The Owl and Murphy Rock on White Rock Loop

The Owl and Murphy Rock on White Rock Loop
(Red Rock Canyon, NV)

Pics by Harlan W S
March 22, 2021 and May 26, 2019

These two little peaklets (on the south and north of the White Rock Hills sub-range) are actually fairly hard by scrambling standards. I have passed by The Owl for many years, and didn't pay much attention till I saw this neat video by Chris Gorney. I'm still in my COVID recovery (I may never recover completely), and was looking for something new, interesting and short. My right side is partly paralyzed and I have no normal balance, and The Owl required me to "lead" with my right side, which was a challenge.

While walking back around the White Rocks Loop, I had great views of Murphy Rock -- so-named because whenever I walked by here with Susan Murphy, she would comment on the beauty of this formation. I realized I had never written it up, so here it is with a few hints.

General map	Zoomed out for context. 1km grid.	The easy route to The Owl is on the NW side. I've heard this rated 5.4 to 5.7 YDS. The only really hard part is the slightly sloped ledge.
Now I'm atop the higher rock (L side in previous photo), looking down on step-across. There is not an abundance of big holds.	From the top of Owl, view ~SSW	Here I'm looking down over the step-across from the west side. (I later realized there is another crack for descent). I did not want to go down this way, so...
...I rapped down by the ascent rotue...	...on 2500 lb bs Dyneema in a supermunter on a locking biner.	View toward Bridge Point, from ledge at W base of Owl
I think this is the class 5 crack that Dow Williams suggests for descent, east of ascent route.	Turtlehead in back, ready to head down.	View back ~W. The hard route (5.10+) is at L, the easier route at R.
Goodman Peak at far L in back, Owl to R	Susan and Chewie!	I'm heading WNW around White Rock Springs Peak, when I find the 2nd empty beer can of the day. Soon I found a soda bottle. With the reservation system, I thought the littering would stop.
Now I'm looking S to Murphy Rock...	View S down the real Red Rock Canyon, Snoopy at R.	View back N at Murphy Rock.
Now to Murphy Rock (MR) in 2019. For some mystery, just an aerial view...	Here is MR as seen coming down from White Rock Spring Peak (WRSP)	One must cross a nasty gully on this route...
The crossing of a lower pinnacle...	up the crux...	The rock in back looks higher from the N part of White Rock Loop.
On peaklet to E. WRSP to R in back.	View W	Jim and Barb gingerly descend crux
Now we head down on pretty but challenging terrain.		Hmmm...
View back E and up at MR	Still another view of MR (L) and WRSP (R)

The Owl and Murphy Rock on White Rock Loop (Red Rock Canyon, NV)

The Owl and Murphy Rock on White Rock Loop
(Red Rock Canyon, NV)