North Wilson, AZ (5358’)

(5th CVA Anniversary Hike)

Harlan W. S.
March 08, 2007

On December 28, 2002, Nick N and I went up Wilson, AZ, accompanied by Desert Danny and Patti. Before the hike, we had both looked at the northern peak, about 2 miles away, and thought it might be cool to bag that peak as well. Alas, when we got to the Wilson summit, we saw the ridge to the northern peak was very rugged, so we decided against the traverse.

Every year I try to do something “life-affirming” on March 08, which happens to be an anniversary of sorts. This year, my 5^th “anniversary”, I decided to try that ridge and the northern peak. In summary, my judgment 4.3 years before was pretty accurate; that ridge consists of class 3-4 terrain, punctuated by short class 2 stretches of steep talus and boulders. The top of North Wilson is somewhat spoiled by a helicopter-accessed weather station and cell relay tower; but if you go there, you’ll know you are among very few people to arrive on foot. The terrain is much more dramatic than could be imagined from the topo maps.

This is a very rough, trailless hike, and would be brutally (fatally) hot in late spring, summer, or early fall. For the loop, the car-to-car distance is 8 miles, and the accumulated elevation gain is ~4400’.

The “hike” begins from the Horsethief Canyon Road. This gravel road (high clearance) begins on US 93, 4 miles SE of Hoover Dam. I managed to get my Subaru Outback to the end of The road.	I took the southern route up to the ridge, then came back via the northern (much Easier) route. Whether ascending of descending the N path, it is important to change drainages as shown.	Here’s the parking spot (also a designated BLM campsite) at the end of Horsethief Canyon Road.
Early on, the hike passes stope blocks of mafic rocks, some stretched and flattened.	It has been a dry year, yet water is running. Flocks of grouse flew up at least 8 times on the hike, usually near wet areas.	In many places, the canyon is wet enough to support cottonwoods and cattails. This waterfall is passable on the left side (class 3).
The abundant pools of water attract sheep…	…some luckier than others.	I finally intersect the ridge; the route back S to Wilson (sharp peak at R) is rough, but …
…the route N is even rougher. I first climbed up this fin but found no easy climb-down on the N side. Next I head for the ragged peak to the N…	I get a better look N. Naively, I assume that once I am on the “gentler” ridge with the lighter-colored granites, the hike will be easy.	(Oops. Out-of-order photo. I look back on the first fin I climbed, and concur there was no easy downclimb on the N side!)
I finally hit granites; that’s snow-capped Charleston Peak in the distance. Then I turn around…	…and view the last two gneiss-schist lumps that I traversed. Could I have walked around the pinnacles? (Not easily.)	Now on the granite, view S. The “easy” ridge consists of large blocks, with many gaps that are invisible at first. I climbed this block from the S, only to find a gap on the N side and 15-20’ of air.
After 2 hours of in-your-face terrain on the ridge, I finally hit the summit, where there is a helicopter-serviced weather and relay station. View NW. By now a thick brown dust-smog cloud blankets Las Vegas. Fortification Hill and Lake Mead are in the distance; Hoover Dam is at L of lake, barely visible.	I set my camera on one boulder, clicked the timer, then quickly scrambled to another boulder.	View NE from summit.
I decide to drop directly WSW from the summit. This rock index finger pointed the way. Halfway down, I had to cross into the next drainage to the S.	Paintbrush.	Amphibole-pyroxene rock.
Phacelia.	More water on the way down; I found I had to pick “high-water” routes, and got a complete soaker on one foot— not an experience I expected in a dry year in the desert.	More water.
Yellowcup (a primrose).