on and in fault contact with the Aztec Sandstone. The dark rocks in foreground, on each side of the gap leading into the bowl, are the Rainbow Gardens Member of the Horse Spring Formation.
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| Approach Wash |
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| Max starts up Ascent Crack |
This hiking route lies completely within the Lake Mead NRA and does not encroach on the private property of the neighboring mining operation. We started from the mile marker 16 parking lot of Northshore Road. There is a potholed ramp that will take a high clearance vehicle down to the Callville Wash Road and, therefore, remove about a mile off the entire hike if you park at the mouth of the approach wash. This would make the taxing hike a little more palatable for our now weary feet! However, twelve hikers hiked down and crossed the Callville Wash Road toward the Anniversary Mine Road and turned right into the first wash.
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| Photos from Ascent Crack |
Soon, we could see the Ascent Crack in the distance about 3/4 of the way up on the left dark colored ridge. That was our target. To get there, we hiked over desert terrain until we reached a short but deep wash that entered the deeper main wash on our right.
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| View back to Lake Mead from top of Crack |
Finding a decent descent route, we dropped into the main Approach Wash. We were met with a straightaway then began zigzagging. Be careful! At the second zigzag, you must choose a counter-intuitive right turn at a wash fork.
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| Visiting a Cliff! |
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| Pinnacle on South Bowl Upper Plateau |
It is really best if you stay in the wash all the way up until you are even with the Ascent Crack that is obvious on your left side. The Crack has an overhanging rock wall on its right side and has some red coloring in it. (If you choose to get out of the wash before you are there, you will encounter a more unpleasant terrain.) When we found ourselves just below the crack, I pointed up and said, "I don't have to be first!" And, up the strong hikers went! It is a very steep scramble, possibly 3rd class. But the rock is very sharp and holds onto the tread of hiking boots. Caution: Be careful not to dislodge loose rock on the hiker below you!
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| Leaving Pinnacle to find Trail |
When everyone reached the top of the overhanging rock wall, we found a vague trail that led down into the Upper Plateau of the South Bowl. On the way, we peered over the side of the cliff at a beautifully colored sandstone chute.
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| Peak Climb |
Today, I opted not to hike near enough to the cliff side to see every view down into the Bowl but headed "straight" for the pinnacle. This is intuitive! You can't see it, at first!
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| Climb to Left to Overtake Dryfalls |
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| Paul on Climb to Lovell Ridge |
Once we found the pinnacle, we took in a couple of views, then circled around to find the trail that you can just make out on the side of a rocky hill. This rocky hill bounds the Funnel Descent on the other side. Follow the trail around the top of the funnel and up the finger of terrain next to a narrowing canyon wash. There is a large landmark cairn on the finger where you should drop into the canyon and begin climbing. Rule of thumb: When you need to go up and around a dryfall in the canyon, go to the left!
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| Anniversary Narrows Peak Views |
Near the top of the canyon wash, there is a fork. If you take the right fork, you will get out of the wash sooner but either one works. When you are out of the wash, just go up!
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| Descent of Canyon Wash |
Stay away from the right side due to high cliffs. There are several "sticky" slabs that are useful among the many plates of broken rock. Then, near the peak, a trail appears! (The trail appears only after you are able to see the peak ahead!)
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| Funnel Descent from Above |
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| Gathering at the Landmark Cairn |
On the peak, twelve hikers sat for a break, signed into the log book and took photos. This view is one of Lake Mead NRA's best! See the second photo for starters! It was a little breezy up there as it was on the Upper Plateau but we sat for a few minutes taking it all in. Then, we were up and at 'em again. Back down the slabs and plates, back down the "careful as you go" canyon and gathering at the landmark cairn. Together again, we turned to deal with the Funnel Descent. This was also "careful as you go." It is steep and somewhat loose but serviceable as a descent to the South Bowl of Fire. We gathered at the bottom and started circling around the large sandstone outcrop there.
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| The Funnel Descent |
Around the outcrop, over a small saddle, left toward an opening in the Aztec Sandstone and up a wash. Then, there he was! Mr. Dog Face Rock!
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| Circling the Large Rock Outcrop |
Our gatherings became more often and longer. A weary injured hiker brought up the end of the line. A good sport always, he continued regardless. We love him and decided not to leave him in the desert! 😁
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| Hiking the South Bowl of Fire |
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| Dog Face |
So, we turned to the left again and found another sandstone passage to our right. At the top of this pass, we could see the Elephant Arch, one of the South Bowl of Fire's most significant formations. We stopped here for photos and talked about how we used to climb to the top of it ... when we were just a little younger! 😅Next, we continued down this same wash in search of the Slide. Those of us who are even partly familiar with the South Bowl knew about the Slide but it is somewhat hidden to the left as you go down. We found it and initiated a few of the hikers in the group. Yep, it is just as difficult as it ever was for me ... but, some hikers in our group, today, made it look easy! The longer the legs, the easier, I think.
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| Some of the Group at Elephant Arch |
Continuing down our wash, we came to a couple of scrambles within a slot. The first was fairly easy but the second one, not so much. Still, it was easier than the Slide and had two options of navigation!
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| Charlie deals with the Slide |
The end of the slot spilled us out onto desert terrain with a bit of cryptobiotic soil. Not wanting to leave our mark, we got into the very small wash leading out to the main wash. This small wash was a bit brushy. If you are able to avoid the living soil, it would be better to head across the desert to the right, left of the twin sisters that you can see from here in a 2:00 direction.
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| Ralyn deals with a Slot Scramble |
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| Spilling out of the Slot (2 Options) |
Our small wash dropped us into the main wash at a junction. If you wanted to exit the South Bowl out to Callville Wash Road, take the left here that circles around the corner. We did not wish to exit in this direction so we took a right into the main wash and followed the pretty wash up and around the corner of red and pink sandstone. After hiking around the corner, the path started gaining a little bit of elevation to take us up to our exit saddle. There were hoof prints up through the sand made by equestrians who frequent the area. The trail was very useful and put us directly into the wash on the other side. This is the top of the Approach Wash with the Crack Ascent.
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| Connecting with the Main Wash |
The wash is not as well defined on this end but down is down. There were a few side trails offered as well. We picked our way slowly, waiting on the end of the line a few times.
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| Hiking the Main Wash |
Soon, we were passing the Ascent Crack. And, next, we started the zigzags using side trails when offered.
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| At the Exit Saddle |
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| Finding the Approach Wash |
Finally, we found the wash to the right that we had used to drop in. Up we went, back up to the desert floor. There really isn't much of a landmark to guide you at this point, so we kept an eye on our GPSs. We found the initial wash and reached the roads. It had been a long slow day but everyone seemed very happy ... and tired. It was decided that this hike had something for everyone! When the track was downloaded and cleaned, we had hiked 7.1 miles. Enough! It's over 2019! Welcome 2020! Great group of people! Happy New Year! 💥
7.1 miles; 1700 feet elevation gain; 5.75 hours; average moving speed 1.2 mph
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| Climb Out |
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| Back across the Desert |
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| Photo of Bumpy Ramp from MM 16 Parking |
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