Cockscomb Ridge Traverse - 6/21/13

Arch Location on Cockscomb Ridge

 Richard, Eva, Steve and Jim found another adventure on Friday within the Spring Mountains NRA. These are some of Richard's photos from the strenuous traverse of Cockscomb Ridge. They climbed up Trail Canyon and started out Cockscomb Ridge. After climbing the precarious peak on the ridge, they started down the ridge past the peak.

Sitting Under the Arch

 After conquering some pretty tough terrain, they made it to the arch that can be viewed from the new Echo parking lot. Without a GPS track, the writer is unsure if the location of the arch in the last photo is correct. Nevertheless, it looked like a very interesting day for the four club members!

View Down the Ridge

Harris Peak - 6/20/13

Griffith Peak Through Tree from Harris Peak Ascent

Red Rock Escarpment & Mt. Potosi from Harris Peak

 Today's climb up to the summit of Harris Peak was a Tuesday hike with a Thursday pace. Even though the pace was not hurried, the climb up through Rainbow Canyon and then up to the peak was formidable. Can we say B-E-A-R? Yes, I think we can! This hike is only 4.5 miles but with almost 3000 feet of elevation gain in 2.25 miles, it is fair to say that this is a hike for the strongest members of the club.

 Thirteen of those strong hikers arrived at the small dirt parking area above the small Mt. Charleston community of Rainbow and began their hike straight up the main dirt drag. The route continues straight onto a trail and soon bears off to the right. This trail, perhaps one of the Spring Mountains' steepest is the Rainbow Canyon Trail. Except for the very beginning, the trail is well worn in spite of many downed trees over the path.

Mummy's Toe from Rainbow Canyon Ascent

Happy at the Saddle

The group struggled strongly up the hill and made it to the saddle on Harris Springs Trail for a small break. Here, the hiker has a choice. Making a right on this good trail will eventually take you around the base of Griffith Peak and the South Loop. Making a left on the Harris Springs Trail will take you around Harris Peak and out to Harris Springs Road, a 4WD high clearance road at this point. The third choice is taking a left then another quick left up the ridge. This is the choice we made today.

 The trail up to Harris Peak is not well marked nor well worn in many places. We discussed a plan, today, to return on a Tuesday and place enough cairns to mark a trail that does not include brush. However, today, brush it was on the ascent! We swam through low growth aspens on a three-false-peak journey up the hill. We were obviously too far to the left. The steep slope theme of the day continued as we lost and found the trail several times.

Climbing Through Brush on Harris Peak

Lovell Canyon Beyond Ascent Slope

  The views on both sides of the ridge were majestic. We got a view of the whole Kyle Canyon up to Mt. Charleston Peak at our seven o'clock. At our six o'clock was Griffith Peak. Lovell Canyon with the back side of the Red Rock escarpment was at three o'clock and Mummy Mountain watched us climb from our nine o'clock perspective. Yep! Harris Peak called to us from directly in front.


 As we got closer to the summit, the trees became smaller and smaller. The low growth flowers were blooming all around. The wind brought just enough coolness into the air after a windless climb. We reached the top and were blown away by the surrounding views.

Jon Breaks a Smile Near Summit

Thirteen AtBF Hikers on Harris Peak Summit

 After attending to the immediate business of writing in the log book and taking required photos, we sat for our snacks and enjoyed looking around. A few fossils are found here and there and the geological survey marker has been there since 1957. All very nice but, then, we had to face the very steep down climb in front of us. By watching a previous GPS track, we managed to stay on trail going down to the saddle. There was a lot less brush this way.

 We took another small break at the saddle then faced the music. Rainbow Canyon ... DOWN! Until we reached the dirt road in Rainbow, we were watching our every step and still sliding once in a while. At least, the trail was dry! What a workout! In the end, thirteen hikers got back to the cars with all their limbs intact. Great morning in the Spring Mountains!

Finding the Trail on Harris Peak Descent

Descending Steep Rainbow Canyon Trail

Mt. Charleston - 6/18/13

Nine AtBF Hikers on Mt. Charleston Peak with Mummy Mountain in Background

 It doesn't get more Super Tuesday than this, folks! Mike OC checks in with these photos and prose from today's summit.

Nine roosters assembled at the Santa Fe in the wee hours of the morning to tackle southern Nevada's highest peak:  Mt Charleston.  The weather was nigh perfect, although a tad chilly, as we started up Trail Canyon in the shade.  Four hours and a little change later, we stood atop the summit.  The panorama was breathtaking.  

Looking for a change of scenery, Steve decided to take us back down via the South Trail.  If the ascent pace was tedious and taxing, the descent was lightning fast.  Little conversation, no photos--just go.  Highlights abounded on this high elevation Tuesday, but two stood out:  

A sub eight-hour loop and ice cold beer at the trailhead.  Big smiles at the South Loop trailhead, as brewskis were downed and tales of the trek grew more outrageous.  Some estimated we spent more time in the parking lot than we did on the trail.

Vitals:  17 miles, 5k vertical, 7:58 elapsed time.

MOC

Celebration!

Today's Hikers Did the Reverse of This

Today's Hikers Did the Reverse of This

E la Tan Point - 6/17/13

E la Tan Point

Squeeze Play

 Meanwhile, back at Red Rock ... three AtBF members learn a little about rappelling. Richard took Jim and Steve up E la Tan Point, a pinnacle attached to the Red Rock NCA escarpment. Then they all rappelled down. Richard says he is taking the AtBF to the next level .... Anyone else game?

Richard says, "E la Tan is a very prominent pinnacle located southwest and under Mount Wilson. The challenge was finding the route getting to the summit." He sent these photos of their day.

Jim, Richard & Steve On Point

Steve Rappels

Jim Rappels

Topo Map of Their Hike

South Sister Saddle Loop via Lower Bristlecone Trail CCW - 6/17/13

Wild Horse Among Flowers on Ridge

South Sister from Ridge Trail

 Fifteen hikers (including one that we made friends with at the trail head) arrived for an ambitious Monday hike that is still being perfected called the South Sister Saddle Loop A. With optional routes coming into play, the hike can be anywhere between 6 and 8 miles with a total elevation gain of over 2100 feet. Today, the majority of the hikers chose the 8 mile version and this is the hike which will be described below.

 We parked at the Lower Bristlecone Trailhead off of Lee Canyon Highway and began hiking up the forest road searching for the manhole cover on the right side of the gravel road. There is a small worn trail that leads down the hill here. This is the detour around the construction going on at the Old Mill Picnic Area. Hiking around the top end of the orange construction fence, we connected with a rock lined path. A few feet further, we stepped over the rocks and began hiking up a wooded wash complete with another small worn trail. If you pass the sign seen in the photo to the right, you are on the right trail.

Climbing to the South Sister Saddle

Lee Peak View from Ascent Trail Near Saddle

 This trail begins by ascending on a comfortable slope but after crossing some downed rotted logs, the slope becomes steeper and steeper. By the time we reached the saddle, we were ready for a small rest as we waited for the last hikers to arrive. Looking around, it was obvious that we had come upon a favorite hanging out place for the wild horses in the area. Someone suggested that it was probably due to the crosswinds that blew past the dip in the terrain. (Or, they just like the view!)

 After our rest, we turned up the slope on the left and immediately found yet another small trail climbing up the ridge. This ridge was filled with old leafless bristlecones and bunches of small summer flowers. The views of many surrounding mountains were outstanding. As we hiked the gentle slope up, we spotted two wild horses munching nearby. We didn't want to spook the beautiful gentle animals so we took our photos from a distance among the many flowers.

Mummy Mountain from Ridge Trail

Two Wild Horses Near Ridge

 After enjoying the wild horses for a few moments, we continued hiking up the ridge line. Here, two hikers decided to explore a horse trail that they hoped would lead them laterally around to the Bonanza Trail. No such luck. The trail petered out and demanded its own climb while the ridge hikers were enjoying more fantastic views above. Nevertheless, we all joined up on the Bonanza Trail in the same vicinity. (The ridge hikers T-boned into the Bonanza Trail about a quarter mile further up.)

 The photo to the right indicates the wash where the optional trail comes out at the Bonanza Trail. If one wanted to hike the loop in the reverse direction, the ridge trail would be found on the next hill going north past the McFarland Peak view seen below. At any rate, we happily hiked south on the Bonanza Trail enjoying the scenic trail itself.

McFarland Peak from Bonanza Trail

Hiking Bonanza Trail

 We gathered at the No Name trail junction where the wilderness sign stands at the bottom of the Bonanza Trail steps. We tried to find shade to sit and have a snack however, the sun was just overhead and shade was scarce. After our break, we continued down the switchbacks from where we could see the ridge that we had hiked between the South Sister Saddle and the Bonanza Trail. After arriving at the Bristlecone junction, we turned left onto the forest road of the Lower Bristlecone Trail.

 As we neared the short cut turn off, we each decided which way we preferred to go. Would it be the shortened steep down slope to the cars or would it be the gentle slope of the forest road adding a mile to the outing? Around five hikers took the short cut and the rest prolonged the enjoyment of the day on the road. After signing out and leaving the parking lot, we saw around 8 more wild horses milling around near the highway. Unfortunately, we did not see the beautiful brightly colored colt that had been seen in this same area a couple of weeks ago.

Junctioning with Bristlecone Trail

Following Bristlecone Forest Road Down to Trail Head

Elevation Chart for Optional Bonanza Trail Approach and Forest Road Down

Elevation Chart Reflecting Majority of Hikers Today

Elevation Chart Reflecting Ridge Trail at Top and Short Cut at Bottom

3D of Loop Hike Showing Optional Routes