Pinnacles & Ponds (Valley of Fire SP) - 12/16/21

Pinnacles

Pinnacles heading into Serpentine Canyon

Ponds in the Magnesite Wash

Out of the Shade and into the Sun

With the discovery of the Serpentine Canyon and its close proximity to the Pinnacles located near the Drop Slot of Valley of Fire State Park, the Six with Sticks (okay, Jerry and Cheryl don't usually carry sticks!) drove up and parked at P3 Trailhead to explore another route to tie the two attractions together. Keeping in mind that the area had a good rain storm two days prior, we expected some impassable washes. ... And, we were not disappointed! On a very cold morning with only a slight breeze, we dropped down toward the Gibraltar Rock and turned left. Hiking in the freezing shade, we hiked a very quick pace to the end of the rock wall where there is a cut to the right following a path up a small hill. At the top of the hill, we finally found sun!

Familiar Spot

Pastel Bowl

Meeting up after First Slot

Making our way Through the Sandstone

When the rocks opened up on the left side, we climbed up and found a game trail. This trail led us out toward a round mound in the near distance. Just before we reached the mound, we came to the Pastel Bowl that flows down to the right. Since the rock was still a bit wet, the colors were a little deeper than shades of pastels. We hiked down through a chosen wash and came to a slot that exited the wash on the right side. This was our first puddle. While Jerry, Cheryl and Mike figured out how to scale the wall and get by the water, the remaining three went on down to go through the next opening. The first three saw two bighorns looking down at them from a sandstone cliff while we waited for them on up. From there, we all continued up the sandstone and through a curved slot. Next, we had to climb a rocky hill to the ridge that overlooked the Pinnacles area.

Cone Rocks

High Point before Pinnacles

Heading down to the Pinnacles

Soaking in the Sun

Hiking down to observe the Pinnacles, we found the head of an old shovel lying near a 1938 survey marker. The sun was shining in our eyes as we tried to take photos of the pinnacles then we turned to our left to circle around and find the down climb back to the Serpentine Canyon. We had to search four different "alleys" before we found the alley that had the hikable down climb. As we dropped, we saw that the area we entered at the bottom was a gorgeous collection of giant pinnacles that we had not seen before. Continuing down through the wash, we junctioned with the Serpentine Wash a little further down than where we left it previously.

                                                     Antique Shovel at 1938 Survey Marker

Top of Drop down to Serpentine Canyon

Mike conducts the "Symphony of the Pinnacles"

Dropping into Pinnacle Valley

Immediately, we came to one of the Slithering Slots filled with mud then water. We went around to the left. Next, we came to the Duck Slot. At the bottom, we saw a veritable lake. We went around. Further down the wash, we had to creatively go around more big puddles. Then, we came to the next slot ... a slot that I had had nightmares about the night before. I just knew this one would be deep water. And, ... believe it or not, there was no water. Hmmm. So, we dropped down the difficult drop that would be also difficult to go back up and ... yes, more water just around the corner. The fun continued as we found our way around the ponds and puddles up on the walls to the side. Finally, crying "uncle," we decided to use one of the escape canyons on the left. Three of us were already on the left but the other three on the right, crossed and climbed up to the ridge and met us at the following saddle. At last, we sat for our break.

Drop to Pinnacle Valley

Junction with Serpentine Canyon and the Slithering Slots

The Duck Slot - A No Go

Scrambling around the Ponds

Our detour out of the Serpentine Canyon sent us on a direct trajectory toward the Magnesite Wash, cutting off a considerable corner of the route. The detour was interesting as we dealt with whatever we came to. I never had so much fun! Finally, we dropped into the Magnesite Wash which had its own lakes and ponds. But, in this wash, it was much easier to find alternate routes around on the sides. At one point, we stayed up on the sandstone slab for around 50 feet while Jerry and Cheryl enjoyed the challenge of stepping and scrambling around the water. We were in this main wash for almost a half mile before we came to the junction of the Red Pinnacle Wash coming in on the left side. We turned to the left and were met with ... more ponds.

Slot Drop without Water at Bottom

The Detour to Magnesite Wash avoiding more Water Holes

Virgin Peak beyond Valley of Fire and Lake Mead

Detour Terrain

The Red Pinnacle Wash (aka Weird Canyon) is narrow with shortish pale colored walls. It wasn't far before we came to the "Epsilon Spring." No one is sure that this is really a spring but a little further up resides the Delta Spring. This is really a spring with cattails and all! We took our first group photo here and continued up the wash. There are many forks in this wash so its ascent is sometimes puzzling. We followed my wiggling track and kept to the top of the walls when necessary to avoid water. (Except for Jerry and Cheryl!) When we hiked into a redstone section of the canyon, we saw the Red Pinnacle in the distance. We took our second group photo here then continued up the canyon until it ran out. On level ground, we found a major game trail and began our hike back toward the Gibraltar Rock walls.

Junction of Magnesite Wash and the Red Pinnacle Canyon

Six with Sticks at the Delta Spring

Navigating the Red Pinnacle Canyon above the Water

Arriving at the Red Pinnacle

There are a couple of main thoroughfare game trails in this area and we ended up on a different one than what was optimal. Anyways, we found our way back to the wall exit. We turned left to hike along the wall and when we got back to the Fire Wave trail, there was a large group (maybe 9) bighorns eating grass not far from scattered hikers. These, plus the two we saw on the hike, several that we saw on the way into the park and the way out of the park made this a bighorn type of day! We all had bunches of fun taking on the small challenges presented to us by the pinnacles and ponds.

Stats: 6 miles; 1000' gain; 4.75 hours

Six with Sticks at the Red Pinnacle

Following Game Trails to Return

One of almost Twenty Bighorns we Saw Today

Bighorn Butte Bypass - 12/13/21

Bighorn Butte Ridge above Colorful Terrain

Interesting Geology

Red Terrain at High Point

Hiking in the Wide Wash

Last year, Rita and I scoped out an interesting route into the hills from Long View Trailhead on Lakeshore Road. It brought the attention of Chuck H., a well-known Lake Mead hiker (aka A. Hiker) so, today, the Six with Sticks plus A. Hiker went out to see if we could duplicate the route. Of course, Chuck knew about 70% of the terrain but he really liked how we had put it all together. So, welcoming back travelers Jerry, Cheryl and Rita, we crossed Lakeshore Road, stepped over the tortoise fence and dropped into the wide wash on a convenient mosaic cement drain. A vague trail took us into the middle of the wash and we hiked across and up to a large crumbled white boulder that at one point had broken off the north side. 

Wardrobe Change at Road Saddle

First Climb to Ridge

Tough Section behind Us

Following Sheep Trails along Ridge

Here, there is an old road used to build the power lines. We hiked up the road to the saddle on the ridge and, already, needed to make a wardrobe change. It was a very cold day but the sun was arriving fast. We turned left and began our main ascent of the day. We climbed to the top of the initial ridge peak and started following a game trail seen among the rocks. After another couple of little rises, we followed a trail that headed around the next peak to the right. The game trails are very rocky and must be taken at a slow pace. We circled around the peak on a long curve and passed the next smaller peak on the same trail. At this next saddle, the game trail changed sides and circled around the left side of the peak in front of us.

Entering Colorful Section

Death Valley Colors

Passing Beacon Junior

Climbing past Catclaw Bushes

 This is a scary section that takes caution and care. Jerry and Cheryl tried going up and over the peak in front of us but it was not a route for us regular hikers due to the drop off on the other side. At the next saddle, the game trail circles around on the right side of the ridge again. Next, it begins a gentle drop down to a white smooth rock surface at the base of the Bighorn Butte ridge. Here, the trail is easily followed to a deep wash staying above it. Chuck suggests to make your way into the wash and enjoy a small slot that we circumvented around the corner. The route then goes into the beautiful "Death Valley-like" scenery, past a junior beacon, and up, over and around arroyos following game trails that were mostly apparent. 

More Color

Following Wash

Overlook

Scramble Up

Following the nearby wash at one point, we headed in a straightish southern trajectory until we reached a high point and dropped into a main wash or two on the other side. This main wash is the exit wash, however, first, we continued up the main wash to a smaller wash on the right side landmarked by a large cube-ish boulder by itself on the right. Before we headed up, we showed Jerry and Cheryl the challenging canyon at the end. They optimistically scampered up (for the record, it was my idea) and we left to do the easier wash. At the top, we never saw the two strong and knowledgable hikers but did receive a text from them saying they had gotten cliffed out. 😑 With phone service at the bottom of the slot, they called us and we arranged a meeting. 

Jerry & Cheryl climb into the Tough Canyon

The Easier Canyon

Top of Easier Canyon

Bighorn Head

We had had our break at the top, observed two bighorns stand at the ridge and change their minds about coming down to our canyon, and started down the beautiful easier canyon. At the bottom, we met up with J&C and we all started down the exit wash. The first scramble in this canyon is the best. The next two or three scrambles have go arounds. When we saw the column that houses the arch, we knew we had made it past the really fun stuff. We made our group photo here through the arch and continued down the widening wash. It wasn't long before we could see that scary part of the ridge game trail high above us to the left. Next, we enjoyed a rock formation up to our right. (Man lying down with some kind of head gear on!)

Nevermind.

Starting down the Exit Wash

Nice Scramble

A Scramble Go Around

The wide wash curves right and left before it spills out onto a wide flattened expanse toward an arm of Lake Mead. We stepped up the pace challenging Chuck's well-known fast legs! We found the trail to the drainage, climbed up and stepped over the tortoise fence. Hiking into the trailhead parking lot, we had shortened the time on the hike from last year by twenty minutes. This is a challenging hike for people with exposure issues, otherwise, it is beautiful and fun! Happy trails, Chuck!

Stats: 6.5 miles; 1225' gain; 4.75 hours

Column with Arch Ahead

Seven A-Restin' at the Arch

Curve in the Exit Wash