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| Muddy Mountain from Northshore Peak Ridge |
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| View back along Peak Ridge to Lake Mead |
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| View from Northshore Peak (Mud Canyon Wash Below) |
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| Northshore Peak from Trailhead Parking |
A couple of years ago, I debuted a loop hike that began with climbing Northshore Peak, dropped through what I call Interesting Canyon, hiked along Razorback Wash North and climbed back over the hills to return through a red wash (Red Wash). This is a nice six mile route that could be rated moderate if it weren't for the "short" climb up to the peak. (Details.) Anyway, last year, we explored the canyon wash that flows down the south side base of Northshore Peak. It was a delight! So, today, The Six Pod decided to use this "new" canyon wash to make a new six mile loop. This loop could be rated moderately strenuous ... removing the "short" peak "detail." With the peak, maybe simply "strenuous."
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| Scramble up from Rock Landmark |
We parked off Northshore Road at the MM 20.5 Trailhead. This is a large parking lot at the top of the hill with a restroom. (Always a plus!) It was a chilly and cloudy morning.
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| From Scramble to Peak Ridge |
We arrived one by one in our own cars, pandemic style. But, a lone hiker had already beaten us to the peak. We saw him standing up on the ridge before we even started.
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| Slab Climb |
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| View down along Climb |
Ready to go, we crossed the road and hiked up a small short arroyo to find the vague trail (or not) that leads over to the Rock Landmark. The landmark is a bulbous dark gray rock outcropping found at the end of the long Northshore Peak Ridge. Once there, we passed the rock and started climbing. There are two choices here. A trail in the beaten down grass leads to the left then curves up to the right to join the beginning ridge. But, normally, we head straight up the scramble in front of us on the "sticky" rock. It's a nice way to start. At the beginning ridge, we connected with the trail until we were adjacent to a shallow wash to our right. (This is past the large cliff area on the right.)
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| View down along Climb |
I believe that the traditional route up to the peak from here is a switchbacking trail to the immediate right. This is where we passed that lone hiker who was coming down.
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| "Window" View |
An option that I have adopted is a very long traverse going diagonally up to the left. There are a couple of trails that you can connect with. Either choice is a good workout!
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| Hiking up to Last "Window" |
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| Northshore Peak View West |
The last part of the climb has two "window saddles." The first comes after you hike past a little false peak. The second comes after you detour into a deepish crack only to climb out again to get to the peak. There are cairns to help here. ... usually. At the peak, we gathered for our photo, seen below, and to sign into the log. Needless to say, the views during the climb and all around the peak are spectacular. Nothing does cloudy days better than Lake Mead NRA! Next, there are two choices again. We could have done a steep descent forward from the peak. Since I was not aware of this more challenging choice at the time, we took the other choice which is to hike halfway back along the sloped anticline fault and dive down into the syncline wash below.
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| Six at Summit |
At the wash, we turned to the right and followed it to the forked junction. A right turn put us into a small wash that led up to the saddle that meets that ridge that comes down from Northshore Peak adjacent above. (Maybe next time.)
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| Starting Descent |
There was a slight cool breeze so we got into the wash in front of us for our break. This is the beginning of that "new" canyon wash I named Mud Canyon Wash.
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| Starting down Mud Canyon Wash |
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Gathering at a Dry Fall
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We toasted the new year, 2021, then started down. There are a few dry falls in the wash but every one of them is easily negotiated. The only caveat is that you must remember the fragility of the rocks and walls of the canyon. They are mostly made of ancient dried mud! The sinuous canyon went on for a while offering up colorful views and decorative structure. After a little over a mile, the canyon junctions with an old wash road that runs alongside Razorback Ridge on its north side. We turned left and followed the wash road for around 3/4 of a mile until reaching the next junction. This junction has a largish alcove in the gypsum spider veined embankment on the right side. Interesting Canyon begins here to the left.
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| Photos of First Half of Mud Canyon Wash Descent |
The walls of the canyon begin to narrow just after passing through a large light-colored dry mud area. (See fourth photo below.) Sometimes there is a cairn here marking the way into the walls on the left side.
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| Photos of the Second Half of Mud Canyon Wash Descent |
The "interesting" geology of Interesting Canyon starts soon afterwards. The thrust faulting and layering are apparent. A good geology class should pay a visit!
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| Razorback Wash North |
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Bighorn Skeleton
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Within this canyon, there is a three tiered pour over. Jerry and Cheryl checked it out but, again, the mud structures of this area are too fragile for even climbing 15 feet. There is an easy way to climb a ramp next to the pour overs. When we popped out of Interesting Canyon on one last pour over, we had finished the loop at the forked wash. Our route continued up the small syncline wash to the right that we had come down after our descent from the peak. We continued all the way up to the wash saddle not far away where gusty wind made its appearance in a big way! We made the decision to forego the steep descent into the unknown in front of us and take a left on the well-used trail we stood on. This would be a traverse up and over to the "beginning ridge."
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| Starting up Interesting Canyon |
We easily connected with the beginning ridge trail we had started on. There were a few cairns marking the way. Then, the scramblers descended the rock covered hill and three of us found the trail down and around to the right.
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| Interesting Canyon |
Meeting up at the bulbous Rock Landmark, we were happy that the last quarter mile was upon us.
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| Pour over Climb |
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Among the Geology
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Heading for the parking lot, we found, then lost, then found, then lost, then found the trail. (Yes, it's not obvious!) Very pleased with our "End-of-2020" hike, we returned to our cars where a few "Wild Hogs" had gathered. The new loop is very good. Next time, it will be faster. (All those photos, you know!) And, just taking in all the views, geology and colors takes time. Happy New Year to everybody out there! For our little AtBF pod, it has been a good year of exploring new hikes. Hopefully, someday soon, we will be able to show these hikes to the rest of the club. ... And, see some hikes that other pods have explored and created. When served with lemons, make lemonade.
Stats: 6.4 miles; 1750' gain; 4.75 hours
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| Traverse Trail from Last Saddle |
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| View back from Traverse |
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| Bringing it Home |
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