Blue Diamond Hill Long & Short

Harlan W S
March 2019

I live 8 miles from Blue Diamond Hill, and it is my go-to place for: recovery; days when I start at noon; days when Red Rock and Calico are crowded; and days of questionable weather.  Compared to the grand scenery around, BD Hill is rather boring.  But with some planning you can find fairly neat, mostly off-trail routes that let you stretch your legs, and control your privacy.

00map
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
DSC01733
RED ROUTE
Shortly after
crossing rte 159,
the route passes
through eroding
cliffs of valley fill
alluvium

DSC01735
Near point 1 on map,
the canyon narrows
DSC01736 DSC01737
This slick dryfall
(near 1) can be
climbed on R
side
DSC01738
DSC01740
Barrel cacti on
slopes above canyon
sucked in water during
rains; unfortunately,
the roots pulled out
of the wet soil.
DSC01741
I have seen human
footprints just once
in this canyon, but
AtBF try to get
here every year.
DSC01743
I've turned into the
wider canyon near
2 on map.
DSC01746 DSC01747
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.
DSC01748
Near end of
canyon, one cuts
L, point 3, still
avoiding trespass. The
mine talus has been
dumped on BLM
land.
DSC01750
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.
DSC01751
Griffith in distance
DSC01752
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.
DSC01753
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.
DSC01754
Ahead is point 5
on map
DSC01754scale
Point 5
DSC01755
N of Point 5
DSC01757
N of Point 5
DSC01761
Snow-covered
Spring Mts in back,
Tia Grande center,
White Rock Hills
middle-R
DSC01765
Canyon before point
6 on map.
DSC01767 DSC01768
DSC01769 DSC01770
Near point 7
DSC01772
After point 7
DSC01773 DSC01776
Now I'm on W side
of route, heading S
to point 8
DSC01777
View back NE
over Calico Hills
to Madre Range
DSC01778
At point 8
DSC01779
As I head S, there
are brief places
where I have to
overlap with trail
DSC01780
DSC01783
Off-trail is not
easy footing
DSC01785
Last peaklet of
day, ~4000', from
point 9
DSC01786
Town of
Blue Diamond
DSC01787
At point 10,
view back to 9
DSC01789
at 11
DSC01790
DSC01791
after12
DSC01896
Now the BLUE. I
went to the bike
path at point A;
unusually wet
weather.
DSC01897
My normal route
would have
required about
10 stream-crossings.
DSC01899
View ENE. At B
cut sharp R; idea is
to gain as much
elevation as possible
 below cliff bands, so
gully crossings are easier.
DSC01901
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.
DSC01903
View back N;
one can see easier
places to cross cliffs.
DSC01905
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.
DSC01906
View down below
pour-off
DSC01907
At D. Safe in dry
weather
DSC01910
View NW across
pour-off, from N side
PT Peak.
DSC01911
View N
DSC01913
I'm just below E.
Even this class 3 is
stair-steppy, and just
to L is a class 2 route.
DSC01914
View east. One can
find class 2 just before
boulders.
DSC01915 DSC01917
Totally optional
class 2 under
chockstone.
DSC01921
View S to point F
("squirrel" peaklet)
DSC01921a
At F, climbing
totally optional
squirrel.
DSC01921b
DSC01927
Barrel cactus slide
stopped by rock.
DSC01933
Water obstacle
near G.
DSC01935
DSC01943 DSC01947
Approaching H,
near Cowboy Caves.
White Rock Hills
visible across flats.
DSC01951
DSC01952 DSC01953
Near Cowboy Caves,
graffiti and garbage
start.
DSC01955
~H. There is a gnarly
class 3 downclimb
just beyond.
DSC01956 DSC01959
It was hard to
downclimb
with this garbage
in my hands