North / Black Loop (with Horse Trail Descent) - 8/22/22

Sisters Arch and Black Sister

North Sister from Sisters Ridge

Top of Deadwood Wash (Mummy Mountain in Background)

Starting up Gallium Road

There are a handful of four mile hikes in the Spring Mountains that are worth every step! (Mack's Peak and Mummy's Nose come to mind.) The North / Black Loop can be considered one of them. Brian D. is working on making a better route for the loop and we put our two cents in for this hike. We began at the Lee Canyon Chain-Up Trailhead and went up to connect with the old dirt road, Gallium Road. There is a gate across the road to keep motorized vehicles out. We hiked around the gate and started up the very washed out road as we paralleled a horse trail. The wild horses use the spring located up the road a short way. We visited the spring area noting that the pipes used to take water somewhere were exposed and broken. (More water for the horses!)

Gallium Spring

Starting Ridge Trail

South (L) and North (R) Sisters from Ascent Ridge Saddle

Climbing the Ascent Ridge

Just after the spring, there is a trail that switchbacks up to the top of the ridge on the left. We gained the ridge and began following horse / human trails along the ridge above the wash. This ridge can be followed all the way up to the Sisters Ridge. On the way, there is an open saddle area where views of South and North Sister reign ahead and Mummy Mountain rises like a ghost behind. The trail gets steadily steeper. But, it is easily followed since it never leaves the ridge top. As you near the final and steepest ascent section, you clearly see a huge arch on the right side with Black Sister in the distance. Here, is where we saw the uninvited gray cloud looming over the big black rock. Mike and Ralyn took a side trip over to the arch and through. The climb up on the other side is very difficult but they made it by barely escaping a large falling rock. Be careful here.

A Visit to the Arch

Ralyn inside the Arch

White (L) and Black (R) Sisters from Ascent

Final Ascent

A little more steep stuff and we junctioned with the main Sisters Ridge. To our left, the imposing North Sister rose pointedly. Scrambling up this peak was not planned so we turned to the right and following a ridge trail over to White Sister. The Sisters Ridge is very narrow with an excellent view of Macks Peak on one side and Mummy Mountain on the other. At White Sister, we paused for a group photo. That gray cloud was spitting at us a little and we didn't want to stick around too long. We circled around the back side of Black Sister, posed for a couple more photos, and hiked down the ridge. First we tried to go a little further out the ridge than usual but the terrain is way too steep even for a descent. Use the usual descent route on the left until you see your way over to the right and Deadwood Wash's saddle. Here, we felt safer to stop and take our break. The gray cloud was passing.

Macks Peak from Sisters Ridge

On Sisters Ridge (North Sister in Background)

Two Oranges and a Blue at Black and White Sisters

Rounding Black Sister

At this point, we were in exploratory mode. We took the trail that runs down the right embankment of the drainage. This time, we followed the clear and imagined trail straight toward a saddle that rose across from us on the opposite ridge. The trail appeared very old and unkempt. There was a section of deadfall to find your way through and a swath of dead standing trees as well. A good machete would do the trick! We stayed the course toward the saddle and, as we neared, the trail became much clearer. The climb to the saddle was easy. We took in an interesting view of Lee Canyon and began following another trail diagonally down. This trail zigged and zagged down the hill in small scree, bushes and trees. It was also somewhat washed out in places.

Posing on Black Sister Ridge

A very steep Descent

Following the Horse Trail

Horse Trail nearing the Saddle

Eventually, we found our way into the pine glade at the bottom. The wash that cut in front of us led down to the trailhead but we knew it fell into the parking lot steeply and slippery. So, we followed an old dirt road around to the left to the lower end of the trailhead and Lee Canyon Road. This is where we dropped into the parking lot much easier. Short and very sweet with fantastic views all around. However, we do need to enhance that old trail so that it can be used again. 

Stats: 3.4 miles; 1675' gain; 4 hours

The Saddle

Lee Canyon view from the Saddle

Entering the Pine Glade

Bridges / Teepee / Hummingbird Gulch Loop - 8/19/22

Inside the Upper Narrows of Hummingbird Gulch

Mummy's Toe from Rim Walk above Hummingbird Gulch

Impressive Bike Jump on the Bridges Trail

Starting up the Old Deer Creek Road

On Friday, Mike and I drove up to Robbers' Roost Trailhead to hike a loop that included a new bike trail (new for us), the Teepee crossover and Hummingbird Gulch. It had rained a lot over this area the night before. But, we didn't think it would rain this day before we finished the hike. We parked, crossed the road and started up the Robbers' Roost Trail. At the top of the road embankment, we turned to the right. This trail shows evidence of being the Old Deer Creek Road bed. There is still old asphalt lying along this stretch. As we began turning a corner to the right, we came to a trail coming down from the hill on the left. After checking with Mike, we agreed to try out this trail that has been beckoning us for a few years. We hoped there would not be any bikers this early on a very wet morning. Still, we were ready to jump out of their way since they tend to go fast downhill ... and, this hill was steep. We started up the trail climbing with little traction beneath our shoes then the trail leveled off a bit. Next, we found ourselves going downhill ... unexpected! As we followed the beautiful trail, we understood that the trail was crisscrossing a wash and the bikers enjoyed a swoop uphill on each side as they came down. We crossed one, then two, then five bridges!

A Particularly Long Engineered Bridge

The fourth or fifth Bridge

Mike compares the Bike Jump with a Ski Jump

Storm Washed guttered Trail

The bikers know how to take care of themselves! After the last wash crossing, there was a very scary looking bike jump built about 5 feet off the ground above a steep hill. Yikes! We decided to name the trail the Bridges Trail. Or, at least until we find a biker to tell us what they call it! The trail came out right at the North Loop Trailhead. We turned to the left and began our next phase on the North Loop Trail. The popular trail seemed easy after our steep climb up along the wash! We climbed steadily until we reached the junction of the Teepee Trail. The Teepee Trail is essentially a route that takes hikers around the mountain that holds the North Loop High Point Corner except at a lower elevation. 

On the North Loop Trail

Angel Peak from cliffs above Robbers Roost

Wide View at cliffs above Robbers Roost

The Teepee

If you are able to find the trail that sometimes comes and goes, it will take hikers all the way up to the Fletcher Peak Trail saddle. We found the trail that we had taken before and worked our way up and around to the overlook cliffs above Robbers' Roost. From there, we found the trail again to take us up to the Teepee, a small teepee that someone built on the cliffs. (It has seen better days!) Knowing that a few of our friends' ashes had been scattered in the vicinity, we paid our respects and found a log to sit on for a break. Afterwards, we continued up along the rim of the cliffs above Hummingbird Gulch. It is beautiful up there with all the fascinating views.

View from cliffs above Hummingbird Gulch

Rim Walk

Trail connecting Teepee to Fletcher Saddle

Drop Spot in Hummingbird Gulch Wash

We found the trail again ... this time up the hill a little. You can't really see the trail until you are standing on top of it! The trail took us up the hill and across the gulley to a ridge that trails down from the High Point Corner. Staying on the trail, we began paralleling the drainage ravine that flows into Hummingbird Gulch. We found a good place to drop down from the trail into the drainage and began our descent. There is a trail that leads all the way down from the Fletcher Peak Trail saddle to the bottom of Hummingbird Gulch. It is a slow and tricky descent once you reach the lower narrows but the entire descent is captivating as you enjoy a winding path around small obstacles, tread through the upper narrows, scramble through and around the lower narrows then take on the rocky trail descent of the gulch, itself. Keep in mind that sometimes the trail is slightly hidden by overhanging brush. But, the long used trail is there if you look.

The spring is green!

Approaching the Up & Around at the Dry Fall

Angel Peak from top of Gulch

Dropping down to base of Dry Fall

Our goal was to get to the bottom of the gulch without any mishaps! And, although there are many places where mishaps could easily happen, we made it down. There wasn't much talking or taking of photos during that hour. Concentration! Concentration! Concentration! Finally, we walked into the pine glade at the bottom with only one blood spot from an evil piece of brush! We turned to the left onto the old road and hiked back up to the Robbers' Roost Trail and Trailhead. Excellent morning! Quite a good workout!

Stats: 5 miles; 1700' gain; 4 hours

Lots of "Down"

Arriving in the Pine Glade at the Bottom

Hop, Skip & Jump up to the Trailhead

South Loop 3rd Overlook - 8/17/22

Charleston Peak framed by Tree at 3rd Overlook

Kay watches two mule deer cross the trail ahead.

Dodging raindrops has become the name of the game this summer so Mike and I drove up Kyle Canyon on a Wednesday to do the climb up to the South Loop's 3rd Overlook. Leaving the trailhead just before 7am, we waltzed onto the overlook at 9am. As we sat for our break, we noted the small clouds above start to get a little bigger and a little darker. Mike finished his apple, took my photo seen below, and we started down. It was 2 hours up and 1.5 hours down. We greeted other hikers on the trail that were coming up underneath a majority blue sky and wondered if they would finish their hike up to Griffith without getting wet. Nope! Not gonna happen! As soon as our car doors closed, we started seeing raindrops on the windshield. (How many times has this happened this summer? ... Several times!) Regardless, we had a great morning on the trail and saw the four Kyle Canyon wild horses (including a small baby horse) from the road and two mule deer back in their usual place at the base of the Echo Cliffs.

P.S. What's with all the huge construction trucks slowly climbing up Kyle Canyon Road?

Stats: 6.3 miles; 2110' gain; 3.75 hours

South Loop 3rd Overlook

It only took two hours for this to happen! From 9am to 11am, (the monsoon witching hour!)