"Cartwheels in the Sun" (near Black Mt, Henderson NV)

"Cartwheels in the Sun" (CITS) near Black Mt, Henderson, NV

Harlan W S & Paula C R
May 23, 2019

Paula saw this peaklet, off to the east of the ridge, when we did a Black Mt traverse in December 2017. I had photographed it in 2005, thinking I might go from North McCullough, but put that on the back burner. The peak has just about 120' prominence, but is extremely steep on 3-sides, and is hard to reach. The gravel roads in El Dorado Basin, on the east, were closed years back, so one has to come over Black Mt Ridge at west. We were blessed with a cool day in late May, and took advantage of the weather for a 9:30AM start. It was close to 10 miles RT, and at least 3800' accumulated gain, as one must drop 650-750' off the top of the ridge, and regain that elevation on the way out. We found no register, cairn, or previous sign of visitation.

We started out near the Black Mt TH, by Liberty Rec Center in Anthem.	Fracture Ridge at L behind Paula.	Black Mt to N, from Fracture Ridge
Paula on Fracture Ridge	Paula's pic of Larkspurs	There she is, E of the main ridge (photo from 2005). USGS topo map suggests ~100' prominence, but that map averages that sharp gendarme into the ridge. I think the real prominence is at least 120'. The E (L), N, and S sides are quite steep.
Our approach was a traverse that followed a sheep trail above cliffs	View N	CITS in the sun. We started getting some rain, but the sky never opened up.
	CITS at L. Paula's view of me on the ridge we will descend	Looks benign from here...
Surprise! There is a 40' gendarme. which we passed on the L (N)	Around base of gendarme. We then stayed high, as there was a big drop to R (N). Black Mt Ridge (actually N McCullough) in back.	View W, Paula tops out. The steep E side of Black Mt ridge to W.
On top. There was a smear on my camera lens
	Paula's view as I head W off summit of CITS	The ridge was rougher on N side.
View E, just before gendarme	One slight 3+ climb up NW side gendarme.	View ENE
Back on the ridge, view NNE over CITS to Railroad Peak (Black Hills).	W down toward Park Peak from Fracture Ridge
On Park Peak