 I've been on BD (Blue Diamond) Hill, near Red Rock, many many times. The red route is 15.3 miles and ~3400' gain. The blue route is 6.5 miles and 1700' gain. Both are designed to minimize trail. White is private land; light orange is BLM |
 RED ROUTE Shortly after crossing rte 159, the route passes through eroding cliffs of valley fill alluvium |
 Near point 1 on map, the canyon narrows |
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 This slick dryfall (near 1) can be climbed on R side |
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 Barrel cacti on slopes above canyon sucked in water during rains; unfortunately, the roots pulled out of the wet soil. |
 I have seen human footprints just once in this canyon, but AtBF try to get here every year. |
 I've turned into the wider canyon near 2 on map. |
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 This is the "nexus" marked on map. BLM land is front and back, mine land is L and R, so a path right smack through middle involves no tresspass. |
 Near end of canyon, one cuts L, point 3, still avoiding trespass. The mine talus has been dumped on BLM land. |
 According to county assessor records, this mine building is on BLM land. In fact, a lot of mine roads are on BLM land. The mine must have secured rights to use the land. The main road to the mine is on BLM land. |
 Griffith in distance |
 Beginning at point 4 on map, is 1000' of private property. This land is technically controlled, not by the mine, but by a mysterious CO- based LLC. One could go far right to reach BLM land; the trouble is the mine has dumped waste over this side, making the footing treacherous. |
 Telephoto shot of LLC investor station. I tried to find a route that was at least not egregious, but the mine waste makes it difficult. |
 Ahead is point 5 on map |
 Point 5 |
 N of Point 5 |
 N of Point 5 |
 Snow-covered Spring Mts in back, Tia Grande center, White Rock Hills middle-R |
 Canyon before point 6 on map. |
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 Near point 7 |
 After point 7 |
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 Now I'm on W side of route, heading S to point 8 |
 View back NE over Calico Hills to Madre Range |
 At point 8 |
 As I head S, there are brief places where I have to overlap with trail |
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 Off-trail is not easy footing |
 Last peaklet of day, ~4000', from point 9 |
 Town of Blue Diamond |
 At point 10, view back to 9 |
 at 11 |
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 after12 |
 Now the BLUE. I went to the bike path at point A; unusually wet weather. |
 My normal route would have required about 10 stream-crossings. |
 View ENE. At B cut sharp R; idea is to gain as much elevation as possible below cliff bands, so gully crossings are easier. |
 Near point C, view SSE. Look for an easy way to cut 1st cliff band, then stay on grassy slope to just above pour-off. The pour-off is ~100' high. |
 View back N; one can see easier places to cross cliffs. |
 We'll head for the dark shadow on upper R, point D, just above pour-off. One can go up PT peak from L (in shadows) over mild class 3, or walk diagonally up slope at R. |
 View down below pour-off |
 At D. Safe in dry weather |
 View NW across pour-off, from N side PT Peak. |
 View N |
 I'm just below E. Even this class 3 is stair-steppy, and just to L is a class 2 route. |
 View east. One can find class 2 just before boulders. |
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 Totally optional class 2 under chockstone. |
 View S to point F ("squirrel" peaklet) |
 At F, climbing totally optional squirrel. |
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 Barrel cactus slide stopped by rock. |
 Water obstacle near G. |
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 Approaching H, near Cowboy Caves. White Rock Hills visible across flats. |
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 Near Cowboy Caves, graffiti and garbage start. |
 ~H. There is a gnarly class 3 downclimb just beyond. |
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 It was hard to downclimb with this garbage in my hands |
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