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| Ejection Seat on Ridge |
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| Spring in Callville Wash |
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| Climbing into the Pinnacle Alcove |
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| Steep Drop into alcove Wash |
I've only learned bits and pieces of the airplane wreckage story of Ejection Seat Ridge. It is believed that it occurred in the 1950's. The ejection seat located on top of the ridge is not from the wreckage found in a nearby crevice. The pilot that ejected was not injured and the seat is not located now where he landed. And, the crash is the result of a military jet on a training run. And, the wreckage is in some of the largest pieces of most wreckages in the Lake Mead area. There you have it! That's all I know and the web isn't helping! Maybe your research technique is more productive. At any rate, I have been leading this hike for several years now, and each time, I try to change the traditional route to make the short hike keep folks' interest.
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| Pinnacle Alcove Wash (Pinnacle upper left) |
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| Pinnacle Alcove Wash |
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| Pinnacle Alcove Wash |
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| View back to Rainbow Ridge from hill Climb |
On this hike, I tried two things that were different. One was a new way to get into the wash across the road from the trailhead that leads to the Pinnacle Alcove. I'm not happy with how this went today but here's how it goes. We crossed the road from the parked cars at MM 14.5, walked up the road a little and found a way to climb up on the bank to the left. Here, we walked around a little while we searched the steep slippery berm that drops 30-40' into the large wash below. We decided on the route then very carefully made our way down. There were no extra points for speed! It is not a descent I care to do every time I lead this hike since the usual rating is moderate. (Well, on this particular hike, we had some pretty good hikers.) Anyway, we got into the wash and hiked up about half a mile through the beautiful slot and into the colorful alcove that is crowned by a pinnacle high above. After oohing and aahing for a minute, we returned down the wash to an exit we have used many times in the past. This put us further up the road where we crossed and dove into the wash below. A left turn and staying to the right in the next wash forks, put us up onto the arroyoed terrain above the wash and below Ejection Seat Ridge.
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| Passing UFO Rocks |
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| UFO Rock |
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| Climbing Steep Ridge on Trail |
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| Group at the Ejection Seat |
We climbed up toward the ridge finding game trails to cross to the left with our eyes on rock outcroppings with holes in them. (I call them "UFO Rocks!") Our route crossed beneath the rocks and up to the trailing ridge. Here, there is a trail that leads up the ridge to the top. This part of the trail is steep and narrow. It is a section of the hike where many less experienced hikers shy away. No one was shy today! From this high point of the hike, we continued over to the ejection seat that we could see in the near distance. Photos ensued! The hike continued in the same direction as we took note of the gorgeous scenery to our right. Down a small hill then up a smaller hill, we found a sheep trail that circles to a place above the crevice wash. Down into the crevice wash, we went, to hike through the wreckage of a small jet. Be careful here due to the slippery slope and the sharp aluminum wreckage.
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| Bitter Ridge Limestone Member of the Horse Spring Formation from Ejection Seat Ridge |
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Descending through the somewhat treacherous Airplane Wreckage
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| Tail wing Stabilizer |
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| The Trail to Ridge |
At the bottom of this crevice wash, we continued until we found a cairned trail turning to the left. This trail took us up, down, up, down, etc. to a trailing ridge that normally will lead us down to the Snack Rock. Instead, we continued across the little ridge to descend to a sheep trail we deciphered on the left. Following the trail, we could tell that we weren't the only humans who had been there! It took us over to a saddle rising between two red washes. Next, we turned to the right and began an exploratory descent. There is always that fear that we will come to an unnavigable dryfall but, alas, we did not! This canyon was very nice for a moderate scramble. At the bottom, it flowed flatly out into the main Callville Wash. We stopped for our snack even though it would have been a better place up on the previous saddle! (Truly, I forgot!)
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| Deciphering the Sheep Trail |
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| Sheep Trail comes to a Saddle |
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| Descending an Exploratory Canyon on the right side of Saddle |
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| Exploratory Canyon arrives at Callville Wash |
We turned right to hike up Callville Wash. It wasn't steep so the footing was easy. Soon, we came to the spring area. The sand was wet but we got through without issues as the trail ducked through the acacia foliage. Continuing up the wash, we came to beautiful redstone narrows where there is a small scramble up at the end. Next, we turned to the right to hike over and up to our cars at the trailhead. This rendition of the Ejection Seat Ridge Loop gives us the exploratory canyon / spring section. Good additions! Great group of hikers who were good sports throughout!
Stats: 3.7 miles; 760' gain; 3 hours
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| Spring in the middle of Callville Wash |
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| Emerging from the spring Area |
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| Callville Wash just previous to right turn to Trailhead |
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