Cactus Flower Tower (6360'), Red Rock NV

Harlan W S
May 22, 2014

The prominence of this little peaklet is only 170-177'  (determined from photographs taken on Oak Creek Peak).  Yet there is no non-technical way to reach it from its higher neighbor (Mount Wilson), and the easiest and most direct trip from route 159 will gain over 2700' in elevation, over some class 4/5 terrain. Given that other "peaks" have little prominence (Polemonium 160', Thunderbolt 203'), Cactus Flower Tower deserves to be taken seriously.

Many thanks to Jim E for showing us the "scramble" route, and to my co-conspirators Barb S and Mike B.  We reached the top in 2h 23m, despite Barb's recent illness, and one "oops" that cost us a few minutes. I've been trying to get up here for years, but every potential trip was stymied by surgery or snow.

Jim and I each took a 60' static 8mm rope.  I took some extra sling webbing, and two 12' pieces of 15mm, which would be adequate to tie Swiss seats (we're skinny people!), plus a few extra carabiners and a light descender.  If you are confident enough, you can downclimb all the rough sections without rope, but rappel stations are there, and why take chances?  Caution: be careful pulling a rope from the crux. The last person down will make sure the rope is off the chickenheads, then you should move the rope a bit south over the "face" and away from the crack before the pull.

DSCN6191
View W from route 159, from
the Oak Creek parking
(NOT on the Scenic Loop).
CFT is Cactus Flower Tower		 DSCN6191map
One goes up Oak Creek
and then ascends the west ridge.
This route deviates significantly
from the route on the Hiking
Las Vegas site, and is probably
a bit harder.		 DSCN6193
Jim knows a "shortcut" that
is interesting.
DSCN6194 DSCN6195 DSCN6198
Now we are just above the
crux on a very steep ramp.
DSCN6199 DSCN6206_stitch
On top, view W.		 DSCN6208_stitch
On top, view N over Rainbow.
DSCN6212_stitch DSCN6214_stitch DSCN6218
DSCN6221
Heading back down W.		 DSCN6224
The mini-crux over
the chockstones...
tough on shorter folks. I
stemmed to the sides (I'm
pretty flexible)		 DSCN6225
Jim downclimbs the
steep ramp above
the crux.
DSCN6226
Meanwhile, Mike and
Barb pass the chockstones
S of the crux		 DSCN6227
The crux, 5.3 they say.		 DSCN6228
DSCN6231
Another view  up at crux.
I faced out and placed
lots of force on the sides
of the crack, and didn't
weight the handline;
but that would be tough on
a larger person.		 DSCN6232 DSCN6233
One of many exposed
"corners" on Jim's route
DSCN6235 DSCN6236
Back down Jim's shortcut!		 DSCN6237
DSCN6239 DSCN6242