Gray Cap Scramble - 10/16/12

                    Gray Cap as seen from the Top of Gray Fox Canyon

                 Red Cap and the Escarpment Peeking Over the Red Rock

 Eight hikers participated in this week's Super Tuesday Hike, the Gray Cap Scramble. This was a different version of the same hike we did last spring; a veritable jungle gym excursion in the sandstone. We parked our cars at the dirt parking lot located at the end of the road in Calico Basin.

 It was early, around 7:30am, and the sun was coloring the red and white sandstone hills with warm colors. We hiked up to the Krafft Mountain Saddle, took our first break, then dropped down into Gateway Canyon. The water in the canyon had disappeared all except for a clear pool here and there.

                          Mark and Susan Doing the Candy Cane Chute

                       Today's Hikers Climbing Out of Gateway Canyon

 Our ascent, today, followed a similar route as the ascent we did in February. We climbed up through a layer of white sandstone where there were some exposed ledges, then we entered into the red sandstone of Gray Fox Canyon. We named the canyon Gray Fox after the cute little fox we saw hanging out here last spring.

 The red layer of sandstone was a little difficult to route find even though there are cairns all the way up. One particular place seemed to suggest that the hiker could go either left or right. There were more exposed places but, by then, the exposure factor was a non-issue. Steve led us up and up and up before finally allowing us a small break!

                                Nearing the Top of Gray Fox Canyon

                                                Gray Cap in Sight

 As we neared the top of Gray Fox Canyon, we got a gorgeous view of the Escarpment to our back left. To our front right, we could see Gray Cap Peak towering above us with a lot of white sandstone in between. We arrived at the top of the red layer at an unfamiliar place and we were slightly flummoxed about not knowing where we were.

 No worries. We knew where Gray Cap Peak was and it was "up." So we continued climbing. We didn't pass the normal beginning of the last phase of the climb. We didn't pass the picnic table rock. But we did eventually find the slight trail as we neared the top of the sandstone hill. Onward to the peak!

                                    View from White Sandstone Layer

                         Collection of Photos Taken from Gray Cap Peak

 We arrived on the peak somewhat separated. The last guy, in fact, had done a little exploring and arrived at the peak about twenty minutes after the rest of us. We signed the book, took the photo and agreed on Steve's suggestion to try a new descent route, one that he had already explored recently. We're talking, Direct Route! We found ourselves scrambling down some fancy situations. All do-able and routed by cairns. The photo to the right shows Susan at one particularly fancy place. Not many photos were taken during the descent due to the concentration required and the rate of speed set by those in front who were working hard to find the route. We arrived at a junction with the ascent route in time to collect stashed hiking sticks then continued down to Gateway Canyon.

 We climbed back up to the saddle laboriously, then descended Five Stop Hill and returned to the cars. The entire hike took six hours over 5 miles and climbed 2258 total elevation feet. This hike is a total body workout with gorgeous surrounding beauty. For exercise, it doesn't get much better than this!

                                               Back in the Saddle

                                                           Don

                                                              Reference

Twilight Zone to Grapevine Springs - 10/14/12

Grapevine Springs of Kyle Canyon

                                   

Snow Covered Mt. Charleston

                                       

View from Trail to the Desert Lowlands

 Four hikers showed up for an exploratory hike off of Kyle Canyon Highway in the Red Rock Canyon NCA. A new hike for the club, Grapevine Springs of Kyle Canyon via the Twilight Zone Trail turned out to be around 6.5 miles with a gross elevation gain of around 1600 feet. It was a great workout with many undulating hills. The hike had a combination of smooth and rocky trails, and a gravelly wash. Much of the trail seemed to be washed out from recent rains and is now used mostly by bikers.

Twilight Zone Trail

 We parked at the old horse riding parking lot located nine miles up Kyle Canyon Highway on the right side. The trail begins parallel to the highway and is marked with trail signs that indicate the trail can used for hiking, bicycling and horse back riding. During our morning there, we saw three guys on bicycles and one jeep on the nearby dirt road.

Springs Entrance

                                           

Collection Cistern and Corral

                                       

 Three miles into the hike, the springs area came into view. We dropped down to a place where the dirt road passed dilapidated fences and an orange metal corral. A rock hillside stood on one side of the area and a very large grapevine covered the other side. Although we did not see where the springs came out from the ground, there is a cistern near the corral that collects the water. We sat in some shade near the grapevines and had our break.

Heading Toward the Springs

 After our break, we returned the way we came with a couple of improvements. There are a few choices in routes between the meeting of the dirt road and the springs but they all get the hiker to the same place. We returned without a problem as the trail takes a fairly straight route across the drainage swales of the desert. Our exploration lasted only three hours but we all agreed it was a great workout. The hike is worth doing again but the return should be checked out for making a loop.

Twilight Zone Trail

                                                

Northeast View from Twilight Zone Trail

                                       

Congratulations! Guy & Rosie

                 Congratulations, Guy & Rosie Galante! Best Wishes from AtBF!

Krafft Mountain Loop (After Heavy Rains) - 10/13/12

                                Flooded Gateway Canyon from Above

                                       Flooded Gateway Canyon

 Today's twenty-four Saturday hikers got more than they bargained for in colorful Gateway Canyon. Wet and wild! Exciting and fun! We began at the Red Springs Picnic Area parking lot and hiked at the base of the Calico Hills until just past the old filled-in foundation that Guy always calls Uncle Vinny's House. Well, yesterday was Guy and Rosie's wedding day and someone (perhaps the same people that built the sundial in the tank atop the Calico Hills) seemed to be celebrating with a double spiral on Uncle Vinny's foundation. (See photo to left.)

                      New Peak with Barely Visible Washed Out Trail

 We dropped down to cross Ash Creek which was muddy and flowing then began climbing up to 5 Stop Hill. The trails were completely washed out and sometimes, it was difficult to find them as seen in the photo above. Slowly, all twenty-four hikers made it to the top of the saddle. Finally, we hiked down the trail all the way to Gateway Canyon.

                      Starting Down Gateway Canyon with Water Flow

 Very soon, we noticed a fairly strong water flow of about three feet wide sliding down through the canyon limestone gravel. We had a lot of fun stepping across the water and making our way past little water chutes. As the canyon narrowed, things began to get a little more interesting! And, just before we reached the place where normally we have to help ourselves down about three feet, we couldn't go any further without getting our feet wet. Looking for an escape route, we immediately saw a small trail that headed up the hill to the right. At the first rock outcropping, we took our break and put some thought into what should happen next.

                                Lunch Break Above Canyon

 Two hikers decided to scout out the lower regions while taking their chances at the waterfalls. Six hikers decided to return the way they came. The remaining sixteen hikers continued on the high path at the base of Krafft Mountain. This required many hikers who were not used to advanced scrambling to learn what that was like. It was an agreeable solution to all participants as the high road hikers followed a nice set of cairns which eventually led them back down to the canyon floor where navigation was feasible.

                                                     Waterfall

The first photo of this entry shows the two hikers that took the canyon route through the water. The report was made that the first big waterfall was still clear on the right side but, at the bottom, one had to wade through the water. The photo to the left shows a very large bunch of debris that was stopped by the small group of trees as it floated down a presumably heavy water flow. This debris was around five feet tall.

                      Last Waterfall Area Where We Usually Drop Ten Feet

 We had to go up and around a couple more times to avoid getting very wet. It was a group effort getting everyone through the canyon safely. Finally, we headed up out of the canyon to the right trying to follow the washed out trail. Circling around the eastern end of Krafft Mountain, we checked to see if the high waterfall had water. It didn't.

All that was left was the most direct route back to the cars. This hike through the western edge of Calico Basin tends to be long and arduous. Today was no exception as all accounted for hikers were exhausted from their unexpected exertion in the wilderness!

                                Giving Directions Around Water Obstacle

                                                  Rock and Water