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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
After my time in Death Valley I parked it at Lake Mead Boulder Campground for a few nights with the intent to do some dayhikes. Being that I hadn't seen much rock art in a while, I had a craving. Most of the sites I had yet to see nearby were short hikes, or even drive ups with a 4WD, so I thought what better way to enjoy them but to add a scramble or two of nearby summits. Thus, a plan was hatched.
Nov 26. Petroglyph Wash, Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
My Honda Civic left we with a 3 mile hike to the rock art located in a wash adjacent to a jeep trail. From there I sought a pair of summits that, while unknown, I figured would give me great views of the mountainous terrain all around Lake Mead. It did not dissapoint and made for a great Class 2 (touch of 3) loop hike of 12 miles. The map will explain it better than words.
Petroglyph Wash Petroglyph Wash and Peak 3323' P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 Three levels! Up the wash Barrel cactus Lake Mead National Rec Area, AZ. Scramble out of wash The wash canyon Climbing out Endless Mtns from Peak 3448' Oops, that looks higher Funner scramble, too Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ Arch Mountain to north Fun S. Ridge descent exit canyon with summit behind parting shot
Nov 27:
I did a fairly long TH commute of 35 minutes to get to the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. A BLM wilderness (N. McCullough Wilderness) so preserved for its spectacular petroglyphs. Lots of info in the web. The rock art is a 3 mile round trip hike up a pleasant canyon wash with a couple nice Class 2 dryfalls to scramble. The rock art starts immediately beyond the dryfalls. Very impressive displays.
Sloan Canyon mouth Easy dryfalls S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 Frogman? S6 S7 Sutor Benchmark behind S8 S9 S10 S11 On to Sutor
Then it was time to head SE up a side canyon to take me on a pleasant scramble of Sutor Benchmark, an area highpoint. The north ridge is mostly a pleasant walk, except for the 30 mph winds of the advancing cold front.
North McCullough Wilderness, NV North McCullough Wilderness, NV Climbing out of canyon Over there next; N. McCullough Wilderness, NV pencil cactus N. McCulloughs behind cacti
From Sutor it was time to descend west to connect two very interesting pinnacles with assorted Class 3 scrambling, occasionally loose, to run the traverse. Fun stuff, even in the wind and light rain. The first pinnacle, Canine Crag, I gained from its Class 2/3 SE slope. Continuing down its solid and aesthetic Class 3/4 NW Ridge, I accessed the next crag via its SE Slope as well.
Many little pinnacles SE Ridge Canine Crag Feline Fang next Great W. Ridge descent of Canine McCullough over Sutor over Canine
I descended the NW Ridge of the 2nd(western) crag, called Feline Fang, via its Class 3 NW Face which brought me down to a maintained trail. Trail 300 returned me to Sloan Canyon and the Visitor Center.
NW Face Feline descent The Crags from Trail 300 Trail 300 petroglyph Trail 300
Nov 28. Willow Beach Peaks, Black Canyon, Colorado River. Lake Mead NRA.
Up one wash, lots of awesome Class 2 scrambling, down another with a couple fun downclimbs of Class 3 dryfalls. This route connects 3 peaks known by and named by the local Vegas Area mountaineer types. A 5 mile loop out of the Willow Beach Campground/concessionaire area of Lake Mead NRA. In keeping with the theme, a few riverside petroglyphs started me off.
Willow Beach Petroglyphs WB2 hard to make out curvylinear WB3 Colorado River Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ Willow Beach. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ Easy canyon ascent looking downcanyon; Lake Mead NRA, AZ Onto North Ridge of Sarada Devi Further up ridge great scrambling On top Over there next East Face of Kenny Peak Came from over there Willow Beach Peak SE Ridge scramble of WB Peak Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ Black Canyon, Colorado River View Southwest On the return Descending E Face Kenny fine scrambling Back over Sarada Devi Descent canyon is steep at first easy dryfalls out
“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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Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
The Lake Meade area, with numerous peaks and washes, seems to offer an endless amount of fun exploration possibilities. Heather and I have only begun to scratch the surface there, but it's quickly becoming one of my favorite places to hike. Thanks for sharing this beta.
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fairweather friend Member
Joined: 31 May 2012 Posts: 322 | TRs | Pics Location: Not so dispersed |
This a great area to explore by canoe or kayak, as well. The section of the Colorado River below Hoover Dam is called Black Canyon, (not to be confused with Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a Class V section of the Gunnison River in the state of Colorado.) This Black Canyon is all Class 1, meaning that while the water is moving (i.e., there's a current) the water's surface is entirely smooth and there are no rapids. You can paddle up it as well as down. It's 12 miles from Hoover Dam down to the marina at Willow Beach, where you can rent canoes and sea kayaks. Undeveloped campsites can be found along the shore at various washes and flat spots.
Highlights of this section include a half-dozen hot springs, some of which are crystal clear, low-sulfur, and toasty warm. All hot springs contain naegleria fowleri (brain-eating ameobas), so don't snort the water! There are trails from the roads above down to some of these springs, but it's much easier to access them from the water. There are lots of options for day hikes and scrambles and some of those feature petroglyphs. There's also an old wooden plank path high above the river on a cliff face that was used by the men who read the river gauge 50 years ago. You can still walk the plank, so to speak, and it's a hoot.
Best of all: the elevation of the river in Black Canyon is 1,250 feet, half again as low as Las Vegas. So if it's 65 and sunny in Vegas (not atypical, even in Jan/Feb) it will be in the 70's or higher down on the river. Super nice, coming from a winter in the PNW!
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MojaveGeek Member
Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 49 | TRs | Pics
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Any trouble getting to the Sloan Canyon trailhead? Last time I was in the area there was a lot of construction around the road in, and I heard that the road in is open only limited hours?
Those are very nice petros indeed!!
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Eric Hansen Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2015 Posts: 860 | TRs | Pics Location: Wisconsin |
I did Hidden Valley (east of Muddy Mts.) several times 20 years back and it was fabulous. Otherworldly sandstone, glyphs.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
MojaveGeek wrote: | Any trouble getting to the Sloan Canyon trailhead? Last time I was in the area there was a lot of construction around the road in, and I heard that the road in is open only limited hours?
Those are very nice petros indeed!! |
BLM has paved an entrance to a temporary visitor center and Henderson has grown to the edge of the NCA. There is a stretch of 500 yards, yet to be paved but a b ed surface for soon to be paving. Making it paved all the way.
Eric Hansen wrote: | I did Hidden Valley (east of Muddy Mts.) several times 20 years back and it was fabulous. Otherworldly sandstone, glyphs. |
Yeah, Hidden Valley and the Muddys are special. Here's a link to my trip in there:
https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8014873
“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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