
I've been on BD
(Blue Diamond)
Hill, near Red Rock,
many many times. The
red route is 15.3
miles and ~3400' gain.
The blue route is 6.5
miles and 1700' gain.
Both are designed
to minimize trail. White
is private land; light
orange is BLM
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RED ROUTE
Shortly after
crossing rte 159,
the route passes
through eroding
cliffs of valley fill
alluvium
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Near point 1 on map,
the canyon narrows
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This slick dryfall
(near 1) can be
climbed on R
side
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Barrel cacti on
slopes above canyon
sucked in water during
rains; unfortunately,
the roots pulled out
of the wet soil.
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I have seen human
footprints just once
in this canyon, but
AtBF try to get
here every year.
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I've turned into the
wider canyon near
2 on map.
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This is the "nexus"
marked on map. BLM
land is front and back,
mine land is L and R,
so a path right smack
through middle involves
no tresspass.
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Near end of
canyon, one cuts
L, point 3, still
avoiding trespass. The
mine talus has been
dumped on BLM
land.
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According to county
assessor records, this
mine building is
on BLM land. In
fact, a lot of mine
roads are on BLM
land. The mine must
have secured rights
to use the land. The
main road to the mine
is on BLM land.
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Griffith in distance
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Beginning at point 4
on map, is 1000'
of private property.
This land is technically
controlled, not by
the mine, but by a
mysterious CO-
based LLC. One
could go far right to
reach BLM land;
the trouble is the mine
has dumped waste
over this side, making
the footing treacherous.
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Telephoto shot of
LLC investor station.
I tried to find a route
that was at least not
egregious, but the
mine waste makes it
difficult.
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Ahead is point 5
on map
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Point 5
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N of Point 5 |

N of Point 5 |

Snow-covered
Spring Mts in back,
Tia Grande center,
White Rock Hills
middle-R
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Canyon before point
6 on map.
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Near point 7
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After point 7 |
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Now I'm on W side
of route, heading S
to point 8
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View back NE
over Calico Hills
to Madre Range
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At point 8
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As I head S, there
are brief places
where I have to
overlap with trail
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Off-trail is not
easy footing
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Last peaklet of
day, ~4000', from
point 9
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Town of
Blue Diamond
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At point 10,
view back to 9
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at 11
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after12
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Now the BLUE. I
went to the bike
path at point A;
unusually wet
weather.
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My normal route
would have
required about
10 stream-crossings.
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View ENE. At B
cut sharp R; idea is
to gain as much
elevation as possible
below cliff bands, so
gully crossings are easier.
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Near point C,
view SSE. Look
for an easy way to
cut 1st cliff band, then
stay on grassy slope
to just above pour-off.
The pour-off is
~100' high.
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View back N;
one can see easier
places to cross cliffs.
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We'll head for the
dark shadow on
upper R, point D,
just above pour-off.
One can go up
PT peak from L
(in shadows) over
mild class 3, or walk
diagonally up slope
at R.
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View down below
pour-off
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At D. Safe in dry
weather
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View NW across
pour-off, from N side
PT Peak.
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View N
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I'm just below E.
Even this class 3 is
stair-steppy, and just
to L is a class 2 route.
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View east. One can
find class 2 just before
boulders.
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Totally optional
class 2 under
chockstone.
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View S to point F
("squirrel" peaklet)
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At F, climbing
totally optional
squirrel.
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Barrel cactus slide
stopped by rock.
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Water obstacle
near G.
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Approaching H,
near Cowboy Caves.
White Rock Hills
visible across flats.
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Near Cowboy Caves,
graffiti and garbage
start.
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~H. There is a gnarly
class 3 downclimb
just beyond.
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It was hard to
downclimb
with this garbage
in my hands
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