The general area is
just S of Las Vegas
NV. Take E Horizon
Ridge Parkway S, till
it turns to the dirt
Dutchman Pass Road,
and park near the BLM
road closure. |
I was able to walk
quickly on bike trails
and in washes. |
The GPS didn't get
good position fixes
east of the summit.
I took the same route
above the 3800' contour,
both up and down, but
the track appears varied. |
You can see the peak
from the TH. The
upper section seems
to be made of basaltic
andesite flows and
airfall. |
Several small dryfalls
stop the less serious
4x4s from going up
the wash. OPV travel
is not legal in this area. |
I'm a lot closer to the
peak, and you can see
my approximate route. |
I'll break through to
the next bench at about
the middle of the photo |
One of the slanted
benches I took; big
drop at L. I go R
around the corner... |
...and start climbing up
this steep. loose gully
on SE side of peak. At
top of the gully... |
....one turns a dicey
corner, heads NW,
then heads N up this cut. |
View to Railroad
Peak from top
|
View NE |
Peak doesn't get
many visitors |
View to Black Mt |
More panoramic view
with Arden Peak at R |
I wandered around
the W side, to about
80' below the top. Here
I'm looking SE across
the S slope |
Now I'm heading
back down, need to
head left and descend... |
...around this |
this seemed like
one of the diciest
moves on ascent,
but seemed easier
on way down. |
the alternative I
DIDN'T take |
Once more, I must
head L |
|
Now I'm looking
down, just above last
break in cliffs |
|
View back at route |
|
|
Another view of route |
Railroad Peak in back |
Nice little gully
on way back |
One last view back |
The washes are full of
desert tortoise burrows;
these were likely collapsed
by rains, but I can see
why BLM doesn't want
people driving back here |
This is where I parked.
The concrete barrier
at left has a clear "no
motorized vehicles"
warning, but appears
to have been pulled aside,
and ATVs go here at will. |