Bighorn Butte Bypass - 12/13/21

Bighorn Butte Ridge above Colorful Terrain

Interesting Geology

Red Terrain at High Point

Hiking in the Wide Wash

Last year, Rita and I scoped out an interesting route into the hills from Long View Trailhead on Lakeshore Road. It brought the attention of Chuck H., a well-known Lake Mead hiker (aka A. Hiker) so, today, the Six with Sticks plus A. Hiker went out to see if we could duplicate the route. Of course, Chuck knew about 70% of the terrain but he really liked how we had put it all together. So, welcoming back travelers Jerry, Cheryl and Rita, we crossed Lakeshore Road, stepped over the tortoise fence and dropped into the wide wash on a convenient mosaic cement drain. A vague trail took us into the middle of the wash and we hiked across and up to a large crumbled white boulder that at one point had broken off the north side. 

Wardrobe Change at Road Saddle

First Climb to Ridge

Tough Section behind Us

Following Sheep Trails along Ridge

Here, there is an old road used to build the power lines. We hiked up the road to the saddle on the ridge and, already, needed to make a wardrobe change. It was a very cold day but the sun was arriving fast. We turned left and began our main ascent of the day. We climbed to the top of the initial ridge peak and started following a game trail seen among the rocks. After another couple of little rises, we followed a trail that headed around the next peak to the right. The game trails are very rocky and must be taken at a slow pace. We circled around the peak on a long curve and passed the next smaller peak on the same trail. At this next saddle, the game trail changed sides and circled around the left side of the peak in front of us.

Entering Colorful Section

Death Valley Colors

Passing Beacon Junior

Climbing past Catclaw Bushes

 This is a scary section that takes caution and care. Jerry and Cheryl tried going up and over the peak in front of us but it was not a route for us regular hikers due to the drop off on the other side. At the next saddle, the game trail circles around on the right side of the ridge again. Next, it begins a gentle drop down to a white smooth rock surface at the base of the Bighorn Butte ridge. Here, the trail is easily followed to a deep wash staying above it. Chuck suggests to make your way into the wash and enjoy a small slot that we circumvented around the corner. The route then goes into the beautiful "Death Valley-like" scenery, past a junior beacon, and up, over and around arroyos following game trails that were mostly apparent. 

More Color

Following Wash

Overlook

Scramble Up

Following the nearby wash at one point, we headed in a straightish southern trajectory until we reached a high point and dropped into a main wash or two on the other side. This main wash is the exit wash, however, first, we continued up the main wash to a smaller wash on the right side landmarked by a large cube-ish boulder by itself on the right. Before we headed up, we showed Jerry and Cheryl the challenging canyon at the end. They optimistically scampered up (for the record, it was my idea) and we left to do the easier wash. At the top, we never saw the two strong and knowledgable hikers but did receive a text from them saying they had gotten cliffed out. 😑 With phone service at the bottom of the slot, they called us and we arranged a meeting. 

Jerry & Cheryl climb into the Tough Canyon

The Easier Canyon

Top of Easier Canyon

Bighorn Head

We had had our break at the top, observed two bighorns stand at the ridge and change their minds about coming down to our canyon, and started down the beautiful easier canyon. At the bottom, we met up with J&C and we all started down the exit wash. The first scramble in this canyon is the best. The next two or three scrambles have go arounds. When we saw the column that houses the arch, we knew we had made it past the really fun stuff. We made our group photo here through the arch and continued down the widening wash. It wasn't long before we could see that scary part of the ridge game trail high above us to the left. Next, we enjoyed a rock formation up to our right. (Man lying down with some kind of head gear on!)

Nevermind.

Starting down the Exit Wash

Nice Scramble

A Scramble Go Around

The wide wash curves right and left before it spills out onto a wide flattened expanse toward an arm of Lake Mead. We stepped up the pace challenging Chuck's well-known fast legs! We found the trail to the drainage, climbed up and stepped over the tortoise fence. Hiking into the trailhead parking lot, we had shortened the time on the hike from last year by twenty minutes. This is a challenging hike for people with exposure issues, otherwise, it is beautiful and fun! Happy trails, Chuck!

Stats: 6.5 miles; 1225' gain; 4.75 hours

Column with Arch Ahead

Seven A-Restin' at the Arch

Curve in the Exit Wash