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| Approach to Promised Land Climbing Wall |
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| Promised Land Climbing Wall |
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| Wash Trail |
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| Starting up Rocky Gap Road |
Funny thing. Rock climbers just want to climb rocks. Hikers just want to hike. This climbing wall has both. Therefore, the Promised Land wall is a quiet corner of Red Rock, indeed. Yes, that's the big deal for the climbers ... having to hike for 1.5 hours to get to the wall isn't acceptable for some. For hikers, the hike is a little known gem located inside the La Madre Wilderness. When four of us were there, we had the whole amphitheater of cliffs to ourselves. Serendipity!
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| Abandoned Road |
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| Road / Trail Junction (Snoopy's Nose - Top L) |
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| Trail climbing over Rock Outcrop |
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| Drop into Wash |
We began the hike early in the cool morning at Willow Springs Picnic Area Trailhead. There were only 3 cars in the parking lot. We hiked up Rocky Gap Road, dipped through that first wash and passed the La Madre sign on the right. After a mere half mile, we found the obscure trail to the right. Sometimes, there are cairns here. The trail led into an old 2-track dirt road that is little more than a hiking trail now. Continuing up the wide open wilderness for another 0.7 mile, we came to a fork. The road continues up to the left and our route veered to the right on a trail. This is a climbers' trail - small with little indicators to suggest the correct path. It leads up and over a jutting rock outcrop and drops down to wiggle around looking for the drop into the wash.
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| Old Growth in Wash |
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| Trail through Wash |
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| Wash & Promised Land at Top Left |
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| Climbing the Wash |
If you have read the trail correctly, you should drop into the wash at a cairned junction, ending just downstream of a log jam. Take the trail that leads up past the log jam and you are on your way. The worn trail is peppered with small cairns. At this time, it isn't difficult to follow. There is a lot of scrambling in the form of class 2. Perhaps one or two instances of class 2.5. The wash is beautiful in its own way with old growth trees and brush. But, the most spectacular are the views of the cliff bands ahead and the White Rock Hills behind. The Promised Land climbing wall can be seen peeking out from around a corner in the cliffs but it is only a small portion of the amphitheater that the cliffs make.
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| "Balance Beam" in Wash |
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| "Split Rock" in Wash |
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| Trail in Worn Gravel |
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| Janet enjoys her Break |
We followed the worn trail easily while we enjoyed the scrambling and the scenery around us. Snoopy's Nose rose high above to our left. As we neared the cliffs, we could see the Indian Chief shape (with a lot of imagination) in the cliffs on the left. Before we reached the monstrous alcove, we passed pinnacles on the right and a cave. The first time we hiked this trail, we climbed up to this cave and took a peek inside. It is difficult to get to but fun to imagine who could have lived there. Also on our first hike here, we explored the left side of the alcove and found it to be quite brushy. There is a chute, or doorway, on that side that could be used to scramble up to the next cliff band.
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| Rita and Kay in front of the Indian Chief Rock |
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| Rita demonstrates a Scramble |
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| Pinacles and Cave |
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| View back from near Wall |
This time, we wanted to reach the climbing wall base and found that a short left turn and a right turn in the wash conglomeration is necessary. Unfortunately, we made our approach differently and ended up climbing up an old previously cairned trail through some brush. Coming out of the brush, we were at the bottom of a smooth tri-level water slide. The water slide was a nice subject for photos as seen in the second photo of the entry and in the group photo below. We climbed on up to that tree you see in the background and took our break. The Promised Land, although presumptive, seemed like an apt name for this earthly endeavor.
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| Tenacious Trio almost There |
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| Double Trouble enjoying the View |
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| Rope on Wall |
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| Enjoying the Promised Land |
We saw the climbing routes on the wall above. Anchors were stringed up the limestone. Is that allowed in a wilderness setting? There was also an anchored rope hanging on the side wall here. Rumor has it that Alex likes to climb here but I'm sure he knows the rules for wilderness climbing so .... Just sayin'. Anywho, we sat for our break in the magnificent cliffs of the La Madre Wilderness. Finally, we gathered our stuff and started down. This time, we used the wash next to the northeast wall to descend. This was definitely the correct way! At the bottom of this arm of the wash, we dipped through the main wash, turned left, left and right to get back into the main wash for the descent. It is cairned. We just read it wrong on the ascent.
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| Starting down the Wash |
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| Wash Trail - White Rock Hills in Background |
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| Scrambling Down |
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| Wash Trail |
Following the wash trail down was just as easy as it was on the way up. The scrambles were fun and we took our time. Down through the main wash. Junction with the climb out. (Remember the log jam landmark?) Follow the climbers' trail up and over the rock outcrop. Junction with the old abandoned road. Junction with Rocky Gap Road. And, oh, there are the people! Down Rocky Gap Road and into the packed full parking lot at Willow Springs Picnic Area Trailhead. We had had such a wonderfully quiet morning that we almost forgot we were in the middle of a bustling tourist attraction! This is a really nice "new" scramble!
Stats: 4.6 miles; 1500' gain; 4.25 hours
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| Steep Scramble |
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| Nearing Climb out of Wash |
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| Trail over Rock Outcrop |
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