Bird Spring Dotage Hike

Harlan WS
Nov 22, 2016

This is quite different from my normal trip reports. I avoided the mountains for years, as they seemed too mild, in the shadow of higher peaks.  But the walking is easy, and as Doc Z used to say, "we have to save pleasant trips for our dotage." This 12 mile loop is mostly brush-free, low on loose rock, and takes you over 5 "peaks" -- though by the Colorado rule (300' + prominence) there are likely no more than 2 distinct peaks. Plus you can park off route 160 at the "Late Night Parking" and avoid using anything but a 2wd sedan. The return trip is a bit sedate, but is quick.

0map DSCN2815
first I headed up
Escarpment Peak,
and passed by a
guzzler for wildlife		 DSCN2816
The entire route is
class 2 or less by
default, but there are
optional ledges for
your entertainment
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View from side of
Escarpment to peak
5140
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View back at "Global
Peak," a slight tumor
on the side of Windy
Peak, which makes for
an interesting scamble.
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The noble city of
Las Vegas
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I had planned to drop
S off Escarpment, and
go up that steep cliffy
face. This view made
me alter my plans, but
as it turns out, the "cliff"
has lots of small ledges.
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Potosi in back		 DSCN2827
the "causeway" to
Peak 5140.
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View back at
Escarpment
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View SE
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View down ~S
on the gentle ridge
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Once more, the
noble city
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View back ~N at
Sandstone peaks of
Red Rock
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S along ridge
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View back ~N
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Would have been
easy to take the ledges
up.
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N again
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Last bonus peak,
no register.
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There was an easy
stair-step route up N		 DSCN2868
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The Castle NV peaks
to SE
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Heading N down
the bike path		 DSCN2876
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View of the Monuments.
Names are from
Branch Whitney;
actually, rock climbers
labeled just "East Peak"
as "The Monument."