Nopah Point CA (South of Pahrump)

Nopah Point CA (South of Pahrump), 6397'

Pics by Harlan W. S.
March 26, 2006

This hike from the SE has the advantage of starting from a good paved road. The disadvantage: this is a long hike -- 14.6 miles by GPS, 4000' accumulated elevation gain (longer if you take the full DPS variant*). To get to the start from Vegas, drive west on rte 160 toward Pahrump. At the Mountain Springs firehouse (~1/2 mile past the highest elevation sign), set the odometer to zero. In 16.2 to16.4 miles, turn left on the Old Spanish Trail Highway (OST). Again set the odometer to 0. Drive 17 miles on the OST and park as far off the shoulder of the road as possible.

This is a cool weather hike. It would be insane to come here in summer. There is absolutely no water en route. Given the length of the trip, early spring or mid autumn would be best for length-of-day considerations. The lower 4 miles of bajada are fairly easy walking in dim light.

GPS trace (red) on 100k map.	View SE-ESE as we head up the long bajada. In back is Kingston Peak. The Siberian chats about Elvis.	View SE on ascent, after leaving the wash.

A nasty sidehill. We left the ridge because…	…there was a 40' cliff band (above and left of Luba).	Lots of Flintstone-bowling-ball talus.

Anteater kissing hippopotamus.		View SE of wash, from whence we came.

Mt. Charleston in distance.		View N, at ridgeline. This is the real Nopah Peak, which is rather sharp. Our destination was the slightly higher Nopah Point to the S (to left, not visible here).

	On top, Nopah Peak to N. The DPS log consisted of one small notebook that went back to 1964.	View SE to Kingston Peak.

Earthquake!	Alda lunches on melted chocolate. Eagle Peak is the dark lump above her head.	Stewart is in distance just above cairn.

Telescope Peak across Death Valley.

View back NW, descending the bajada. Even though we are 1.5 hours before sunset, the mountains covers us in shadows.	View ESE as sun sets on Kingston Peak.
*Unfortunately, the DPS UTM coordinates do not make sense. However, from the DPS description, it seems they went west onto the ridge much sooner than did we.