Davidson Peak, NV, near Moapa

Harlan WS
April 18, 2016

Though I have been up Moapa Peak 6x, I've always ignored Davidson in the past. Actually, it makes for a pleasnt outing, class 2 by east ridge. We went to get a view of another unnamed peak, and were pleasantly surpised.

The roads have changed around this area in the last 15 years. There is a decent 2wd road that leads to the radio towers; refer to this gpx file for the driving and hiking route. (Do NOT just click on the gpx link; right-click (ctrl-click on mac, long press on tablet) and "save (file) as" or something similar.)

Do NOT try to access the eastern ridge from exit 100 on i-15. If coming from Vegas, exit at the "truck parking" EAST of exit 100; this exit is a farther 10 miles EAST on i-15. From Vegas, enter the truck parking, and turn immediately south onto a frontage road. Take the road WEST about 0.75 miles, to a single-lane bypass NORTH (R) under i-15. After emerging on the north side, take this new frontage road WEST unril it turns north. Follow this road all the way north of the radio towers, about 14 miles. The roads, hike, and waypoints are given in the gpx (USE GPX at your own risk). When you return, DON'T go under the one-lane bridge again, but continue east on the frontage road to the ramp for i-15 south.

East ridge hike. The road to the TH is modest-clearance 2wd.	After the main hike, we thought we'd cheat and drive (much rougher road!) most of the way up Little Davidson. Alas, we had to drop down on the W side to find a break in the cliffs (purple route).	Looking NW from near TH.
	embayment we pass at L	View E over Little Davidson
		View S, very close to summit. You can walk the knife edge, or go to the E on more sedate terrain. LOTS of exposure on W side
Moapa Peak to R	View N	We actually climbed to get telephoto views of this peak.
	From whence we came. We skirted the cliffs on S side.	Moapa Pk
Zoom to Moapa	View down to W; quite a drop	View down SW
Heading back down the ridge (to E).	Claret cups	Strawberry hedgehog
old man cactus		Mariposa Lilies

	Now on way to Little Davidson. Tracy skirts cliffs on W side	View back to truck. So close and yet so far; There is a 50' cliff between.
Tracy looks noble on Little Davidson.