Anniversary Narrows Loop - 2/6/23

Entering Anniversary Narrows

Anniversary Narrows

Scenery from Crossover

Hiking the Crossover

The old mine in Lovell Wash was part of the Anniversary Mine and was named Ore Car Mine. The original Anniversary Mine was actually at a different place down Callville Wash near Callville Bay and Lake Mead. Anyway, the Ore Car Mine, was started by two guys from St. Thomas. Perhaps named for the rail cars they used to transport the ore they mined through the small tunnels up on the hillside as you twist through the narrow and highly finned section of Lovell Wash below.  Anniversary Mine produced workhorse minerals such as celestine, colemanite, dolomite, gypsum, halite and Ulexite. Whereas, the Ore Car Mine produced much more interesting things like uranium, beryllium, copper, gold, feldspar, mica and silica, in addition to the above minerals of the Anniversary Mine extension.

Scenery from the Crossover

View down to Rainbow Canyon

Excursion to Rainbow Canyon Mine

Lovell Wash

  Borate minerals are known to occur in several locations in Nevada and discoveries of "cottonball" borate (ulexite) in the state in 1870 predate discovery of similar deposits in Death Valley, CA by about three years.

 The largest borate deposits in Nevada are in the Muddy Mountains of Clark County. Borax has traditionally been used for household soaps and detergents, but industrial uses, such as heat resistant glass used in kitchen utensils and automobile headlights, now account for most of its consumption.

   Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area (Expanded Edition with GPS Coordinates), Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16, University of Nevada, Reno, Mackay School of Earth Sciences, 2008, Bear Printing, Sparks, NV; page 69.

Walls of Lovell Wash

Lovell Wash Mineral Veins and Ripple Rock

Janet's Happy!

Veins on side of Lovell Wash

Suffice it to say, this area, known as Anniversary Mine is full of geologic wonders that bring colors and textures to life here in the desert. Sixteen hikers parked at Northshore Road's mile marker 16 and began our hike by climbing over the berm and crossing over the desert until we dropped into Lovell Wash. Our first side excursion turned left into Rainbow Canyon to enjoy the colors and take a peek at the old mine shaft.

Lovell Wash

Entering Anniversary Mine Area

Hikers going through old Mine Car Tunnels

Club Members entering Narrows

Back in wide Lovell Wash, named for one of those two guys from St. Thomas (Lovell and Hartman), we hiked up the very gentle slope through walls with colorful veins streaking down and across. As far as my research would take me, the green streaks are simply called greenstone, or green sandstone! As we neared the mine, we passed the mine road coming in on the right and saw where the road continued on up to where the miners camped at the time. The ruins of the camp were destroyed by the most recent mine owners. We didn't see any mining equipment nor any evidence at all of these most recent owners. Maybe they're done? The wash narrowed and took a sharp turn or two where layers of the geology protruded through the ground. Up above this turn, some of the hikers climbed up to explore the old trail that leads through two short tunnels. The trail is precarious in a couple of spots but it is interesting to hike where the old ore cars used to roll. After this wiggle in the wash, it widens again until you are met with a very large entrance to a gorgeous slot canyon, one of Clark County's best geological attractions. Today was very exciting since there were several new club members that were entering these walls for the very first time.

Fearsome Foursome enjoying the Club Hike

Ralyn captured Upper Narrows Photos

Curtains!

Narrows Formations

Anniversary Narrows is the most beautiful slot canyon that I have ever been in by far. (But, maybe I'm prejudiced!) It pained me to have to turn around at the new scramble (the knee); added just a few years ago by flooding. But, I took the time as most of the others continued up the slot to take more photos. Ralyn took a few up canyon as the others explored. Me and four others took our break outside the entrance enjoying the sun. When the rest of the group returned, all smiles, we started down the wash just a little way then, at John W.'s encouragement, I took the lead and hiked up the Backdoor Canyon. The group seemed to really enjoy the scramble surprise and we reached the saddle for a rest before heading down the wash on the other side.

Narrows Entrance

Entrance to Backdoor Canyon Wash

Last Climb up to Backdoor Saddle

Backdoor Saddle

The wash brings you down to a cleared area where we, again, saw absolutely no evidence of continued mining. At the bottom of the wash area, we looked down and saw an upcropping (bubbled translucent rock) of ulexite! Wow! Cool! We could see our target in the distance over the desert of a dark colored outcropping. This target simply gives you a direction to hike. We dropped down the other side of the road berm onto a dirt road, turned right and continued all the way down the intermediate ridge until we found our way down into the main wash at the bottom. The drop is accomplished down a trail along a ridge. Not too bad. Our next landmark was a pointy mountain but first we had to snake through that main wash.

Descending wash from Backdoor

Dropping into next Wash

Hiking out Wash to Home Stretch Ridge

Interesting Pass

The wash led us down for about a quarter mile until we saw our escape trail, washed out a bit from recent rains, heading up the hill on the left. We climbed up to the top of the ridge that comes from the base of that pointy mountain, turned right and followed the ridge until you have no ridge left! We had seen the red wall landmark in the distance and headed for that through the wash. At the red wall, the wash turns to the right and soon you are turning left onto the Anniversary Mine Road. As it turned out, the Backdoor Route is very slightly shorter than if we had taken the Anniversary Mine Road all the way back from Lovell Wash. It was a great hike and thanks to John for coordinating it. This area, from Northshore Road MM 13 through MM 20.5 is filled with hikes and things to see. We all enjoyed the day!

Stats: 6.2 miles; 900' gain; 4 hours

Near Climb out Trail

Home Stretch Ridge to Landmark Red Wall

Almost out to the Road - Janet's still happy!