Krafft Mountain Loop Exploratory - 4/7/13

                   Turtlehead Peak from the West Side of Krafft Mountain

                    Gateway Canyon from North Side of Krafft Mountain

 It was "Anything Goes Sunday with Lettie" today as ten hikers participated in an exploratory hike on the northwest side of Krafft Mountain. We parked in the Calico Basin dirt parking lot and hiked up 5 Stop Hill. When we arrived at the top, an old friend was waiting for us on the saddle. Moving on in separate directions, we then headed up the side of Krafft Mountain. Not really having a route planned out, we began traversing the side of the rocky peak while looking for a particular familiar rock outcropping.

                                           Climbing Five Stop Hill

                                       Krafft Mountain Explorations

 Our explorations then took us east to a very interesting slot canyon with a steep slope. A large boulder blocked the water flume and two waterfalls followed afterwards. Two hikers decided to slither under the boulder and see if the waterfalls were negotiable. As it turned out, the first one was but the second was a little too much to handle while needing the assistance of a rope. So, we returned and we all found another way down into Gateway Canyon. Upon reaching the gravelled wash, we took our snack break just above the polka dotted swirlydo. (Don't know what else to call it!)

                             Exploring Waterfall Slot on Krafft Mountain

                               Arriving in Gateway Canyon the First Time

 After our break, we hiked down canyon just a short distance then headed up the side of Krafft Mountain again. This time, we were on a trail. This is the trail that is used when there is water in the canyon below and the only way to travel through Gateway without getting wet is to take this route. We completed the route climbing down into the wash for the second time junctioning not too far above the last big obstacle seen two photos below.

                   Hiking the Higher Trail That Bypasses Gateway Canyon

                  The Final Big Obstacle Has Filled with Sand & Stone

 We completed the hike by walking out the canyon and onto the trail that climbs gently out of the wash to the right. Circling around the south side of Krafft Mountain, we passed by many younger folks practicing their skills on the climbing rocks in the area. From here, the sandy trails led us back to the cars.

Totals: Almost 4 miles; 4 hours (due to a long delay in the waterfall slot); and 912 feet in elevation gain. Oh, and lots and lots of fun!

                                             Nearing the Exit Trail

                           Beavertail & Hedgehog Cacti Were Blooming

                         Comparative Study on Krafft Mountain Explorations

Two Peaks & an Arch in the Calico Hills - 4/6/13

                            Scrambling Down in the Northern Calico Hills

                View of the Las Vegas Strip From the Northern Calico Hills

 The hike today was advertised as a simple three mile scramble in the northern Calico Hills. Fifteen hikers arrived for what became a four mile adventure scramble starting from the Sandstone Quarry parking lot off of the scenic loop at Red Rock Canyon NCA. We just didn't want to stop! The weather was fantastic for hiking and we were in our favorite scrambling location. Why not get our 13 miles of good out of it? (Explanation: We had to drive the 13 mile scenic loop for this hike today!)

                           Nope! The Redbuds Are Not Yet Blooming Here!

The first order of business was a visit to the arch hidden within the white sandstone hills behind the quarry. Upon getting there, we took our photos, backtracked a little and climbed over the adjacent sandstone to arrive on the Calico Tanks Trail.

                                Detouring Off of the Calico Tanks Trail

 On the way down, one hiker was attacked by an agave so we bandaged him up and crossed the trail to detour onto the sandstone rock paralleling the trail. Soon, we were merging with the trail and began climbing the steps that were built a very long time ago for trail users. At the main tank, we observed that the water is so low that you can now hike across beside the tank. Here, we took a right turn up the hill and found our crack wash that would lead up to the Calico II Overlook Peak. One by one, we tackled the slanted entrance rock, each with no problems.

                                          Calico II Overlook Peak

We took our break (which seemed too soon) on top of the peak next to two dry tanks and one with very little water. The view was relaxing and we talked a lot. We promised that someday we would explore the yellow sandstone that we could see below us. 

                                     Testing! Testing! One, Two, Three!

After the break, we headed down the other side of the peak where we had some scrambling and brush encounters. We were working our way northwest on the ridge. Passing a few tanks with very little water left in them, we enjoyed an expansive sandstone shelf. The route continued down off of the end of the shelf and crossed over to the Calico Tanks Trail near the Sitting Hen Rock. Across the way up above, we saw Duck Rock. ... It was a fun morning!

                                  This is Kind of Steep! Is it Tuesday?

When we got down to Mass Production Wall that junctions with the trail, we took a poll. Who doesn't want to do Red Cap? Hmmm ... well, if you put it that way ....

                                          Announcing Mr. Stephen!

 So, all fifteen hikers took the plunge ... or, well, the very steep ascent up next to the wall. This was the direct way up to Red Cap. Our plan was to reverse the direction of the usual Red Cap hike. The climb cleared our lungs and arteries as we made the ascent with only one substantial rest break. After another rest at the tank level, we continued up, carefully, to the minor peak of Red Cap (aka Turtlehead Junior). There were several newbies on the top and smiles were seen all around. Stories about the history of the club were told during this second substantial break.

                                        Descending Off of the Red

 Our descent route was the regular ascent route for the Red Cap hike. 

                           An Admittedly Awkward Place on the Descent

Having not done the hike in this direction before, there were a few places where we had to stop, look and listen before proceeding. We made it down perfectly with the hardest part being the very steep part as seen to the left. The slot and chute as seen in the two photos below were the last of the descent then we found our way back to the Calico Tanks Trail where we hiked back to our cars.

The totals for this hike: 4 miles, 3.75 hours,  1220 feet of total elevation gain, and, fun, fun, fun!

                                                     Squeeze Me!

                              The Final Down Chute and It's Home Free

Rubber Ducky Yucca - 4/3/13

                                                    Purple Ducky

                             Rubber Ducky Yucca Brevia (Joshua Tree)

 Sixteen hikers enjoyed the beautiful warm weather in Cottonwood Valley of Red Rock Canyon NCA this morning on a seven mile loop. We began at the Late Night Trailhead paved parking area off of Highway 160 in the southern part of the park. Utilizing some of the numerous bike trails in the valley, we worked our way north parallel to the escarpment. Joshua trees and mojave yuccas were still showing off their blooms and a jack rabbit (seen below) popped out of his hidey hole right after the majority of the group passed by.

                              Two Photos of Jack Rabbit Superimposed

                    Blooming Joshua Tree in Front of Red Rock Escarpment

 Reaching the corner of the Black Velvet dirt road, we crossed the fence and hiked up to a place where we could overlook part of Bonnie Springs in the distance. We turned to our right and hiked at the base of some large limestone hills. These hills were made from landslides that came off of the escarpment millions of years ago. We took our snack break on some rocks among colorful spring flowers then continued around the hills and came to one of Cottonwood Valley's main washes.

                                Spring Flowers in Cottonwood Valley

                                          Nearing Snack Break Area

We crossed the wash (seen to the left) and began working our way back in the direction of the cars. About a mile before the end of the loop, we found the Rubber Ducky Yucca as advertised. The joshua tree is covered with rubber ducks that hikers and bikers have placed there over the years. We placed our own ducks there and took several photos. This would be a great place to take your kids due to the minimal elevation gain and short distance from the trailhead. We finished our loop in a little more than three hours but if you wanted to hike in to the adorned tree straight from the trailhead, it would take a lot less time.

                                     Chris Hangs Our Rubber Duckies

                                        Globemallow and Limestone