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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Located along the Northshore of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the Pinto Valley Wilderness is a fine small wilderness unit able to absorb a multiday backpack, complete with a nice spring to set up a nearby basecamp. I picked up my good friend and coworker Deb at McCarran Airport and we headed in for 3 days. Deb was ready to get out of the PNW for a few days, too. We had few goals in mind, to both do some hiking and appreciating of rock art. She wanted to journal and draw, both things she does masterfully. I wanted to ascend the occasional summit. Opportunities abounded.
Tuesday:
Starting on the Northshore Road, we headed in near the Redstone picnic area. Sandstone Spring, and basecamp, are only 3 nearly level miles in.
Deb searching at the start Avoiding a void Pinto Valley Wilderness, NV Spring! Sandstone Spring area camp Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Wednesday:
We explored the famed Pinto Valley and then I scampered up a couple easy summits Peak 2733 and Boulder Peak, overlooking Lake Mead.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Lake Mead National Recreation Area colors To those summits next Pinto Valley Wilderness, NV Boulder Peak NW ridgewalk Pyramid and Saddle Mountains Pinto Valley Wilderness, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV Sentinel again Harsh times Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Thursday:
I woke early for an exciting Class 3/4 scramble of nearly 1000 vertical feet of tilted sandstone of the gorgeous formation of "The Sentinel" 3207'
The Sentinel N Face climb Slab climbing Fine slab scrambling Summit view east Pinto Valley Wilderness, NV Distant metropolis Descending slabs Sentinel route, looking back
The hike out was gentle and leisurely.
Sentinel N Face Route Last look at Redstone
Found some art:
My sense is that this art shows the geographic melding of Ancestral Puebloan and southern Mojave Desert tribal ancestry.
snake various slab 2 slab view slab turtle? bird feet? Pinto Valley Wilderness, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV curves and circles anasazi 1 In sandstone; Pinto Valley Wilderness, NV
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Wed Nov 18, 2015 9:23 pm
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Looks great. I could use some of that about right now.
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Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
Awesome trip. Thanks for the desert trip report. I'm hoping to get down that way soon.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Gimpilator wrote: | Awesome trip. Thanks for the desert trip report. I'm hoping to get down that way soon. |
Thanks, Gimpilator. I feel like we share inspiration at times when heading down this way. Looking forward to your postings once you arrive.
John
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Doppelganger wrote: | John, I'm assuming you knew what was out there and where to look before heading to Sandstone Spring, but I am curious - did you find this slab by chance? Can you describe how that occurred (without offering information on it's location of course)?
Edit: I'm more interested in what was going through your mind when you found it |
Hi Doppelganger,
Very few of my sites are true "finds". One of the Mojave painted caves in another TR was such a find...laborsome travel and looking for physical features that may house habitation at some point.
Pinto Valley I got general info from by way of Kay Plaza and Bird and Hike websites. Then it was a matter of finding jumbles of rockfall with Deb and sharing a search around. In anasazi country it is looking at buttresses, alcoves, varnish faces, etc. In Mojave Country it seems more random. I can spend a lot of time failing to find anything. Just got out of Spirit Mountain and Bridge canyon Wildernesses with my friend Laurie. Other than the famous sites it was sparse. Laurie found a nice petro of an atlatl and dart and a single rakey thingy and we were happy after 5 days travel!. I've been concentrating at varnished rock piles, water sources, and caves here in Mojave. Binocs are indespensible!!!!!
Happy exploring.
I do share locations once I get a sense of conscientious travel and visitation and genuine appreciation. "Tread Lightly" indeed!!!! NPS Ranger asked I not post on the painted caves sites so I am vague about that general location.
I appreciate you asking. I want to engage in discussion with others regarding such ethics to see what is right and proper toward encouraging caring folks to view and gain inspiration from such places without encouraging the vandals.
John
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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MojaveGeek Member
Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 49 | TRs | Pics
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You do wonder how much rock art is out there that you just miss, what fraction you find. I'm glad you found that big red slab in the main valley. Of course, to someone out there on foot, you can find that piece just from your photo. In fact, I was out there with Jim from birdandhike and though he'd been before, he had not found that site, but I had a photo like yours from a friend and walked right up to it. Well I knew where it was within about 1/4 mile from verbal description. And then Jim showed me some I never would have noticed while just hiking through.
I think it is paranoid to not put up photos but best to not give detailed text directions in any public site on the web.
Your horizontal slab that's all covered with art is very nice. I like that one a lot. Maybe some day I'll get back out there and find it Like you say, when you start to get a sense of where to look, you find them.
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Eric Hansen Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2015 Posts: 866 | TRs | Pics Location: Wisconsin |
Thanks again John for a great tr, pics. I've been north of Bowl Of Fire, never worked the south side of the road.
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Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
Hi John,
I was out in this area again yesterday. I first heard rumor of these panels from some fellow hikers, about 3 years ago. I've looked for them a few times, but no luck. Wish I had the skill you do for finding good rock art.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Gimpilator wrote: | Hi John,
I was out in this area again yesterday. I first heard rumor of these panels from some fellow hikers, about 3 years ago. I've looked for them a few times, but no luck. Wish I had the skill you do for finding good rock art. |
Hi Adam,
At some point I'll likely carry a GPS to get coords but for now written descriptions and maps is what I can provide, of course. Before you go back (lots of destinations in there though you've almost hit 'em all) I'll give you the details I can remember to the art. Getting caught up at perusing all the available varnish faces really can eat into my peak time!
I'd like to have given you my loop info for Hoover Dam Peaks out of Goldstrike as I found it to be quite aesthetic and fun! (I'll cross post this in your recent TR)
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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