Fletcher Peak via Teepee Route - 5/14/21

Returning on Fletcher Peak Trail

Mummy's Nose and Desert Floor from Fletcher Peak

Wild Horse Ridge

Connecting with North Loop from Old Trail

The Fearsome Foursome were at it again on Thursday. Feeling good about our debut in the Springs Mountains, we aimed our sights on Fletcher Peak using a route that we had scoped out last September. Thinking we had this under control, we parked at the Cougar Ridge Trailhead on Deer Creek Road located not far past the North Loop Trailhead. Even though the barriers have been removed from the back route (Old Deer Creek Road route), we walked up the roadside and crossed to reach the old trail that connects with the North Loop Trail. We hiked up the North Loop feeling fresh until we were about 1.1 miles into the hike. It was a cool and beautiful morning!

Junction - North Loop & Teepee Route

At this point, the North Loop Trail is curving outward and to the right. Here, there is a double tree standing near the trail. This is the junction for the turnoff to the Teepee Route.

Robbers' Roost Overlook on Teepee Route

The Teepee Route is used quite often by another club in the Las Vegas area. It's distinction is that the teepee area is used for memorializing hikers that have died while still actively hiking the Las Vegas area.

Teepee

Fletcher Peak from Teepee Route

I hesitated to make this route known to the general public but, at least at this time, there is nothing left there that gives a hint to this place's importance ... except the teepee. And, even the teepee is falling apart. Therefore, I'll resume the hike description. The Teepee Route had a few cairns along it last September but, this year, the cairns are gone. Nevertheless, the trail is still discernible for the most part. (You still have to search for the trail, at times.) The trail begins with a small dip and hill bearing to the right where it crosses a small ravine and climbs the following hill. There is another ravine crossing and hill to climb which brings you to an overlook that hangs above the Robbers' Roost canyon. The trail can be found uphill leading to another dip and climb to an area full of fallen trees. This is where the teepee can be found. It is not far from the edge of Hummingbird Gulch. Now, we turned again toward the uphill to find the trail.

Teepee Ridge

The trail takes you up and into a shallow wash. Follow this wash until the trail leads off to the left. Next, if you look  up, you will see that you are hiking toward Mummy's Toe and the Fletcher Peak Trail Saddle.

Hummingbird Gulch Overlook

The trail becomes quite clear at this point as long as you pass the huge rock outcropping before venturing to the left. Today, we found out the hard way what happens if you turn left before the rock!

Climbing Trail to Fletcher Saddle

A Good Place to Rest

The trail then takes you on a continuous uphill climb toward the saddle. It ends up at the place where Hummingbird Gulch trail also junctions. We had done a little extra climbing today and were quite exhausted with our real adventure into the elevations. Nonetheless, we turned to the left and began our climb to Fletcher Peak. Once we gathered our breath at the saddle junction, the remaining climb didn't seem quite as taxing. There were a few snow patches lying around but they were melting fast. We passed only one hiker who was on his way down. Fletcher Peak was beautiful as always with great views of Charleston Peak, Griffith Peak, Rainbow Saddle and Harris Peak on one side. Mummy Mountain rose on a second side. The desert floor of Three Lakes Valley plus Angel Peak opened out on a third side. Then, the high point of Fletcher Peak (10,273') rose through the trees on the fourth side.

Arriving at the Fletcher Saddle - Charleston Peak in Distance

On Fletcher Peak summit (10,271'), we sat for our snack break, wrote in the log, and took our group photo. It was a much needed rest!

Starting Climb to Fletcher Peak

After our break, we started down from the peak but none of us were looking forward to the climb from the saddle up to the North Loop, the next section of our route.

Snow on Fletcher Peak Trail, Shadow, Berries on Fur Tree, Gray Jay?

Climbing Fletcher Peak

Whew! We skipped down to the saddle then shifted into low gear. The climb was torturous as we dealt with the higher altitude! Regardless, we junctioned with the North Loop and completed the climb up to the High Point Corner at 10,025'. With the exception of a few minimal hills, the remaining sections of the hike were downhill. We started down the twelve switchbacks of the North Loop. This is where we saw a lot of recreational hikers on their way up. (Kudos!) Finally, the twelve switchbacks flowed out to the meadow. We turned left onto the Wild Horse Trail at the huge old bristlecone corner. This trail is in very good condition. It traverses the hillside from the North Loop toward Wild Horse Canyon and Wild Horse Ridge. When we reached the top of Wild Horse Canyon's small switchbacks, we kept going straight instead of turning sharply down to the right.

Rock Outcrops on Fletcher Peak

Fearsome Foursome hanging on Trees

This is a very vague old trail that we used to use to get to Wild Horse Ridge. Nowadays, most hikers descend the little switchbacks and connect with the Cactus Jack Trail to get over to the ridge. In fact the old trail is so vague that we lost it just before heading down the hill. Suffice it to say, the trail should take hikers to near the edge of the hill/cliff then turn right at a 90 degree angle and descend to the top end of Wild Horse Ridge. Today, we never really regained the trail but it didn't really matter. We arrived at the ridge soon enough and started down. Wild Horse Ridge is many people's favorite for a descent in this area. It is a narrow limestone/ dolomite ridge that runs for around a half mile down to Deer Creek Road. No one else was on the ridge at that time.

Climbing Up to Junction with North Loop

We heard a bird making a terrible noise as only Jays can do! There was a possible Gray Jay sitting atop a tree that rose from the ground at the base of the cliff to our left.

North Loop Trail

It had been a tiring hike so when the road started getting closer to our position, I began to feel a bit relieved! My feet were hurting!

Arriving at the North Loop Meadow

Taking the Old Trail to Wild Horse Ridge

We scrambled down the very end of the ridge rock and followed the trail to a turnoff to the right. There appears to be at least three ways to exit from this area. To the left, you can drop down to Cougar Ridge Trail. Straight on, you can drop down to the end of Wild Horse Canyon. Or, you can turn to the right, as we did, and follow the trail down to Wild Horse Canyon before it begins to enter into the narrow portion of the small canyon. We started down the picturesque canyon and passed through the narrows. This comes out onto a small part of the old Deer Creek Road. A left turn on the road takes you within sight of the Cougar Ridge Trailhead. It was a fantastic hike and workout although we need to fix a couple of mistakes we had in the Teepee Route. To be repeated.

Stats: 6 miles; 2150' gain; 5+ hours

Top of Wild Horse Ridge

Wild Horse Ridge

Exiting Wild Horse Canyon