Pioneer Spring & Rock Loop (aka Foxtail Canyon Springs) - 10/10/20

Pioneer Spring

Cliff Spring from Below

Pinnacle Point on Pioneer Rock Loop

Girl Scouts' Peace Pole

Today, we found another great treasure of the Spring Mountains NRA! After emerging into the Foxtail Ridge and Canyon area over the past month, we have climbed halfway up Foxtail Ridge and, also, found the Pioneer Rock Loop. A brother AtBF pod took that information and rummaged around to find a very challenging loop that ascends to the North Ridge via the Foxtail Canyon wash and descends via Foxtail Ridge. During that day of fun, Brian's group discovered a beautiful spring above the Girl Scouts Camp. Noting the underground pipes that came to the surface a handful of times during the climb, they surmised that the water from the spring is used for the camp. Encouraging us to follow suit, our group scheduled a hike to the new area. And, oh, what a great hike it was!

We started out, as usual, from the Pay Phone Trailhead located across Lee Canyon Road from the Old Mill Picnic Area. We enjoy the approach to the Girl Scouts Camp from the old service road that runs along the lower portion of Foxtail Ridge. When the four of us reached the camp, we noticed the inscribed pole seen in the photo to the left. A little bit of research told us that this is a Peace Pole. A Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_pole

Route Junction

The access road comes into the camp and circles around Hudlow Hall on its left side. We followed it through the cabins and tent platforms. The road begins climbing and passes the Pioneer Camp Road that turns to the left. Foxtail Ridge rose to our right.

Pioneer Rock Road

Shortly after leaving the camp, the road becomes Pioneer Rock Road, according to Google Earth. There is an underground concrete utility station on the right here as the road becomes steeper.

Pioneer Spring Trail

Coming to Wash/Road Junction

The road slowly changes into a trail when it becomes obvious that cars could not negotiate the rocks and narrowness any longer without some clean up. The climb doesn't get really steep until the trail crosses a wash junction and begins to parallel the wash to the left. It appears that the road was cut many years ago to access the spring and build the pipeline. It gets really steep! We climbed among the lingering fall color anxious to find the spring of which we only had a photo. It wasn't long before we could see it from the trail peeping over the hill. Rita and Mike went on up the trail while I stepped over into the wash to take photos on the approach. The wash was filled with an autumn- yellowed species of columbine growing in the running spring water and mossy rocks.

Starting Steeper Terrain - Cliff Spring in Background

Using the wash and the upper and lower approach trails, we reached the spring cliff. The shadows of the morning were covering this side of the North Ridge that rose above and the colors were absolutely striking!

Really Steep Stuff

The spring water was running with a constant flow. Since this is a very dry year, we can assume that the spring runs year round. The water runs out from under the limestone cave alcove.

Approach to Spring from Trail

Approach to Spring from Wash

The roof of the alcove shows the beginning of the formation of stalactites. They are very tiny now. Moss grows where the water pools at the bottom. There are wooden ornaments hanging from the entrance to the alcove. We could only assume these were put there by the Las Vegas Southern Paiutes who live at the base of the mountains. A spring that runs year round in the desert should be respected by everyone. Mike and Ralyn climbed around to the top of the cliff to explore while Rita and I sat for our break on the rocks. The feeling of calm was intense. What a treasure this place is! Shhh! The quiet! The all-consuming dripping of the water. Very zen. Yep. I felt it! And, the feeling lasted the rest of the day! 

View down Wash and beyond to McFarland Peak

Perhaps the feeling was felt by all of us, since we seemed to have no interest in rushing the remaining portion of the hike! So far, we had only hiked a couple of miles but, we had also climbed around 1300 feet in elevation. Perfect! We took our group photo and finished our break. 

Details of Spring from Cliff

The morning had started with a temperature of around 39 degrees. In the shade, it was still pretty cool. I kept my jacket and gloves on until we descended into the rising sun.

Fearsome Foursome

Wider Shot of Cliff Spring

The descent on the very steep part of the trail went slowly. But, as I said, we were in no hurry. It still seemed like it was no time before we were back at the concrete utility station. A nice view of Pioneer Rock can be seen from here and, soon, we were turning right into Pioneer Camp. This part of the hike is becoming very familiar. We hiked up through the tent platforms and on up the trail. After climbing the steep stuff to the spring, this climb was a little challenging to our tired legs. At the saddle behind the big rock outcrop, we stopped for a wardrobe adjustment and to take in the views. Opting out of an exploration on the outcrop, we turned up to our right to begin the wonderful loop trail.

Down the Steep Stuff

The traverse along Mummy Mountain is a nice trail but there is still that big tree that crosses the trail requiring hikers to get down low to get by. It will probably not be removed until the Girl Scouts resume their camp.

Pioneer Rock Road

At one point during the traverse, we could clearly see the ski slope and the parking lot for the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead. Wow! Cars were parked all the way down and past the switchback in the road!

(And, we had not seen another soul all morning!)

Autumn

Pioneer Rock

After the traverse, we reached Pinnacle Point. This is where the trail meets the point of a trailing ridge of Mummy Mountain. From this point, hikers can see Mummy's Forehead from the pinnacle at the "point" by looking back to the right. There is a lot of real estate in this area that has yet to be explored. However, private property has to be respected while the said explorations. From here, the trail balances the top of the ridge down until it passes another overlook area among the limestone dolomite outcrops. One of the main peaks seen from the overlooks is North Sister. At one point, you can see the whole of the Sisters Ridge. You can also see Pioneer Rock from this section of trail. Today, however, there was a lot of smoke in the air from the California fires. 

Pioneer Rock Saddle

After the overlook, the trail switchbacks down toward the camp through the woods. We ambled through the camp and climbed up the service road to follow it down to the bottom.

Upper Bristlecone TH on a Saturday

This is the only part of the hike that we were able to find trash to pick up. And, still, there wasn't much. Some people use this ridge for camping overnight. There are a few homemade shelters along the way.

Mummy's Forehead from Pinnacle Point

Pioneer Rock Trail

We also saw a brown and white wild horse nibbling off the trail. He paid us no attention. We have seen this horse in this area before. (Maybe he's a loner.) At the bottom of the ridge, we easily found the trail that descends to the paved picnic area entrance road and passed around the gate. Traffic had picked up considerably since we left almost 4 hours before. This was a beautiful autumn day in the mountains and we reluctantly drove down the hill. Keep this hike tucked in your back pocket for next year but, be sure to check and make sure that the Girl Scout camp is not in session!

Stats: 5 miles; 1525' gain; 3.75 hours

Returning to Camp

Points of Interest on Service Road Return

Finding the Descent Trail