[Fletcher]

Dave was down in the desert with the van so Riley and I flew into Vegas last Monday morning for some desert fun. The town of Needles, CA is named after some desert spires in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge across the Colorado River in AZ. These peaks have been on my desert short list ever since Adam did them a couple years ago and highly recommended them. When I was down in the desert with Josh Henderson in January, we tried to force these peaks in gale force winds, but ended up having to bail. I was stoked to have an opportunity to return so soon. After a nice warm evening under the stars at the trailhead, we were hiking shortly before 8am on Tuesday, March 7. The last few miles of road were too rough for Dave's van, which added a few pleasant miles to our approach. Gold Dome is impressive when it first comes into view.

first view of Gold Dome and Havasuper Peak (pk 1460)

To access Gold Dome and South Dome we scrambled up and over Havasuper Peak, which provides some jawdropping views of our main objectives. Havasuper has some fun scrambling on mostly solid rock and some insane relief off of its eastern side. After a quick break on that summit, we descended the south ridge and dropped down into the basin just west of Gold and South Domes.

the wilderness boundary

such a cool area

hiking up and over Havasuper

The Colorado River

Gold Dome and South Dome from the Havasuper summit

Havasuper

the crazy east wall of Havasuper

South Dome was up first. We hiked up the gully just north of peak with some short sections of class 3. Just before the top of the gully we located a class 3 wrap around that Stav Basis's party used to exit the gully when they did this peak. A few exposed class 3 moves brought us around a corner into a sort of alcove with a class 5 headwall. The headwall is probably 35 or 40 feet tall, but the crux moves are at the bottom and not exposed. The nature of the rock on this peak would not take pro, so we all soloed the headwall.

up the gully

the class 3 wrap around

the headwall

Riley climbing the headwall

A short scramble above the headwall brought us into another sort of alcove and a shorter class 4 feature. Above that, more fun scrambling, including another class 4 step to get over an overhang and we were on the spacious summit. A nice long relaxing break was had in the warm sun.

the class 4 step

an old register

Adam!

our entry

descending with Gold Dome

Tumarion Peak with the wash that we'd later use to access it on the left

scenic

downclimbing the class 4 step

We made one rappel off of an existing anchor down the headwall, then wrapped around the corner and were back in the gully. We were able to find a high route past the spires between Gold and South Domes that I hadnt read about anyone else doing. This saved us maybe 300 ft of gain that we were able to avoid.

our single rap for the day

this crazy corner is likely the only feasible route up this spire, not sure if its ever been climbed

heading for Gold Dome

We hiked up Gold Dome's main southern gully, dropped our poles at a notch and started scrambling. Gold Dome has some excellent, exposed 3rd class.

Dave low on the route

Right below the summit, there is a short, fairly crumbly, knife edge. You could avoid it on the right, but we all walked across it for fun.

the knife edge

Riley at the knife edge

Dave on Gold Dome

some nice scrambling just below the summit

Gold Dome views

Another nice, long break in the warm sun and we decided we had enough daylight for Tumarion Peak. We descended back to notch and hiked down into the wash to the south. This wash has a scramble step to get past a vertical dry fall. We then rounded the north side of Tumarion Peak and scrambled up the east ridge.

Tumarion

downclimbing

looking back

Riley with some cactus

Tumarion was the least interesting peak of the day but still worth the extra effort for the views.

South Dome and Gold Dome from Tumarion

Spirit, which Dave and I climbed in 2019, in the distance

Dave found a buddy

Gold Dome

After Tumarion, we hiked across the desert back to the van in fading evening light. What a perfect day bagging peaks in Arizona with my friends. ~15 miles ~4000 gain

[RichP]

Nice, guys. I'm about to embark on some desert goodness myself.

[raising3hikers]

Nice video! The Colorado river is so colorful next to the dry landscape. Too bad I missed you by a couple days but it was fun meeting up with Desert Dave for some pks last weekend

[puzzlr]

The knife edge seems like it would give most people pause, but Dave walked over it like it was a sidewalk!

[Gimpilator]

Awesome to see you guys get these peaks, some of the best in the desert. Really enjoyed the video too. Adding Tumarion in the same day is quite impressive!