Redstone Discovery - 12/8/14

Redstone

Redstone Area

Hiking Out the Wash

 In the Lake Mead NRA, red rock tends to be referred to as redstone. There is one particular area off of Northshore Road around the 25 through 28 mile marker that holds a large area of redstone on the lake side of the highway. Within this area, there are several petroglyph panels and many arches and windows. It is also home to bighorn sheep, coyotes, rodents and various predatory birds. For our hike into the redstone, today, thirteen hikers began at the 25.5 mile marker pull out.

Eagle Rock through Arch

Scrambling through Redstone

Climbing Up to the Eagle Rock Shelf

 We hiked up a wash and soon came to our first point of interest, a large grouping of petrified wood. We hiked on up the wash and saw Eagle Rock off to our left. We made our way over to the rock formation and climbed up to the shelf above. It was clear that the bighorns stabled here quite often. They probably feel safe up here on the rocks where they can see for great distances in many directions.

Exiting a Slot

Redstone Formation

Crossing a Plateau

 The route then led us over a plateau and into a larger grouping of redstone. The next point of interest was the Brain Coral Arch. There is a photo further down in this entry. There were many arches, windows and mini-caves everywhere. It was fun to do the easy scrambling that this hike offers. We also went through at least three different slots, the last one being the most narrow.

Having Fun

Redstone Hiking

 Other points of interest that we passed by during the hike included a broken and empty desert tortoise shell and a pack rat nest that was full of ... well, pack rat stuff. We also passed by a marked archeological site where the early natives sat and sharpened blades and arrowheads. Pieces of the blades have been found here.

Entering a Slot

Petroglyphs

Brain Coral Arch

 Next, we made our way down into the area where there are several very nice petroglyph panels. Who knows what they mean but it gave us a somewhat reverent feeling as we sat among the drawings. Petroglyph sites are spiritual and sacred to native Americans. It is important to respect their ancestral remembrances. Even touching the markings will do them harm.

Snack Break

Passing a Few Petroglyphs

Heading Over to the Exit Wash

 After our break, we hiked up through that very narrow slot and on up to another plateau. From there, we dropped down into a wash that holds a few more petroglyph sites. For the most part, these panels held drawings of bighorns and men or squiggly lines, etc. But, in one panel of the wash, there is a pi symbol. Anyway, we continued dropping down through the scrambling wash then climbed out to our right onto the last plateau.

Petroglyph Panel

Redstone View

Book End Rocks

 As we climbed out of the wash, we passed "the bookends," a pair of rocks that have been sliced vertically as seen to the left. We hiked on down the desert ridge until we could see the road and the wash that we needed to be in to get to our cars. It was a fine Chuck and Joan type morning!

4.5 miles; 650 feet elevation gain; 3.5 hours

Ridge Back to Road

Almost Back to Cars

Historic Railroad Tunnels, Hoover Dam & O'Callaghan-Tillman Bridge - 12/6/14

One of Five Historic Railroad Tunnels

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam & Bridge Peak framed by O'Callaghan-Tillman Bridge

 We were all in good spirits as sixteen hikers set out for a 9-mile trek through the Historic Railroad Tunnels, over and back Hoover Dam and, over and back the O'Callaghan-Tillman Bridge. The trailhead is located in the Lake Mead NRA near the Alan Bible Visitor Center off of Highway 93. We started out on the tunnels trail which was used for the railroad that carried workers and equipment to and from the dam construction site out of Boulder City, Nevada back in the early 1930's.

Beautiful Morning on the Railroad Trail

 The flat trail no longer has its rails and is easy walking along Lake Mead above the marina below.

Morning Fog over Lake Mead

 Five huge tunnels were dug through the mountains between Boulder City and the Black Canyon that now holds Hoover Dam. Each tunnel is not long in length and we exited the fifth tunnel after around 2.5 miles. The morning fog over Lake Mead and the Muddy Mountains beyond gave the view an eerie feeling. We made quick work of the two miles and stopped at the restrooms located at the end of the fifth tunnel.

Tunnel Number Three

 The brittle bushes and creosote were very green after the recent rains and a few of them were blooming ... in December!

Brittle Bush in Bloom

 After our break at the restroom, we hiked on up and down along the old train path then turned left into the bone yard area where old dam parts are put to rest. There is also a large helipad located here. We hiked around the bone yard and dropped down to the grid area. The route goes right between two huge electric grids that emanate from the dam.

Heading Towards the Bone Yard

 All around us, there are signs saying to stay on the trail. We could almost feel the unseen watchful eyes of security personnel located ... just about everywhere.

Electricity

After hiking through the grids, we dropped down the ramp to the upper (5th floor) parking deck and walked across to the elevators and steps. Most of us took the steps down to the dam level. Here, we walked across the dam and back taking in all the views and information signs. Some interpretive work was being done by our coordinator du jour, Chris. All the photo views of the bridge were taken either from the dam or the parking deck.

Bridge from Parking Deck

 Sugarloaf Mountain rose up on the Arizona side of the bridge. On our way back to the steps and elevator, we were sure to rub the feet of the winged statues for good luck at the slots.

Rub Feet for Good Luck

 Next, we hiked over to the bridge parking lot where we took our break at the bottom of the steps. There was limited seating as you can see in the photo to the left. Another restroom break and we were ready to climb up to the bridge walkway. We could either use the steps or the ramp. On the walkway, we hiked all the way over to Arizona and back while reading all the information signs that we wanted.

Steps ...

 There are a lot of signs talking about the construction of the bridge, etc. and why the bridge was named for Mike O'Callaghan and Pat Tillman, both being favorite sons of either Nevada or Arizona.

Or Ramp

 Back in Nevada, we crossed back over to the tunnel trail and returned through the tunnels. The fog over the lake had lifted and there was a totally different look to the view. We strongly finished the hike leaving all our energy out there on the trails.

9 miles; around 1000 feet elevation gain; 4 hours

The Bridge Hike

Return Hike

Lake Mead & Muddy Mountains