Bighorn Butte Bypass - 12/9/23

Tuff (hardened volcanic ash) at base of Peak 2555

Lake view from Tuff Area

Sheep Trail ridge line above Descent Wash

Starting up the Sheep Trail Ridge

During the research done for this entry, I learned:

    ..., the exposures of the Muddy Creek Formation here contain several volcanic ash layers. The age of these volcanic deposits is unknown, but the ash may have drifted to this area from large eruptions to the north in the vicinity of the Nevada Test Site.

    At (the area we hiked) on the skyline are the faulted remains of the volcano (Bighorn Butte and Peak 2555) from which much of the basalt in the northern part of the River Mountains was erupted. About 12 million years ago it may have resembled the broad shield volcanoes on the island of Hawaii.

    This area contains several small volcanoes or volcanic domes of Miocene age. The dark red and brown rocks that you see exposed along (Lakeshore Road) are the eroded remnants of these small domes and the dacite and basalt flows that came from them.

Sheep Trail high above the Wash

Peak 2555' in front of Bighorn Butte (2448') from Tuff Layer

Hiking into the Tuff Layer

Panorama inside the Tuff Layer

In this same area just past Lakeview Overlook toward Boulder City, the nature of the rocks changes completely. The first exposures of a geologic unit called the tuff (a light, porous rock formed by consolidation of volcanic ash) of Hoover Dam are encountered. This volcanic unit erupted explosively about 14.3 million years ago (during Miocene time) and may have originated from a caldera (a large volcano that collapsed after expelling its ash and volcanic flow rocks) just northwest of Hoover Dam.

~Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area (Expanded Edition with GPS Coordinates), Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16, University of Nevada, Reno, Mackay School of Earth Sciences, 2008, Bear Printing, Sparks, NV; pages 97,99,101.

Hiking through the Tuff Layer

Lake Mead from base of Peak 2555

Hiking up the small canyon Dryfalls

The small Canyon

Hopefully, this explains a few of our questions that we had on this hike into a colorful area at Lake Mead NRA. We parked at the Longview Overlook (which, btw, is missing a sign going in the southwesterly direction on Lakeshore Road. We crossed the road, the tortoise fence, the River Mountains Bike Trail and dove into the wide wash. Our goal was to find an old powerline road on the opposite side of the wash, climb up to the ridge line and begin to follow the sheep trail that runs along and aside this ridge. The sheep trail was a bit vague in the beginning but we soon found our footing and followed the trail all the way to the colorful area of hardened volcanic ash called tuff. We immersed into the tuff area and hiked up to the left along the wash finding sheep trails here and there. After doing this hike three times previously, I finally found the best track. Just keep going diagonally up leaning to the right until you see a small sandy wash below turning a corner. Head for that!

View down small canyon from Top

Fun Stuff

Seven nearby Bighorns

They see Us

Once before, we came down to the wash too soon and ended up having to climb up the Big Drop! Anyway, there is a large interestingly shaped boulder balanced at the bottom of a small ascent canyon. So, after reaching the wash below, we turned right into this canyon at the boulder. The washouts that happened during this autumn season have made all the dryfalls in this area a tiny bit deeper and we had to use the "up and arounds" on most of them. All the geodes that someone had used inside the canyon as cairns a couple of years ago have been transported back up the hill to where they belong so we didn't see any of them until we were climbing the hill at the top of the small canyon. We took our break among the geodes being fascinated by each one so I walked up the hill a little further when everyone sat for a break.

They aren't interested in us.

Something (not us) spooked them and off they went!

Dropping back down the small Canyon

The Big Drop

Just over this hill, I saw seven bighorn sheep gathered. After taking a few photos, I returned to the group snacking behind me. (I didn't want to yell!) In the end, only half of the group understood me and came quickly to view the spectacle. The bighorns put on a show at the end when, without us making any noise from a good distance away, they suddenly turned and ran, then turned and ran the other way, stopped, then turned and ran around the back of the next hill. They were running and turning very much like a flock of birds flying in the sky taking cues from a quiet leader in the flock. We were all thoroughly entertained. Finally, we returned down the small canyon and came to the Big Drop scramble. There were a few more scrambles ending with a visit to the arch for a group photo. Next, we were in a wide wash speeding toward our cars over a distance of about 1.25 miles. Everyone seemed to be up to the task. What a fun day! This is certainly a hike that keeps your interest!

Stats: 5.6 miles; 1200' gain; 4 hours

Big Drop Fun

Group shot at the Arch

1.25 Mile Descent through the Wash

Track Maps combining the Bighorn Butte Bypass track with the Bighorn Butte Track

South Canyon Bike Trail Pt 2 Pt - 12/7/23

Bike Trail approaching the High Point

Bike Trail in Wash of South Canyon

Calico Hills from Bike Trail in Cottonwood Valley

The Descent Hikers

Fourteen club members came out for the debut of the South Canyon Bike Trail Point to Point key exchange hike! (That's a mouthful.) The Fearsome Foursome have been dallying with this trail for a couple of years making it a loop from one of the dirt roads west of Late Night Trailhead. But, on this hike, we wanted to take in the whole 6 miles between Mountain Springs Pass Trailhead and Late Night Trailhead; a total elevation gain/loss of around 1500'. With the undulations of the well-constructed bike trail, the gain/loss was around 1650'. We gathered at the Late Night Trailhead and found that only 5 of the 14 hikers were choosing to do the descent and the remaining 9 would tackle the ascent. So, the 5 descenders drove 2 cars up the hill to the pass and pocketed the keys. There were mumblings about how the hike started with a lot of uphill. (We were supposed to be going downhill! LOL) But, once we veered left onto the bike trail, our minds were occupied with the trail at foot. This part of the trail was familiar with some of us but not all. Therefore, the journey was exciting.

 During the beginning of the hike, we learned through a phone message that the ascenders had come across some people who were looking for a dog and that we should all be on the lookout. He has been out in Cottonwood Valley for a week.

Pinnacle Rock

Insulator Cairn at Pinnacle Rock

View of South Canyon from Bike Trail

Our first look at the Ascent Hikers

Soon, we arrived at the spur trail that leads up to the abandoned road. This is where we turn off for Hollow Rock Peak. This time, we continued around the corner and came to the dirt road at a point below its switchback. At the Pinnacle Rock, we followed the bike trail down to the left and curved back to pass the Insulator Cairn. There are a few forks in this area but they all lead to the same place. Continuing, we crossed the powerline road that climbed up the hill from the canyon below. Next, the trail ran along the steep southern hillside of South Canyon. Views are great and we kept a lookout for the ascenders, not knowing how far along they would be. We hiked the trail all the way out to the end of the ridgeline. Looking below, we saw the 9 ascenders coming up the trail having just crossed through the wash below. A bunch of zigzags lay between us. Next thing we knew, we met them on a curve and exchanged keys and photos. Fun!

Exchange Point all Together

Descent Hikers' Break

Descent Hikers' Break

Ascent Hikers' Break

Soon, we hiked our separate ways and the descenders took a break on the big rocks in the wash crossings. The trail took us along the wash and back out into the desert to the west of Late Night TH. We passed the skeleton in the old buried car and started out on trails and roads that led almost straight to our endpoint. Along the way, we saw the trap set out for the lost dog and talked to some people who were looking for him. (The dog probably decided to transition into a coyote.) Amazingly, we hiked into the trailhead at the very same time that the ascenders drove in. Perfect timing! Really fun day!

Descent Stats: 6.1 miles; - 1650' loss & +200' gain in elevation; 3.25 hours

Leveling out next to the South Canyon Wash

BOLO for White Border Collie/Retriever Mix in Cottonwood Valley

Late Night Trailhead

Descent Elevation Graph

Descent Elevation Graph

View of Trail from Mountain Springs Pass Trailhead Down

View from Late Night Trailhead Up

Rainbow Canyon Loop - 12/4/23

Rainbow Canyon

Arroyos below Rainbow Ridge

Callville Wash Redstone

Lovell Wash

Rainbow Canyon is another uber splash of color in our vast southern Nevada desert. These colors are made with the many minerals found in the soil and rock. Don't get me started! At any rate, don't let anyone tell you that the desert is just brown! These minerals are the reason that so much mining has been done in the west over many years.

     However, the Rainbow Canyon Loop covers a much larger area than just the colorful canyon, itself. The loop travels all the way around Rainbow Ridge that is found just west of Anniversary Narrows and just north of Ejection Seat Ridge. We can begin this hike at Northshore Road MM 13, 14, 14.5 or, like today, 15.

Rainbow Canyon Entrance

Freda and Mike in Rainbow Canyon

Interesting Stuff in First half of Hike

Small Peak near the Large Cairn Junction

The hike drops into the next door wash then climbs up and over Northshore Road to drop down into a wash running next to the road. Not far down, we climbed out to the left and crossed over a plateau to drop down into a deeper wash that spills out into the very large Lovell Wash. A left turn takes you down to Rainbow Canyon where we turned to the left again. We passed through the colorful walls and by the old mine shaft up on the right. The canyon continues and, slowly, you realize you are following an old road through the wash. The road leads you to a plateau with a large cairn on it. This bypasses a washed out crevice. Soon, you hit the high point of the hike. You will pass by a grouping of rusted cans, leftover from a mining camp that was populated ages ago. Finally, you junction with the Anniversary Mine Road and turn left.

Large Cairn Junction

Anniversary Mine Road

HCV 4WD Wash Road

Taking a Break at the bottom of the Scramble Slot

Soon, we turned left down a wash road that can be travelled either on foot or by 4WD HCVs. About 0.4 miles down this road, there is a wash on the left side that can be climbed out to the plateau above. Sometimes there is a cairn here, but not on this hike. On the plateau, we headed across the desert pavement to a small ridge to climb over. An option here is  to scramble down the slot through the rock on the right end of this ridge. After a break at the bottom of the other side, we hiked down to the perspective point in the distance and crossed over the slab. We found that it is pretty important to start up the next wash on the left from the bottom. 

A nearby peak with Half Moon

Rainbow Ridge Overlook

Narrow Descent Slot

Near end of Descent Slot

At the top of this small wash, there is a great overlook of the base of Rainbow Ridge. The wash below the overlook is a narrow descent wash that is clear all the way down to the main wash, Callville Wash. Follow the main wash down and through a large culvert under the road and down to a wide junction wash on the left side. Finally, follow this main wash up until you are somewhere below your car. This is a fun hike with lots to look at! Another great December day at Lake Mead NRA.

Stats: 6.3 miles; 800' gain; 3.75 hours

Callville Wash

Interesting Stuff in Second Half of Hike

Redstone in Callville Wash