Deer Creek / Meadows Loop - 7/22/16

North Loop Trail Corner

Wild Horse Ridge with Deer Creek Road Below

Starting Out

Old Deer Creek Road circling down to Interpretive Trail

 On short notice, nine club members interested in a moderate hike drove up Deer Creek Road in the Spring Mountains NRA to the Deer Creek Picnic Area trailhead parking lot. We took a look at the gully of Deer Creek Canyon behind the restrooms and started down. At the bottom, we realized that the gully was not easily crossed but there turned out to be a small trail that led around the right end under the paved road above. On the other side of the gully, we found our target; remnants of the Old Deer Creek Road.

Passing Up the Resting Benches

 In lieu of hiking up the paved road to the North Loop Trail, we had decided to learn a little about the old road on the other side of the highway. The roundabout way that we explored took us on a much more interesting route to the North Loop.

Old Wood Burning Stove

 As we rounded the Mahogany Grove Group Picnic Area, we connected with an interpretive trail that had recently been installed.

Display Signs about the Civil Conservation Corps

Checking Out the Display Signs

We passed several resting benches made of rock and several old wood burning stoves that may have been gathered from around the Spring Mountains. There were signs explaining tidbits about the CCC (Civil Conservation Corps) that had done so much work in the mountains during the hard times of the Depression. Very interesting. From here, we headed up the hill that would take us to the back side of the Cougar Ridge Trail parking turnout. We crossed over this hill and dropped again into a gully.

Climbing Up behind the Cougar Ridge Trail Turnout

 Another part of the Old Deer Creek Road was found in the gully. We followed it down wash for a short way then it veered up to the right. This circled around the hill then continued; but here, we turned to the right.

Crossing Deer Creek Road on Old Road

 We started hiking up an old spur road that headed straight for the new paved road. We crossed the pavement and continued on this old road until we climbed up to junction with the North Loop Trail.

North Loop Trail

North Loop Trail

 A right turn started us up the familiar trail. We were already tired from the little ups and downs we had done so it was interesting how the previous workout changed our pace at the North Loop landmarks. Business was slow today. Not many hikers on the trail otherwise. Wishing to keep the moderate hike moderate, we climbed slowly and stopped about every third of a mile.  Each time we restarted after a short rest, it was difficult to get our breathing back to the proper cadence.

Nearing the North Loop Meadow

 But, our legs were thankful. It was a beautiful day; a little warm but a nice cool breeze at times.

Entering the North Loop Meadow

 When we reached the North Loop Meadow, we stopped under the tree and took our snack break. Mummy's Nose pointed upward in the distance.

Meadow Break

Mummy's Nose from Meadow

 The break was relaxing after the climb then we gathered ourselves for the descent portion of the hike. The route led us up to the end of the meadow where we turned to the right onto the Wild Horse Canyon connector trail. This is a pleasant small trail that weaves in and out and up and down through the woods. To our right was a view of the desert foothills and playas. When the trail took a decided right turn down, we began small steep switchbacks. This took a bit of concentration. Finally, we found the Cactus Jack Trail junction.

Turning onto the Wild Horse Connector Trail

 The Cactus Jack Trail continues straight at the intersection while the Wild Horse Canyon Trail turns down to the right.

Small Steep Wild Horse Switchbacks

 The Cactus Jack Trail was named for Cactus Jack, a legendary man who pioneered many trails in the Las Vegas area. This trail was one.

Zigzagging down to Cactus Jack Trail

Wild Horse Ridge from Cactus Jack Trail

 As we climbed the small trail, we could see Wild Horse Ridge rising across the canyon. This ridge is made of a conglomerate type rock that has eroded on either side of its half mile. The higher cliff is on the far side above Cougar Ridge Trail and Deer Creek. Soon, we were climbing up on the top end of the rock ridge. This part of the hike (the ridge) is always a favorite. It isn't difficult and there are views from beginning to end. The group enjoyed the small descent without stopping.

Top End of Wild Horse Ridge

 There was wild horse evidence on the ridge. They hang out in the Deer Creek area but we didn't see any horses today.

Middle of Wild Horse Ridge

 At the bottom end of the rock ridge, we turned onto a trail to the left and followed it all the way down to Cougar Ridge Trail. On the road, we turned left.

Bottom of Wild Horse Ridge

Turning Left on Cougar Ridge Trail

 Interestingly, we met up with one then two hikers on the road needing information and direction. We were happy to help. Then, when there was a road turning to the right with a gate across it, we turned and headed down through the Deer Creek Picnic Area on the asphalt. The creek was running and there were a few picnickers around. We passed a humongous tree that was recently cut down and looked like a great jungle gym for kids. Then we crossed the pavement again and returned to the cars. Always fun to find new routes! Great morning!

5 miles; 1350 feet elevation gain; 2.75 hours

Dropping down through the Deer Creek Picnic Area

Fun New Climbing Log

Returning to the Cars

Fletcher Peak via Hummingbird Gulch - 7/19/16

Hummingbird Gulch Overlook

Fletcher Peak Trail view to South Loop Trail

Fletcher Peak view to Griffith Peak

Trailhead: Note Low Concrete Barriers

 The Hummingbird Gulch Trailhead in the Spring Mountains NRA is located on Deer Creek Road 0.4 miles south (below) the well-marked Robbers' Roost Trailhead. The small parking turnout amounts to an old blocked off (with small concrete pillars) dirt road. Today, we managed to get three cars with fourteen hikers into the small parking space. An option for parking is the Robbers' Roost Trailhead where a walk down the dirt road found not far up the Robbers' Roost Trail can be taken.

Starting Up from the Old Road

 It has been a long time since the blogger actually accompanied the famous Around the Bend Friends Tuesday group so the blog might be a tad lengthy.

Gaining Elevation Quickly

 So happy were they that the blogger was there to work that the pace may have been slightly slower than on a usual Tuesday! They modestly said the pace was the same as always.

Snail Fossil and Sea Creature Fossil

Up through the Scree

 The hike began up the old dirt road then very soon turned to the left at a large cairn. The trail started out at a decent slope but as soon as we left the woods and entered the gulch, the slope steepened. Someone has built many cairns on the trail but, for the most part, the trail was easy to follow. Most of the time, we were climbing along the northern (right) slope of the gulch. The scree was much easier to climb than it was to descend later in the morning.

A Quick Look Back

 As we began to scramble, the smell of death permeated our nostrils. The wind carried the smell from down canyon. Something was dead in the thick brush of the wash.

Zigzagging Up

 There was quite a bit of scrambling from here up to the spring in the narrows. Scree, brush, stinging nettles and logs hindered our progress up the limestone steps.

Nearing the Gulch Narrows

View Back to Narrows

 Finally, we reached the narrows of the gulch. There is a particularly difficult scree climb just before this. Watch for falling rocks dislodged by fellow hikers. This fine tuned group of hikers were well aware of this danger and everyone made it through the narrows without a scratch. The spring that begins in this area was flowing well and we had to step over the water a couple of times to stay on the trail. Next, five of the fourteen hikers decided to take a small side trip up to the right to take in the overlook view as seen in the first photo.

Spring Area in Narrows

 After the short respite at the overlook, we turned to continue up the ravine. The other hikers had already started up.

A Short Visit to the Overlook

 The trail through the ravine was very well cairned which was nice since the trail was not clear here and there.

Down to Gulch from Overlook

One of Many Log Crossings

 We had to cross several logs that were across the trail. The ravine was not as steep as the gulch but it was still a hard climb through the woods. Several times we thought we saw the blue sky of the saddle. This terrain fools you. At last, we not only saw the saddle's blue sky but we also saw the front hikers waiting at the top where we would junction with the Fletcher Peak Trail a short way up from the Fletcher Saddle. Again, the jovial bunch allowed the blogger time to recover and we turned to the left to start up to the peak.

Cairned Trail Up through Ravine

 Surprisingly, the peak climb felt easy after all that steepness!

Front Runners await on the Fletcher Peak Trail

 Most of the hikers went on up while the blogger and one other hiker enjoyed the familiar trail at the end of the line.

Starting Up the Fletcher Peak Trail from Junction

Rock Outcroppings near Summit

 Upon arriving at the peak, the gang was all there and they handed the last two hikers the sign in log book. Although there is another peak that rises two feet higher past the rocky peak that we always go to, that peak has trees on top and there are no views. We always stop here satisfied that we made the climb. While we rested, an unknown hiker came up after having hiked the second peak. So, a pleasant long break was enjoyed on a beautiful day with a slight breeze on our rocky peak.

Charleston Peak from Fletcher Peak

 We were not in any particular hurry to start down. We all knew the work that would be!

Pleasantly Long Break on the Peak

 Our descent off of Fletcher Peak was executed as a group.

Charleston Peak & Kyle Canyon from Fletcher Peak

Down Fletcher Peak Trail

Hiking down the familiar trail was relaxing. We almost took a turn down the wrong ravine but quickly corrected ourselves and went around the last small false peak. Then, there it was. A large cairn marked the proper descent ravine and down we went. Here is where the group began to spread out a little. The blogger was leading the last small group down and watching for those cairns very carefully. So much concentration was used that no photos were taken until we reached the spring area where the other hikers were waiting.

Vogue in the Gulch

 It was smart for the group to begin the scrambling together.

Dropping Down Hummingbird Gulch at Spring Area

 The pace was quick but everyone was definitely being careful as we negotiated the scree filled gulch.

Going through the Narrows

Losing Elevation Quickly

 As we got through the worst of the scrambling, the group began to spread out again. Back to watching for cairns, the blogger was being tailed by two other hikers. Skills were used. Knees hung in there. A few photos were taken. The cars were a wonderful yet melancholy sight! The blogger wanted to do it again ... just maybe not today! Nice morning.

5 miles; 2400 feet elevation gain; 4 hours

Trail on Scree Hillside

A Treacherous Drop Here

Common Mullein along the Hummingbird Gulch Trail nearing the Trailhead