Emigrant Benchmark, Nopah Range CA

I have been up Nopah 2x, and saw a nice ridge to this peak... put it on the back burner for 14 years. I've been very, very sick, and this was my 1st 4000' gain day since August. I really enjoyed it, and got to scope out a possible ridge traverse. To get to the start of the hike, take rte 160 west from Vegas, through Mountain Springs, the head south on the Old Spanish Trail (toward Tecopah) right across from a huge signal tower (and Brick building) on the R (N) side of the road.

Harlan W S
January 08, 2020

The hike. The ridge has many deep canyons with dryfalls, so the ridges are often safer bets.	Zoom out for context	At the start, one sees many rough canyons
	Now I've started up the ridge, and am looking SE to the Kingston Range.	West on the ridge. It is easier to hug the ridge than to deal with the loose talus.
The are a few downclimbs that look scary, butthe rock is very grippy.	There is a class 1-2 climb in this valley S of the ridge... if you like crappy steep talus!	East. The ridge I downclimbed.
Looking up to ~W	Looking ~SE down ridge	Snowy Charleston Range to NE
Down the ridge	Kingston Range to SE	Telescope Peak to W across Death Valley
View N to Nopah Highpoint, from Emigrant BM
	I haven't seen Mark in 4 years.
Not much action at the geocache.		Now I'm heading S. View E at ridge I used for ascent.
View S along ridge	Again, ridge for ascent
There are pretty gnarly drops right up to the ridge	Ridge I ascended
This prominent peak to SW has no name.	The ridge I traversed S from
The last descent off ridge. It would have been smarter to stay L...	...because my route immediately took me by a cliff.	Looking back W. I came down the gully at L, should have stayed on Ridge.