Meditation Point (10/5/23) & Cottonwood Overlook (10/9/23)

South end of Red Rock Escarpment from Cottonwood Overlook

Cottonwood Overlook from Meditation Point ascent Ridge

Meditation Point (L) and Ascent Ridge from Cottonwood Overlook

West view from Carabiners Trail

Hikers start up the Carabiners Trail

The land where this hike is located is found mostly within the boundaries of the Red Rock Canyon NCA. The other part of the hike is located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. That said, there are several "No Trespassing" and "Private Property" signs found along the Potosi Mountain Road that indicate otherwise. Although I and several others have tried to find out what the deal really is, I will put this hike out there and ask you to hike at your own risk. Since the former Boy Scout Camp land is somewhat in limbo right now, I am hoping that this hike is okay ... for now. The status of this land is unknown. I understand that the residents along the Potosi Mountain Road do not want the dust / noise producing off-roading action that the road attracts and, perhaps, this is why the over-abundance of signs in the area. On the other hand, hikers are usually quiet and respectful of residents' considerations. This is such a beautiful place to hike and the Boy Scouts made wonderful trails to explore, we would really hate for the trails to go back to overgrown plants and rocks. Mike did a little research and found an old article about the land that formerly belonged to the BSA. https://www.reviewjournal.com/homes/real-estate-millions/boy-scouts-camp-in-mount-potosi-marketed-for-future-luxury-development-1842774/ (Does anyone have $90 million that we can have to buy this land?)

Based on our readings of topo maps, it appears, at least, that there are no private property lines until the road reaches the pond and old camp buildings. The Cottonwood Overlook Loop hike brings hikers back down to Potosi Mtn. Road just before the pond on a telephone pole road. If, indeed, we are translating these things incorrectly, please contact someone in the Around the Bend Friends hiking club to make it clear. They will know how to contact me. One thing is for sure. In the direction that we hiked this loop, we never passed any signs that said No Trespassing that were facing us. I hope this area is open for hiking. And, I'm really not trying to open a can of worms.

An exposed section of the Carabiners Trail

Closing in on the Cliffs

Hikers from both hikes on the Carabiners Trail

Ralph takes a look at the Cliffs

So, this entry is the compilation of two different hikes to the same destinations. On the first hike, Laszlo showed us the Carabiner Trail that leads up from the trailhead at the junction of Potosi Mountain Road and SR 160. It is a steep trail with small switchbacks that climbs up the hill to various climbing walls rising on the hillside. There are a few cairns but the trail is clear with the exceptions of a couple of junctions. Laszlo has such a strong climbing capability that the seven hikers were not able to take enough notes of the landmarks during the fast ascent. Therefore, three days later, a different seven hikers repeated the climb using our GPS tracks to help us. Both hikes were super fun! 

Arriving at the first large Trail Sign

Cliff Shadows

Switchbacking at the Fortress Trail Sign

Hiking through an old Rockfall 

On the first hike, we climbed up the steep rock climbers' trail. This trail has a little class 2 scrambling, passes walls filled with rock climbing anchors, and zigzags its way up past several rock climbers' spur trails. We climbed ~750' in ~0.7 mile ... but it was interesting all the way up! At this point, we arrived at a large trail sign put there by the BSA. It was a surprise! We didn't expect to see such nice woodwork here on the middle of the mountain! RRCNCA needs more of this nice woodwork! (Oh, yeah. BLM land.) Anyway, a nicely made BSA trail switchbacks right there at the sign and we joined onto the upper trail of the switchback and continued up. This was a welcome, more gentler trail that continued a half mile until another switchback appeared. This corner has a less used trail that continues straight but we took the left turn and a sign told us we were now on the Fortress Trail. The Fortress Trail continues straight until you find yourself just below a saddle on a rocky ridge. On the first hike, we turned right to climb up to the saddle.

Taking a small break on the Fortress Trail

Climb to the Saddle during First Hike

I watched as my friends hiked above the cliffs.

Laszlo says, "Hi!"

We turned to the right and began a somewhat knife-edge ascent above very high cliffs. The fearless group ... minus me ... , followed Laszlo up the rocky terrain then hooked around to the left to climb up to Meditation Point. The climb from the saddle was another ~750' in half a mile. (I went back to the saddle and followed the continuation of the trail to Cottonwood Overlook. From my seat at the summit cairn, I watched some of the group's progress on Meditation Point.) The group reported that the views were outstanding but it was a tough climb along with the scary exposure. I took several photos from Cottonwood Overlook as the group made their way back down to the saddle and I met them there. Next, all seven of us returned down the BSA trail and the Carabiner Trail to the cars. Wow!

Starting down from the top of the Ridge Descent

The Summit and the Descent

Climbing up to Cottonwood Overlook on the second Hike

Taking our break on Cottonwood Overlook

Curiosity got the better of me and we decided to return to the scene of the crime three days later. But, this time, the whole group was going only to Cottonwood Overlook and would explore the nice lower BSA trail on the descent. Again, seven of us, parked at the same trailhead and climbed up the Carabiner Trail. I got several more photos of this climb since I was in the lead and set the pace! I missed one turn and, with the help of my friends' other tracks, had to backtrack then settled on the next turn. We approached that large trail sign from a slightly different direction but it was a good route. The following part of the hike to the overlook was clear and we spent a nice break at the Cottonwood Overlook summit. After a tiny exploration at the top, we started down the trail to the large sign, took the sharp left turn and continued down the new territory of the BSA trail. This stretch of the trail was beautiful and easy to negotiate. We were aware that there is a "Highline Trail" that ran parallel to ours on the cliffs above. That exploration will be next. Another large wooden trail sign lay on the side of the trail where the Highline Trail junctions. About a mile from the original wooden sign, we came to the pond overlook where we found the telephone pole road clearing out the terrain below us. Although the BSA trail continues straight into the assumably private property, we took a sharp turn to the right onto the pole road and headed straight down to the Potosi Mountain Road.

Cottonwood Overlook Cairn

Views from Cottonwood Overlook

Signs and other interesting Stuff

Descending Cottonwood Overlook

The pole road offered few obstacles until we reached the well-graded road below. We turned right and realized that, at least today, this was a fairly well-travelled road. Make sure you have your buffs handy to cover your nose because there is a lot of dirt and dust flying around for the remaining 0.9 miles of the hike back to the cars. We did that mile at a pace of 3 mph! We had a great hike! Also, a note, the Carabiner Trail is in the shade for most of the morning. 

Stats: Cottonwood Overlook Loop: 4.8 miles; 1200'                       gain; 3.75 hours

          Meditation Point O&B: 3.8 miles; 2000' gain;                       3.5 hours

Hiking at base of Cliffs on Loop Hike

View to the West on Loop Hike

Trailhead on Out 'n' Back Hike

Returning down the "Exposed" area on Out 'n' Back Hike

Elevation Graph of Out 'n' Back Hike up to half of Ascent Ridge to Meditation Point

Out 'n' Back Hike to Meditaion Point - Spur to Cottonwood Overlook

Loop Hike to Cottonwood Overlook