Hackberry Dome, 6049 in Mormon Mts., NV

Pics by Harlan W S
April 17, 2021

This is not a first known ascent; we found two bolts just above the sheer north face, and there was a rough cairn but no register at the summit. I never found a bolted rappel anchor, but there is a sturdy 6"-diameter conifer at the top of east-facing gully (you will see it south of the arete route; we didn't rap, so I don't know how much rope one would need for the gully).

I'd call this class 3+, with the "plus" mainly for a few spots of very significant exposure and untested rock. As one starts the gully, there are one or two spots where one has to creep around a corner of questionable rock, with a need to keep a good part of one's weight hanging out-- some would call that class 4. The fact that a slip above the top-out bolts would cause certain death, would also bias one to a higher rating (by one definition of cl 4). The rock is extremely grippy siliceous dolostone. We pruned a lot of loose rocks off the route, but I'm sure more will appear every spring.

To get to 6049, take the Hackberry Springs Rd to the parking (2wd), go about 2 miles up the gully, then cut left out of the wash to the plateau on the E side of the peak. Head west, then to the R (N) side at the base of the brownish cliff band. Start at the R side of the shallow gully, climb ~8' and traverse L ~10', then cut back R to the arete. Climb the arete until a slab opens up on the R. Either take the steep slab, or climb the exposed steep cliff at L (we took the slab).

I've had brain damage and no true balance since 2002, and I have no depth perception; Tracy has had clinical Parkinson's since 2013. With gusts of 30+ mph plus on the arete, we decided caution was in order.

6049 as seen from peak 7083, which is N of Hackberry Springs	The extremely undetailed usgs topo map.	Context. Las Vegas is off the map at lower L. Take I-15 exit 100 (Carp-Elgin). Then take the good (but mostly gravel) Rainbow Pass Rd. for 13.4 miles to a L (W) turn on the 2wd Hackberry Springs Rd. Take the latter Rd 3.5 miles to parking
Tracy heads WNW	Lots of pictographs. Also bolts and hangers, still clipped with quickdraws	6049 appears at R
Climbing out of gully, 7083 in back	View 6049 to W. 'o' shows start of climb.	Tracy at start of arete
	On top!	Sharp peak on R skyline is usgs 6966 (on 1969 topo map only); it has ~150' prominence
"The Dome," USGS 6365 is in back at L. Gerry Roach called that peak "Warwagon." It proves to be cl 2.	Moapa Pk to S	I am above ~300' of air, but can't look over it because of the rounded edge.
View W	The wind was fierce. I connected my 31' and 75' 15mm web straps together, and left a dyneema sling on slightly iffy anchor. This photo looks UP a steep, grippy slope...	...at the bottom are two bolts and a 200+ drop at R.
My best guess as to route.	View back UP as we descend to gully	Tracy on trip out.

Hackberry Dome, 6049' in Mormon Mts., NV