Bearing Peak (Near Lake Mead, NV)

pics by Harlan W.S. & CP
Nov 21, 2010

The trip we took was 12.9 miles, ~ 3000’ accumulated elevation gain because we did some “extra” for good measure. Thanks to Crystal D for beta. The way in was dark, with light rain. We high-tailed it off the peak when we saw rain on Lake Mead, coming right for us… and 1 hour later, we had blue skies!

5 hours RT; we weren’t rushing, but the weather kept us from lolly-gagging.

There are some almost-unrecognizable dirt roads for the 1^st part, but this is essentially a trail-less hike. It can be done class 2. Obviously, this is a cool-weather hike; the summer would be deathly hot, and there is NO WATER en route.

On the way back, we decided to look for petroglyphs… didn’t find any!
Arch DiPietro.		At some point, we lost Jason on the class 4 dirt… I went back to hear him cussing the stuff, but OK. In the meantime, CP, possessed with the spirit of the bighorn, started racing for the peak!
OK, I’m not gonna catch him.	View of Lake Mead from top.	More views of Lake Mead. Fortification Hill is that flat-topped mesa.
	Not many names in the register.	Boulder Peak to east.
I kept trying my balance, but the 40 mph gusts made it difficult.	We came more directly down a wash. Jason tried to hit CP with a rock, but missed.
		Back in the main wash. CP tried to climb this boulder, but immediately knocked off a huge chunk.
Back in Pinto Valley—Sentinel to E.	View WNW.