The Guardian (near Lake Mead, NV)

Harlan W. S.
April 14, 2007

This hike starts at the same spot as the Hamblin Peak hike. However, it’s not a trip for the faint of heart. The round trip is 20 miles, and the accumulated elevation gain is ~3900’ or more – all to get to an isolated peak that is 2818’ above sea level. I wouldn’t attempt this hike unless it were 80F or lower in Vegas that day; other helpful conditions would be slight cloud cover and breezes above 10 mph. Obviously, this hike would be brutal, if not fatal, in the late spring, summer, and early fall.

That said, there are some conditions that can make the first part of the hike easier. If there has not been recent rain, the first 8 miles cover firm gravelly washes; I jogged or walked fast for those 8 miles. However, I’ve hiked in that area after a wet winter, and parts of the wash were mucky silt. Once you hit the volcanic rock ridge, you will be lucky to maintain a 1 mph pace – and there are nearly 4 miles of ridge, down and back. And those 8 miles back through the wash are mainly uphill.

It took me 7 hours 40 minutes for the round trip. I cached water at 3.5 and 7 miles on the way in; and I drank all that water. It was 81F at midday, and there were light variable clouds and an intermittent breeze. If you don’t like jogging in washes, it would be better to plan 12 hrs for the round trip; that means that in the winter months, you could have some travel in the dark. However, if you use a GPS, and plan for a day with a gibbous waxing moon, travel in the dark is not so bad, and guaranteed to be cooler. The 8 miles in and back are relatively well-defined, generally mild territory… just watch for the dryfall 1 mile in.

The 100k top map.	I took the direct route up the ridge, then descended on the west.	Prince’s Plume?
Purplemat with beetle.	Phacelias.	AYC (sunflower).
Early in the hike, one climbs a small dryfall with a cottonwood. I’ve never seen running water here, but typically one will find water by digging down 6”. To the right above my shadow, is a water pit dug by the horse riders.	Indigobush.	For the first 2.5 miles, the route winds through colorful rocky gorges. This was once a 4wd road; though it is completely eroded, the path is moderately easy for hikers.
Poppies… poppies will make them sleep…	At ~4 miles, the wash opens up. In back is The Sentinel.	At ~7 miles, the north end of Guardian ridge comes into view. At ~8 miles, one leaves the wash to climb the ridge.
Mojave aster.	The low part of the ridges is chaotic, but there is always a class 2 route.	Beavertail.
Sometimes the “easiest” route follows highly serrated ridges.	Near the top of the ridge, it becomes harder and to avoid class 3.
View NE; backside of Sentinel at left.	View ENE with an unflattering view of Pyramid and Booth’s Pinnacle.	Midget barrel cactus.
View S. Finally on ridge, we see many lumps between us and the summit cairn.	Arch Mountain, on the other side of The Narrows, is behind Guardian. To the right, in the distance is Wilson and N Wilson.	View SW.
The Coastal Survey was here before the completion of Hoover Dam and the filling of Lake Mead.	Not many people visit. Dessert Danny’s e-mail from 2002 made me remember this peak.	Bird-poop-cover summit cairn.
View back N, through the chaos.	A tribute to BigBendBetty.
	View NNW, over beavertail. I thought I might explore the western descent, as possible route to Boulder Peak.	View back UP (camera at 45 degrees) my descent route. This route was convoluted, with lots of hidden cliffs; not advised. I got leg cramps halfway down, which put an end to my Boulder plans,
View N across the descent slope. The northern route looks a little gentler.	Shortly after seeing this skull…	…I came down this dryfall, and passed within 2’of a bobcat. He went down the dryfall like it was nothing. He was sleeping in the nook on the left side of the upper falls.
On the way out, looking back at Sentinel.	Ripple marks in the limestone.	The coastal survey put a lot of benchmarks on this route, I’d guess in preparation for Hoover Dam and the filling of the lake.
	There are lots of colorful washes on the way out.	Memories: In December 2002, I met Desert Danny via Nick N. Nick forwarded an e-mail in which Danny described reaching Guardian. I was still recovering my balance after a stroke, and couldn’t conceive of this type of hike. Later, Nick was talking about the nice peaks around Lake Mead, and volunteered that he’d like to visit all… “except Guardian… that’s just too much of a long haul.” So the seed was planted in my brain; when would I be ready?