Brownstone Canyon & Lower Dam - 12/4/20

Top of Gateway Canyon

Brownstone Canyon Pictographs

Calico Basin from Kraft Mountain Saddle

Wardrobe Adjustment on Saddle

All six of our AtBF pod were accounted for to delve into Brownstone Canyon, a yearly endeavor for Mike, Rita and I, at the least. It was Ralyn's second hike there and both Jerry and Cheryl had not been there for many years. It was a little nippy in the morning as we set off out of the Kraft Mountain Trailhead dirt parking lot in Calico Basin toward 5 Stop Hill. The parking lot was already almost half full at 7:30am on a Friday. Hikers and climbers were gathering in their small groups and we knew many of them! On the way up to the hill climb, Jerry pointed out the parallel scramble that someone has dubbed Three Peaks Valley. It's fun to name stuff ... and sometimes the name catches on! Otherwise, it is just the only way we can keep things straight. (Instead of, turn left at the second rock next to the tree in the wash.)

View into Lower Gateway Canyon

We were all pretty energetic and the climb up 5 Stop Hill went at about 1.5 mph. At the top, we took a short rest to take off extraneous warm clothing.

Climbing Upper Gateway Canyon

The route would take us in and out of the sun. It was quite warm in the sun but, in the shade, it was a lot cooler. There was not a "uniform" for today due to the changes in temperatures!

One of the Big Dry Falls

Square Arch in Upper Gateway

We dawdled down Rattlesnake Trail to Gateway Canyon wash while everyone behind caught up. A short slog up the gravel to the left brought us to the bigger rocks and fun scrambles. Rattlesnake Trail headed up to the left at a wash junction and we continued up Gateway. Jerry and Cheryl got up in the lead and the race was on! We all knew the scrambles pretty well and no one needed too much assistance. Rita and Mike tried a couple of new scrambles with instructions from Jerry. I did the "tried and true" and Ralyn followed since it was all fairly new to her ... until we neared the top of Gateway when Ralyn confidently led the way! A short break had been earned where we looked back and got the view of the square arch seen in the photo to the right.

Climbing up to Sandstone Plateau

Rested, we turned to the left and followed a choice of small trails up to the sandstone watermarked drainage. When a small canyon opened out on the right, we turned into it.

Big Dry Fall to Plateau

After a scramble up the right side of the drainage, we arrived at the watermarked drainage on the left as seen in the photo above. Always a favorite part of this hike, we climbed up to do the switchbacked climb up the dry fall.

Turtlehead Peak from Dry Fall Climb

The Passage

At the top of the dry fall, we headed into a short slot. Next, our group divided with some of us continuing through the slot to the left and the rest of us climbing up the corner scramble. We met again at the end of the slot coming out on a large plateau area. Weaving our way through sandstone formations, we found the first shallow tinaja to be completely dry as expected. Hiking through, we spotted the large domed rock passage across the plateau. The passage is on the right side of this dome and as you hike past the dome enclosure, you see a large deep tinaja inside. It was also very very dry. Continuing on the same trajectory, we followed sandstone all the way down to earth and made a right turn into a chute, another favorite part of this hike!

Large Deep Tinaja

The chute is filled with a few plants, loose large rocks and, finally, large boulders. This part is self-explanatory for navigation.

Scramblers Anonymus

However, at the end of the slot, navigation gets lets obvious. Drop down to the right one level. Climb up to the left. Travel left about fifteen feet. Turn to right and drop down to the sandstone slope below. Traverse the slope to the end and drop down to earth.

Brownstone Pictographs

Arriving at Lower Dam

Tah-Dah! You have arrived adjacent to the famous pictographs on the wall to the right! We have all seen the ancient writings many times and we didn't spend a lot of time here. If you visit, respect the past! Next, we crunched down the gravel wash passing the petroglyphs on the right high wall facing upstream. (See photo below.) Then, we arrived at the next opening on the right where there is a worn trail up to one of the old ranchers' dam. When we climbed over the dam, we saw there wasn't a single drop of water to be found. The large water tank was sandy dry. We stayed here for our large break taking photos and doing small explorations of the area. Mike went high and took some interesting photos of us down below.

Petroglyphs in Brownstone Canyon

After the beautiful break, all we had left was to return the way we came ... with the exception of a deviation on the sandstone plateau above. 

Completely Dry at Lower Dam

Someday, we really should work on a loop return from the dam to the plateau. Instead, today, we slogged back up the gravel ... the least fun part of the hike! "Good excercise!", says Jerry.

Overlook above Lower Dam

Mike's view from Above

We arrived at the pictographs and climbed up the chute retracing our previous drop. On the way back to the large sunken tinaja, we took our group photo with Brownstone Canyon as a backdrop. Next, we turned to cross the plateau to the west traversing as straight as the sandstone would allow us ... which wasn't very straight! At the end of the traverse, we came to the sandstone descent slab, the easiest way to make your way back down to the top of Gateway Canyon. Starting down Gateway, the race resumed! "Down the scrambles!", my knees cried, and off we went! (Insert ♬♬ Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture here.) We were having a lot of fun. ... They waited for me at the Rattlesnake Trail junction and I resumed the lead. We hiked down the gravel to the right turn onto the continuation of Rattlesnake Trail up and over the Kraft Mountain Saddle.

Dam and Dry Tank from Above

After all the down scramble, the climb up to the saddle felt pretty good! Then we hiked down 5 Stop Hill.

Six with Sticks at Brownstone Canyon

There were men playing guitars in the parking lot when we returned. Maybe I'm a purist but it grated on my ears in the middle of the wilderness.

High Point of Hike on Plateau

Starting down to Upper Gateway

Brownstone Canyon is a strenuous hike and scramble. It is worth the effort if you are up to it physically. It can also be done as a loop up to the top of Brownstone, over the saddle of Turtlehead ridge and down the Limestone Trail. But, if you begin where we did today, the out and back is the best option. The loop is best done from Sandstone Quarry. See link to a post for this version. http://aroundthebendfriends2.blogspot.com/2016/03/brownstone-canyon-dam-loop-33116.html

Fantastic day! See you on the trails!

Stats: 7 miles; 2000' gain; 5.5 hours

Watermarks

Nearing Rattlesnake Trail Junction

Kraft Mountain Saddle

White Rock Springs Peak Loop - 11/30/20

Morning on the Sandstone Bluffs from White Rock Springs Peak

Color on West Side of White Rock Hills

Sunrise on White Rock Springs Peak

Waking up on White Rock Road

White Rock Springs Peak is another scramble I haven't done since 2013. It is very much a scramble throughout the entire loop done as it was on this occasion. After checking with another couple of local websites, we ascertained that the peak on the main ridge is White Rock Springs Peak rising at 5977' in elevation. However, there is another rocky tor that rises about a scrambled quarter mile from this peak that is 6003' and has been dubbed as White Rock Springs Peak High Point or West White Rock Springs Peak. Although I stopped at the primary peak, three of today's four hikers went on out to the sharp pointy peak to the west to sign the log book ... that wasn't there. Where did it go? I heard a rumor about this. Is it on the primary peak somewhere? We didn't look.

First False Peak on White Rock Climb

So, the hike began at the bottom of White Rock Mountain Road off of the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop near mile marker 6. It's a short loop so the extra half mile of dirt road in the beginning and the end are welcomed.

Following the Scramble Trail

At the top of the dirt road, we were able to visit the facilities at the White Rock Trailhead. Then, it is there that the scrambling begins.

White Rock Peak from Our Climb

View Back down Ridge to Turtlehead Peak

The White Rock Hill ridge flows right down to the upper trailhead past the upper side fence. We turned onto the trail past the yellow sandstone boulders there that are often used as a resting place for through hikers on the White Rock Hills Loop trail (aka White Rock Loop). The trail quickly changes from a dirt path to a sometimes cairned sandstone scramble. If you need a trail to ascend the ridge, there might be more than what we encountered. But, Mike, who loves a good challenge, led us up the rocks while ignoring some of the easier routes. I finally figured this out about half way up and started looking for easier alternatives! We were having a lot of fun! Nevertheless, the scramble continued all the way up the ridge.

Squeeze Me!

As we climbed, we gained elevation quickly and our rear views were top notch. We also enjoyed the morning views of the escarpment rising out of the Rainbow Wilderness.

Up, Up and Away  (...in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon! ...)

The White Rock Hills are the very northeast terminus of the Keystone Thrust sandstone bluffs. And, the actual above ground fault is located only around a half mile northeast from there.

The escarpment of the Keystone Thrust Sandstone Bluffs in the Rainbow Wilderness

View Back from Ridge

The La Madre Mountain Range with the La Madre fault, are the backdrop for this area behind the White Rock and northern Keystone Thrust fault. This is the Bonanza King Formation. The La Madre fault cuts and offsets the entire landscape of Aztec Sandstone and the Bonanza King Formation. Think of this as the army behind the generals of the escarpment in the Keystone Thrust! It pushes the older limestone over the younger sandstone in its marvelous slow motion blitz. (Okay, I know there are much more scientific ways of explaining all this.) Nevada is a wonderful place to be a geologist, I imagine. It is very fascinating to try to wrap your head around the movements of the earth and water in the past billions of years!

Ralyn balances while Rita slides down a Rock Behind

The scramble continued as a steep climb so the few places that are a dirt trail were slippery with loose rock. Most of the time, the sandstone was easier to climb.

La Madre Mountains from Ridge (La Madre Wash below)

Finally near the top, the sandstone plateaued and we made our way up to the peak. This peak tops off with a huge cylindrical boulder see in the fourth photo below.

Ridge to White Rock Trailhead to Calico Hills

Reaching the Final Plateau

We stopped to take our group photo then Mike, Rita and Ralyn deposited their packs and sticks to begin their scramble over to the High Point. The scramble consists of a drop down and a climb up along the main ridge of the White Rock Hills. It is precipitous on either side of the scramble but the way across is not overly dangerous. I perched on the peak to watch their progress and take a few photos. (A nice respite; it was a perfect day with very little wind.) Most of their progress time was taken in the dip where I could not see them. Then, on the high point, they were unable to find the log book because, I think, I heard that it was taken away but I don't remember why. Anyway, they returned unscathed and finished their break at the peak.

White Rock Springs High Point Peak (6020'), aka West White Rock Springs Peak

The next portion of the short loop is, perhaps, the "diciest." This is a steep descent. We chose the "easiest" route that followed somewhat of a loose trail down the northeast side.

Fearsome Foursome on White Rock Springs Peak (5977')

Of course, the first challenge is finding that "trail." We just started down and found where others had descended. There were a few paths of destruction!

View down Ridge from Primary Peak

Primary Peak to High Point Peak to White Rock HP

This would be an excellent place to make a real trail! We picked our way halfway down the easiest route we could find without adding to the destruction then joined a large sandstone slab for the remaining half. The slab slopes all the way down to the wash below. Just stay to the right, as a rule, so that you don't get cliffed out. The final drop into the wash consists of a crack between large boulders. (Or, a drop off the side of one of them.) Once in the wash, we yipped a small celebration and turned to the right. The route can climb out of the wash near here and follow the White Rock Loop back to the trailhead. We decided to follow the light trail in the wash. 

Rainbow Wilderness view from White Rock Springs Peak

There were very few obstacles in the wash and no brush to sweep by. But, the wash was narrow and picturesque. Clearly, the wash had been used by hikers for years.

Tricky Threesome scramble out to the High Point Peak

We made quick work of the small shaded wash until it junctioned with the La Madre Wash coming down from the left side.

Steep, Loose Northeast Side Descent

Happy on the Slab!

Here, the wash opened out and began showing beautiful white sandstone along its bed. A few more obstacles didn't slow us down and, soon, we waltzed into the Upper White Rock Trailhead where the BLM were placing new parking (railroad) ties to help with car organization! All morning, the attendance at the RRCNCA scenic loop had been light. (We had watched this from above!) It was a quiet day in the park and quite enjoyable, I must say! On the way out, the only trailhead that was full of cars was Pine Creek ... as usual. Excellent scrambling morning at White Rock Springs Peak!

Stats: 3.6 miles; 1300' gain, 4 hours

Even Happier in the White Rock Wash

Few Scrambles in White Rock Wash

Rita and Mike enjoying White Rock Wash