The Fortress (a.k.a. Poop Peak), 4163', NV Black Mts near Henderson

Harlan WS
Dec 26, 2017

A month ago, if you had told me there was a class 3/4 peak in this range, I would not have believed you. I've somehow ignored this peak for years. I took a sketchy 3/4 route from the E; the danger is mainly loose rock.  I'm told there is a class 3, loose way, with less climbing, from the SW. I won't explore that further until I can take an interested friend. Thanks to Anji and Collin for the GPS track I sort-of followed; close to the E wall, and under ledges, the GPS will not track well.

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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.
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I was able to walk
quickly on bike trails
and in washes.
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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.
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You can see the peak
from the TH. The
upper section seems
to be made of basaltic
andesite flows and
airfall.
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Several small dryfalls
stop the less serious
4x4s from going up
the wash. OPV travel
is not legal in this area.
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I'm a lot closer to the
peak, and you can see
my approximate route.
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I'll break through to
the next bench at about
the middle of the photo
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One of the slanted
benches I took; big
drop at L. I go R
around the corner...
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...and start climbing up
this steep. loose gully
on SE side of peak. At
top of the gully...
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....one turns a dicey
corner, heads NW,
then heads N up this cut.
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View to Railroad
Peak from top
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View NE
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Peak doesn't get
many visitors
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View to Black Mt
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More panoramic view
with Arden Peak at R
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I wandered around
the W side, to about
80' below the top. Here
I'm looking SE across
the S slope
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Now I'm heading
back down, need to
head left and descend...
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...around this
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this seemed like
one of the diciest
moves on ascent,
but seemed easier
on way down.
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the alternative I
DIDN'T take
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Once more, I must
head L
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Now I'm looking
down, just above last
break in cliffs
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View back at route
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Another view of route
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Railroad Peak in back
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Nice little gully
on way back
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One last view back
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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
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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.