Black Mt via Poetry Ave (Near Las Vegas)H.W. Stockman |
I started by going to the "standard" trailhead south of Somersworth. I found lots of barricades, and roads that existed two weeks back were now buried in new home pads. There was a surly guard -- smoking a cigarette and looking like an extra from Goodfellas -- blocking my path in an official-looking Del Webb truck. I mouthed "Vic Damone Junior" -- no effect. I further mouthed "I'm looking at a lot" -- he just glared back more, evilly. Now I know how Ashlee Simpson feels.
So I went to the first non-gated street to the north -- the southern branch of Reunion -- and worked my way east till I came to the end of Poetry at 2750' elevation, which had an unlocked gate. Immediately beyond the gate was an arroyo with sheep hoof prints. In about 0.5 mile, I cut left to the obvious powerlines and followed the "communications road" for a while. This road is long, but you can make good time -- I averaged 4 mph. The road is not very rough, and a car with decent clearance could make it -- if you could find where the road begins. I saw no locked gates anywhere I was on the road. and one could drive to 4100'. On the way down, I eschewed much of the road for a more direct run down the ridge.
Overall, this route was quite pleasant, though long (~10 miles RT) and I heard the "beep-beep-beep" of construction only once, and I saw little trash.
I saw lots of Sun City Anthem signatures in the summit log, from just 2 weeks before. I surmise that residents must know of another way -- perhaps direct access to the comm road.
GPS trace. Here is a street map showing the route to the trailhead. I think there must be a way -- perhaps off Arpeggio -- to get to the communications road. |
Looking SE, at about 4200'. Rain comes across the plains. |
More view S. The mountain is basalt. with a very rugged and steep east side. I found the ridge walk exhilarating. |
|
|
|
View east, to Green Valley and faint rainbow. |
View ~N from the summit. One can see the Stratosphere just right of the flag. The wind is too fierce to set up a self-portrait. |
Heading back down, the towers come into view. By now, storms are sweeping across the top, and I'm getting pelted by sleet and hail. Luckily, I'm wearing shorts. |
|
|
|
View east to Railroad Peak and the Black Hills. |
Barrel cacti look unusually vibrant magenta in the rain. |
The silver cholla also looks healthy. |
|
|
|