Black & White - 7/17/21

Black Sister

White Sister

Lee Peak from Trailing Ridge

Climbing Elks Club Wash

Two days after Mummy's Toe, we were all feeling a little tired but the weather was right and rain is coming in the next day. So, trying to avoid the Saturday crowds, we headed up to Lee Canyon to climb Black Sister, a very large black rock outcropping that stands at the east end of the Sisters Ridge. Next to the black rock, there is a white rock rise we affectionately call White Sister. Last year, we found a new approach to the ridge that avoided driving out Macks Canyon Road. The trailhead is located on Lee Canyon Road shortly up from the Deer Creek Road junction. A cow grate across the pavement marks the parking area. The Fearsome Foursome parked and headed up the wash that comes in across Lee Canyon Road. Due to a few piles of old evidence, I named this Elks Club Wash.

Connecting with Nutans Road

Mine Ruins

Back in the Elks Club Wash

After Brushy Spot

We climbed the wash until we saw Nutans Road up the bank to the left. Then, we climbed up to the road (narrow single track) and turned to the right to continue climbing until we came to the rock-lined sharp curve to the right. The road continues up to the remains of Ada & Edith's mine where there are still a few remnants lying around. Returning to the sharp curve, we found a trail down and back into the Elks Club Wash. The climb up through the wash zigzags in and out through brushy obstacles but it isn't until the wash takes a curve to the left that the brushy obstacles become a bit of a problem. One option is to climb up to the ridge on the right and continue out the trail to Saddle #1. The other option is to persevere around the brush to where the wash clears out and continue your climb up to the top and Saddle #1.

View from Saddle #1

Approach from Ridge

Mummy's Nose from Saddle #1

Climbing the steep Sister Ridge Approach

While Mike, Ralyn and Rita opted for the ridge, I continued up the wash and reached Saddle #1 a couple of minutes before the rest. We sat in the shade for a minute or two then started up the steep trail that leads to the end of a trailing ridge from Black Sister. Slowly, we climbed, finally reaching the beautiful views (obscured by smokey haze) from the top. Black Sister rose magnificently on the top end of the trailing ridge. Taking our time, we climbed up to the rock where Ralyn and Mike climbed up. Rita and I explored around the opposite side of the rock and took the trail around it to reach White Sister. Ralyn and Mike joined us and we took our break.

South and North Sisters from Trailing Ridge

Climbing trailing Ridge

Ralyn and Mike on Black Sister

Kay, Rita and Ralyn on White Sister

From our perch, we could see almost all the mountain peaks on this side of the Spring Mountains NRA. Lee, Charleston, South Sister, North Sister, Macks, McFarland, Everest, Mummy's Nose and Mummy's Tummy rose around us. A slightly dark cloud floated over us and the sun was unable to scare us off the ridge. But, eventually, we were nudged off the bare ridge just by the dark cloud's presence. We circled around the front side of Black Sister and out the trailing ridge to where we had climbed up. Down, down, down we went following the trail that is sometimes a little unclear. When we got down near the bottom, we veered to the right and headed toward Saddle #2 that sits atop Many Dead Trees Wash.

The Sisters Ridge (Lee Peak - L)

Fearsome Foursome

Steep Descent

Steep Descent (Saddle #1 - L, Saddle #2 - R)

The reason for Rita's name for this wash is obvious. My, my! There are a lot of dead trees in this wash! We dropped down the initial scree and started down a wide gully whose main drainage flowed on the left side. There is a game trail that heads on a traverse to the right but my strategy is to try to stay in the drainage as much as possible. Just like the Elks Club Wash, there are constant brush challenges. It is what I like to call a full body workout! Lots of bending. Lots of short upclimbs and downclimbs. Lots of making sure to not lose the wash. Since this was my fourth time down the wash in a year, I am finally beginning to recognize landmarks as the wash curves around the hill to the left. Finally, a house with a green roof appears up to the left.

Descent from Saddle #2 into Many Dead Trees Wash

Under a Tree

A "New" Dead Tree

Navigating Many Dead Trees Wash

The wash empties out onto Canyons Eye Circle and we quickly crossed it exactly where there is a sign on a big ponderosa saying "Beware of The Dog." This dropped us into a nice pine glade where we picked up some more trash on our way back to the car. Whew! A great workout! Now it can rain! On our way down Lee Canyon, the sky spit at us just a little. I guess that was our 10% chance of rain! Great day!

Stats: 3.5 miles; 1800' gain; 4 hours

Many Dead Trees Wash

Collecting Trash

Crossing location on Canyons Eye Circle