Wallace Canyon Work in Progress - 7/28/22

Sitting on the Middle Ridge of Wallace Canyon

Wallace Canyon beyond Deadwood

Starting out Upper Bristlecone Trail in Morning

Damp Upper Bristlecone Trail

This hike isn't meant to be a "completed hike." In other words, this hike was put together "on the fly" with questions and previous experiences in use. Three of us set out on a questionable weather day for a short hike from the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead. There had been monsoonal rain in the mountains for the last two weeks so the air was fresh and the forest floor was matted down. We were the only hikers on our trail even though there were a couple of cars in the parking lot when we left. We hiked up the trail for a mile noticing that the wilderness people had torn apart at least one of the huge log teepees and used the logs for blocking use trails that headed up onto the ski slopes. After one mile, we rounded the curve feeling good and turned left onto the No Name Trail. About a quarter mile up from this junction, Wallace Canyon Trail veers up to the left. This trail had also been blocked by limbs. Most likely, this trail was blocked to indicate that the No Name Trail continues straight. We stepped over the blockage and started a formidable short climb. After the main part of the climb, the trail curved to the right and led an ascending traverse over to Wallace Saddle, a bare area. On the other side of the saddle is Wallace Canyon.

Wallace Saddle

Mt. Clinton, Split Rock and Middle Ridge (below) from Wallace Canyon Saddle

Pahrump, Nevada from Game Trail

Following Game Trail below Cliffs

Wallace Canyon is known to local hikers because of a plane crash that happened there in 1978. The airplane stayed in almost one piece and the site became a nice hiking destination until the wilderness folks decided to take the plane out before the 50 year deadline to remove "artifacts." We still visit the site and have continued the game trail all the way out to Split Rock where a view of Pahrump can be enjoyed. Stepping over the saddle, on a whim, I turned to Rita and Ralyn and asked if they were in the mood for an exploratory. Met with large smiles, I started down the trail on the right side and kept going. I've always wondered what the heck was out there! The trail became a vague horse trail with tracks showing clearly in the soft dirt and rocks.

Among Old Bristlecones

Wallace Canyon from Game Trail below Cliffs

Rocketship Peak from Game Trail

Three Belles Exploring

As we followed the trail, we saw exactly three small cairns that were all in the same locale of the photo to the left. It was a pretty place. We continued following the "trail" as it led below the cliffs up to the right. The terrain became steeper and steeper so we gave up our curiosities and started back. On the way out, we had noticed a bare saddle down on the left side that looked interesting. So we made our way back to the saddle and, on the way, we saw that there was a middle ridge of Wallace Canyon that we had never really noticed. From the other side of the canyon where the crash site was located, the small middle ridge appeared as just a small rise before you reached the bottom of the very deep canyon. From our new viewpoint, we saw that the ridge is almost complete in and of itself however small. We passed through the saddle (covered with horse manure) and climbed the short rise of the rocky ridge. 

Rita below the Cliffs

Following Game Trail on Steep Terrain

Returning to Bare Saddle

Bare Saddle with Middle Ridge Behind

At the top, we looked over the edge of a very high crumbly looking cliff. The high cliff was a large outcropping that we had seen from across the way. The outcropping was located at the top end of the middle ridge as the remaining part of the ridge dropped slowly down to the right. We explored this area for photos and after taking our break, we returned easily to the Wallace Saddle on a convenient horse trail and decided to find another horse trail that Lettie took us on a few times. This horse trail traverses between the Wallace Saddle and the No Name Saddle around the 10,000' High Point Peak above. 

View over edge of Middle Ridge Outcrop

Side of Middle Ridge

Deep Wallace Canyon from Middle Ridge

Bristlecone Love

It had been a long while since I had hiked this trail so I had no landmarks per se. Therefore, we followed the horse prints as best we could and ended up on the No Name Trail a short distance down from the Saddle. We climbed up to the saddle and took a breath then turned around and started down. We descended No Name Trail and Upper Bristlecone Trail easily, excited about our adventure. The weather was beautiful with no raindrops! In the future, we hope to expand on this hike staying longer in Wallace Canyon. We would also like to perfect the horse trail traverse over to No Name so that we come out right at the saddle. In spite of all the tracks, we did not come across any horses! But the evidence is clear ... they still come around. Great day in the fresh air!

Stats: 4.3 miles; 1300' gain; 3.75 hours

Scenes from the Horse Trail Traverse

South Sister from No Name Saddle

Descent on No Name Trail (Lee Peak above)