Lake Mead Cragging and "Little Pyramid"

pics by Harlan W. S.
Feb 14, 2009

The crags are about 500’ higher than the north-side valley that I crossed; but the formal prominence is only about 240’, since the volcanic ridge eventually curves around and connects to Little Pyramid. Crag1 is mainly class 2; crag2 has some class 3 on iffy rock.

This was a pleasant, nearly brush-free hike; the only prolonged loose rock was right below the crags, and on the ENE of Little Pyramid for about 500’. There is no trail, and obviously this would be hot as Hades in most of the year. The climbing is not technically hard, but the very crumbly rock makes the crags dangerous.

The 20-meter contour interval in much of the area is deceptive, as it tends to flatten-out peaks.	This is a view east from the Sentinel, months earlier, showing the crags. This view inspired me to determine where/what they were.	Early on the hike, I see a casualty of the recent heavy rains. Note the nest is made from barrel cactus spines.
First we pass through some Aztec sandstone…
… then through white Tertiary sediments (looking back), then we’re on Miocene volcanics.	The approach gully is the depression at R.	I drop over the pass, and see the crags from the N side; view up. The crags are made of super-chossy volcanics.
This crag is highest on the map, but since the contours are widely spaced and the mapping was via photogrammetry…	…this narrow crag2 to the W may be as high or higher.	Panoramic view SW from crag1. Lake Mead at L; then Booth Pinnacle, with Arch AZ in back, Wilson AZ in far distance on left. Peaks are labeled on image.
View E. The summit of crag1 was very small.		View NW to “Little Pyramid”.
		This view E to crag1 (from a minor sub-crag) Shows my pack (blue) and SPOT (orange) on the very small summit.
I point camera at a crag slightly W and lower, to get my signature shot.	View back at summit of crag1; SPOT messenger (orange) visible. Not a lot of room up there, and big drops on the sides. I built small cairns on both crags.	Now I’ll head across crappy knife edge to crag2. The right side proved to be class 3 on extremely crappy rock.
View back at crag1.	The top of crag2 is also too small for good self-portraits.	View W to Sentinel, from crag2.
Now I’m crossing the wash to “Little Pyramid” (Peak 1025m).		View back SE at crags.
From peak just N of Little Pyramid.	View W to Sentinel; Hamblin Mountain is at far end of Pinto Valley.
	Now I head for that notch and home.
Miocene valley-fill conglomerate.	View back SW past Redstone