Little Bald Knoll - 10/2/15

Griffith Peak (center) from Little Bald Knoll

La Madre Range from Showgirl Trail

Wooden Bridge on Hike a Bike Trail

Moon Over Mummy

 'Tis a shame that there were only four hikers to enjoy this absolutely beautiful day in the Spring Mountains NRA on an interesting trail that is pretty new to the club. We parked at the Pixie Trailhead turnout that is the next turnout after Robbers' Roost going up the hill on Deer Creek Road. We carefully managed to drop down to the Hike a Bike Trail where we turned left onto a wooded trail. The air was fresh and cool to start off but we warmed up quickly. Staying on the Hike a Bike Trail, we climbed up to the overlook turn off. We went down to take in the view. This area of trails is scheduled to be "decommissioned" soon.

First Break

 We climbed back up and connected with the Camp Trail and used it to drop down to junction with the Showgirl Trail coming in from the direction of its trailhead on Angel Peak Road. At the junction, we turned to the right.

Overlook View

Showgirl Junction

 We followed the Showgirl Trail and turned onto the bypass trail that heads over to a bald saddle area. This junction is seen in the photo to the right. However, it seems that this part of the Showgirl Trail is also scheduled to be "decommissioned" according to the map posted at the Pixie Trailhead turnout. It is difficult to understand what they have in mind for this junction but it IS clear that the "Missing Link Trail," as mentioned in a previous entry, is the actual Showgirl Trail that is yet to be completed. (See the photo of the map at the bottom of this entry.) Next, we passed the saddle and continued on an easy trail that follows the top of the ridge heading toward Kyle Canyon.

Angel Peak & SMYC from Showgirl Trail

 After around a mile, the trail starts descending a little more rapidly. It switchbacks down to cross a deep wash then rises again.

Showgirl Trail

 We studied the wash thinking that it would be a good place to build a trail down to the bottom but we don't think this is what they have in mind.

Taking a Break at Large Wash Area

Arriving at Little Bald Knoll

 We climbed a little and hiked out on an intermediary ridge toward Little Bald Knoll, a small knoll that the trail crosses over top. There are a few low growth trees on the knoll but the views on all sides are readily accessible. It appears that this is a favorite place for the deer as we observed markings in the sand. We sat here taking in the views while munching a snack. Perhaps we stayed a little longer than normal. The cooler weather is so so welcome.

View from Little Bald Knoll

 We began our hike back up the ridge and discovered a shortcut trail that allowed us to skip the whole "switchback through the deep wash" bit. Yep. This is another trail that will be "decommissioned."

Mummy's Toe from Return on Showgirl Trail

An Abundance of Textures

 The shortcut trail removed a large part of the steeper ascent. The remainder of the ascent was a pleasant gradual climb. The views continued to take our breath away. Sometimes we just stopped to look. When we got back to the bald saddle area, we turned to the left and returned to the Hike a Bike Trail a shorter way. We junctioned with this trail and turned left to return to the cars. This hike was food for the soul. - (P.S. A hike straight out to Little Bald Knoll and back from the Pixie TH would be a little less than 6 miles.)

7 miles; 1200 feet elevation gain; 4 hours

Conquering the Bike Jump

Return on the Hike a Bike Trail

Climbing Back up to Cars

Map Posted at the Pixie Trailhead (Red * Indicates Pixie TH)

Lower Rocky Gorge Loop - 10/1/15

Rocky Gorge

Mummy Mountain from Trailhead

Peering through the Desert to the Wildlife Refuge

Beginning on Small Wash Trail

 The Rocky Gorge Loop is another new trail for the Around the Bend Friends. It came to our attention when the new visitor center opened and handed out maps with several trails on it that we had not hiked before. We have explored these trails over the summer and today was the day for Rocky Gorge. Five hikers drove up Lee Canyon Road in the Spring Mountains NRA Forest Service Land a little over ten miles. We turned right onto the Blue Tree Road which leads down into a small quarry of sorts. The trailhead is found in the bushes on the right side at the bottom of the hill.

Mummy Mountain from Hill Climb

 The trail immediately goes into a small wash that has been trenched by recent rains. Exposed roots block the wash now and then.

Hill Climb

Top of the Hill

 At around 3/4 of a mile, we reached the wide new trail that switchbacks up the hill. This gave us wide open views of the surrounding landscape. The wispy clouds in the sky were simply gorgeous this morning! We could see all of Mummy Mountain one way and a large portion of the Sheep Mountains in the other direction. After we reached the top of this hill, the trail began a descent down into a large wash. We lost the trail, today, as we lost elevation but we figured it all out in the end. At any rate, we found the wash and began our hike up the Rocky Gorge wash.

Sheep Mountains in Distance

 The gravelly wash began gently and soon we passed by the official trail (the trail we lost) coming in from the left. It wasn't too long before we started to feel the rock walls close in on us and we began a bit of a rocky climb. We had found Rocky Gorge!

Starting Up the Rocky Gorge Wash

This small canyon wash was very nice and unexpected in this part of the desert. The rock underfoot was smooth from seasonal water flow. And, there was even a nice pinnacle jutting out from the left wall.

Heading into Rocky Gorge

Passing the Pinnacle

  This section of today's hike made it special but it was all over too quickly and we found ourselves back in a plain sandy wash again. There was a trail that took us out and in the wash as was necessary. But, the wash eventually became a bit tedious until Kay excitedly yelled, "Elk!" Unfortunately, she was the only one who saw the large elk complete with huge antlers, quickly running across our twelve o'clock. It was running so fast that it probably didn't stop before it was totally out of viewing distance.

Continuing Up the Wash

 Next, we came to a couple of large cairns near two bushes with blue marking ribbons tied to their branches. We turned onto this trail but it appeared that a trail that continued up the wash was stronger than a weak trail that led up the hill to the right.

Cairn in Area Where the Trail leaves the Wash

Off Trail Up Wash

  So, thinking this was the correct way to go, we continued up the wash. In retrospect, this was an accidental good mistake. We were already piling up the miles! Nevertheless, when we came to another faint trail that led up to the right, we decided to follow it and ended up bushwhacking on the parallel ridge. This took us in a southerly direction instead of the official route's westerly direction. When we arrived at the No Mads Trail dirt road, we knew a mistake had been made so we decided to turn left, go down the steep hill and connect with the Blue Trail, perhaps cutting our expected hike almost in half.  The Blue Trail took us back to the trailhead even though, once again, we lost our way. Thank goodness for GPS!

6.5 miles; 1100 feet elevation gain; 3 hours

Off Trail on Ridge

Connecting on the No Mads Trail Dirt Road

Returning to the Cars on a Trail above Blue Tree Campground

Today's Oops Routes in Red

Mummy's Nose - 9/22/15

North Northeast View of Mummy's Nose

North Northwest View of Nose and Route

View of Ascent Wash from Approach

Example of Ascent Wash

 The second climb up to the peak of Mummy's Nose in the Spring Mountains NRA for the summer of 2015 was accomplished on a cloudy morning last week. Mike OC sent a few photos and words about the significance of this particular hike. Other photos from a 2012 hike were added to complete the entry. Essentially, the hike begins at the chain-up area on Lee Canyon Road, crosses the road to ascend a dirt road, finds a trail leading up toward the peaks above, drops into a very steep drainage, climbs the drainage to a saddle, turns left to find a 3rd class climb up to the next level, then, finally, completes the climb to the pointy peak where a large group of hikers fits precariously tight.

Mummy Mountain from Nose Ascent

La Madre Mountain from Nose Approach

Nine Hikers on the Peak - 2015

Third Class Down Climb

“Climbing is a dance and the mountain always leads.” Any hiker worth his salt knows that you can never one-up the mountain. But occasionally you can exact a little revenge.

Earlier in the summer on a warm June morning, Rita took a nasty, headfirst fall just below the summit of Mummy’s Nose. (See where Mark is standing beside the tree in the photo to the left? That’s where she landed. Still gives me chills.) Broken wrist, sprained hand, forehead lacerations and multiple contusions. Twas not a pretty sight. Today, three months later, a determined Rita once again gazed up at that formidable pinnacle, determined to retrace her steps and exorcise those demons. 

Mark, Rita and Mike Commemorate a Survived Event (Saddle)

View to South from Saddle

The Never-Ending Wash Descent

Climbing Out of the Wash on the Trail

 The ascent was steep and grueling, with the occasional loose rock cascading down the slope. Following a delightful lunch on the summit, we began the long, tortuous descent, carefully dropping down onto the eponymous Rita’s Ridge, the site of the June mishap. And one by one, we stood on the edge of the ridge and stared down into the abyss. Rita may have stared a little longer than most. She called it closure.

Vitals: 9 hikers, 5 miles, 2800’ vertical, 4.5 hours.

MOC

The Trail

Cooling Down on the Dirt Road

You Deserve It!