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From Big Bubba to Hollow Rock Peak
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View from Bench Ridge
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Overlook View to Cottonwood Valley
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Newly Graded Trailhead
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Again, the weather in Las Vegas was cool and fresh. We continued our move down to the lower elevations by driving up to the trailhead for the escarpment rim. The Mountain Springs Pass Trailhead got somewhat of a facelift over the summer. For a period of time this summer, the construction on SR-160 had taken over the trailhead forcing anyone who ventured up to the escarpment in the hot weather to park off road a little further up. We were glad to see that the parking area is freed up again with a smoothed out dirt/gravel surface sans large rocks. This provides maximum parking spaces under the trees. Five club hikers met there for a hike out to Hollow Rock Peak using the bike trail that appeared on the hillside last year.
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Enjoying the Bike Trail
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We started out the forest service road that runs along the highway. About 0.1 mile past the driveway of the beautiful house on the hill, the bike trail begins in a wash to the left. It is lined with rocks and parallels the service road for a short distance if you miss the beginning of it.
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Approaching the Abandoned Road Junction
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The bike trail beats walking the ups and downs of the rocky service road by a longshot, regardless of its curvy ins and outs of the traverse.
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Abandoned Road Junction
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Abandoned Road
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The bike trail is well made and seems to also be well traveled ... already. There are a couple of those dippity doos that the bikers love so much so be careful on those! After about 1.25 miles on the bike trail, look for the old abandoned road just above the trail after a curve around to the right. The trail up to the road is not immediately apparent. Look for the stump (dead tree?) to the left as a landmark. The road leads up to an overlook on a curve. The views of the wash below, Cottonwood Valley through the canyon and the bench ridge up to Hollow Rock Peak are beautiful. Note the cement dams formed on the overlook rock that were made to catch water for the wildlife (i.e. bighorn sheep, deer, elk and the occasional burro family).
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Bench Ridge from Overlook
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Follow the road all the way to the end and find a trail continuing around the corner and dipping down through a wash.
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Wildlife Troughs on Overlook
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The trail which is sometimes cairned leads around the hillside which is turning into sandstone. There are actually a couple of trails. One is higher than the other.
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Trail Continuation from Road
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Starting Sight Route
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The higher trail takes you to the saddle above where you may turn to the right and continue out the bench until you reach the solid sandstone scramble. The lower trail was our choice today. This trail is more sight oriented but there are a few cairns to help. The terrain becomes rocky sandstone with a few sandstone slabs. The photo below shows the targeted ridge and the sun is rising just about where you want to end up. By this time, two of our hikers had turned around for mild health issues so we were now three. Onward and upward, the climb is a fun search for routes and "easier" footing. Wherever you reach the ridge in front of you, turn to your left and climb on up to the saddle where there is an old campsite and large fire ring.
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Sight Route to Campsite - The Sun marks the Spot
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The bench and hike continues out to the right. But, you will see a small peak to your left and a trail leading down to the left. Both of these routes are popularly used to arrive at this same spot.
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View Back to Abandoned Road from Sight Route
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The campsite sits on red dirt. When we turned to the right, sandstone colors of yellow, white, pink and purple hit our eyes.
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Campsite
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Bench Ridge
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We followed the trail along the ridge for around 0.1 mile before the cairns and our previous knowledge led us diagonally down to the right. Perched at the top of a large dip, we started down the slab. There are two large dips during the route. This is the first. At the bottom, we climbed back up to another perch. Here, there are a couple of ways to get to the dip. We used the scramble to the left then climbed up for a traverse around to the third perch. To the right of the third perch rises Hollow Rock Peak's brother, Big Bubba. We couldn't resist climbing to the top of the large buddha rock for a cairned view of Hollow Rock Peak ahead. Next, we climbed down and hiked on over to the star of the day!
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Mike takes a Risky Descent
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We had planned to affix a new rope to the stone anomaly but someone had beaten us to it. The rope is reported to be strong and well-anchored at this time.
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Bypassing Dip 1
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After taking our group photo, Mike climbed Hollow Rock to check the rope at the top while Ralyn checked out the rope at the bottom!
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Big Bubba after Dip2
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Group at Hollow Rock
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We took a nice long pleasant break at the end of the bench. There are gorgeous views in every direction. Windy Peak, Grapevine Canyon, South Peak, Big Bubba, Mt. Potosi, the limestone/sandstone line, Calico Hills, North Blue Diamond Hill. You name it! Finally, it was time to face the return scramble back to the campsite saddle. Dip 2 then Dip 1 then the ridge. Turning left at the campsite, we had an easier time sighting our route back to the abandoned road. After passing the overlook, we junctioned with the bike trail at the bottom of the first hill, a switchback in the road. We started back on the bike trail curving in and out along the hillside.
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Big Bubba from Hollow Rock
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Construction noise filled our ears as we neared the forest service road.
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Three at Hollow Rock
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It will be really nice when this widened highway is finished. Fewer awful wrecks and no more following huge vehicles slowly up the hill!
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Spliced Panorama of View up Bench Ridge from Hollow Rock
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Some Scrambling out of Dip 2
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The nice trail dumped us out onto the forest service road and we had a couple of those dreaded undulations to go before we arrived at the triple-posted wires overhead. Sure would be nice if the bike trail was extended a little so that it continued right into the trailhead. Ah, maybe later. (Although, you really can't beat a straight shot!) Wonderful relaxing hike today! A fresh new way to tackle Hollow Rock Peak!
Stats: 5 miles; 1100' gain; 3.75 hours
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Climbing back out of Dip 1
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Beautiful View through Grapevine Canyon
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Almost back to the Campsite
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