Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Nevada:
Valley of Fire State Park
Elbow Range, Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Mead National Recreation Area North Shore
Getting Jerry and Drew to a location where they could begin the exodus north to Seattle was our priority leaving the Sonoran Desert. Neither had been to Valley of Fire State Park. We were a bit tired, and the short approach walks, cush campground, and showers sounded pretty good. It was completely the wrong direction for me, since I'd find myself back all the way south along I-10 once again a few days later. But I loved our choices of scrambles.
Dec. 1: VOF
A theme had emerged of scrambling things that Courtney Purcell, Rambles and Scrambles, gave a "4 Star" rating. Not much left for me to do in VoF but the 5-Arch and Gibraltar Rock had eluded me up until then. Great choices we enjoyed thoroughly.
The "Five Arch" on right Trailhead art Up ahead Where's a route? Drew back in sandstone scapes the Five Arches Looks intimidating View north View east Class 3 ramp start Class 4 face moves crux exposure west from on top view south through the crux through the ramp look back back to the trailhead
Gibraltar Rock next.
On Gibraltar Rock easy ground View over Fire Wash colors awkward descending the awkward
Dec 2: Leaving camp set up at VoF we headed to the Elbow Range, 35 miles west, to scramble its highpoint. The guidebook and interwebs seem to avoid a long interesting looking curving E/NE Ridge. We liked the looks of it and it turned out awesome. Long and with near continuous scrambling.
First look, in the back We'll run the whole ridge aesthetic scrambling solid spine limestone knife-edge walk lots more long great scramble a look back still more summit ahead a steep buttress great views rest of the way mellows almost on top on top! view sw view north at Sheep Range view west headed down finish in a canyon descent dryfall scrambling down looking back up with summit behind parting shot Elbow Range HP 4650'
Dec 3. Lake Mead Northshore, solo again.
Time for Jerry and Drew to depart. I was comfy at the campground so I set out to the northshore for more fun scrambles. I chose a short loop of Polytick Peak and Murphy Peak.
The south face of Polytick looked interesting and I found a nice corner to scramble on the SE side. Then on to Murphy's. The north side of Murphy really sucked, ridiculously friable despite a solid appearance. My descent on the South slope was far superior and I can recommend it.
A quick run up a rib on the south face of something Courtney Purcell calls Glyph Point. The short little buttressy rib was solid and nice limestone.
Glyph Point first central buttress Class 3 moon over the Muddy Mountains
Continuing on the Northshore Road to a high clearance turn off a couple miles up Calville Wash Road for the next two.
Murphy Peak last Polytick Peak next great limestone fanglomerate rare selfie to show route looking back at route why locals wear gloves (upper) route visible on left skyline Scary loose NW Face NW Face of Murphy, not recommended Muddies over Bowl of Fire Bowl of Fire better Murphy route (south ridge) Polytick-Murphy
“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.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Eric Hansen Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2015 Posts: 866 | TRs | Pics Location: Wisconsin |
Bowl of Fire is fabulous. I did a loop, ascending through Anniversary Narrow, bivied above the Narrows and descended through Bowl of Fire the next day. Hidden Valley also great (memory has you in there on another trip)
|
Back to top |
|
|
Eric Hansen Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2015 Posts: 866 | TRs | Pics Location: Wisconsin |
Bowl of Fire is fabulous. I did a loop, ascending through Anniversary Narrow, bivied above the Narrows and descended through Bowl of Fire the next day. Hidden Valley also great (memory has you in there on another trip)
|
Back to top |
|
|
John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Eric Hansen wrote: | Bowl of Fire is fabulous. I did a loop, ascending through Anniversary Narrow, bivied above the Narrows and descended through Bowl of Fire the next day. Hidden Valley also great (memory has you in there on another trip) |
That's right, Eric, I explored Hidden Valley in 2015. Great indeed. Want to go back in the near future as it was a lot to fit in in one day.
“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.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
|
Randy
Cube Rat
|
Sat Jan 16, 2021 1:20 pm
|
|
|
Great looking scrambles. Love the class 4 shots!
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ski ><((((°>
Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 12832 | TRs | Pics Location: tacoma |
|
Ski
><((((°>
|
Sat Jan 16, 2021 1:41 pm
|
|
|
nice!
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
|
Back to top |
|
|
some names Member
Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 244 | TRs | Pics
|
Very nice John! Thanks for posting these trips! Your pictures are really great - it's nice seeing that other season progressing so well down there to our south. It's also fun experiencing just a little vertigo in your great class 4 shots . . .
somesignaturehere and somesignaturethere
somesignaturehere and somesignaturethere
|
Back to top |
|
|
timberghost Member
Joined: 06 Dec 2011 Posts: 1331 | TRs | Pics
|
John how long you going to be in the Desert?
|
Back to top |
|
|
John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Hello timberghost,
I've been back since just before New Years. Enough time to get in a few ski tours before this awful avy debris, frozen chunder set in.
hoar frost/rime Jim Hill right Head of Nason Creek safe skiing in trees thin snowpack east shot by Jake Colin, Mill Cr Ridge 1/3
“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.
|
Back to top |
|
|
|