Help from Friends; Eight Trips, Seven to Heal

H.W.Stockman
Jan-Apr 2025

January through April is my favorite time in the desert. This year was thrown off-course by a non-outdoor fall that broke 5 ribs, punctured a lung, gave a bad concussion and led to some painful recuperation.
P&TB is the "Peaks and Trail Baggers" meetup group  run by Cece in Las Vegas.  Click/tap small images for full-pixel view.

000HelpFromFriends
Overview map
for 8 trips
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BEFORE.
On Jan 18, I met
the P&TB group
at the base of
Hollow Rock summit
block and set up
temporary handlines.
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This is view to E
after I hit ridge; I
got to the summit
block 45 minutes
before they arrived.
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I see them heading
over to summit
block.
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Rob, a rock-climber,
was the only one to
use the route at SW,
and didn't need line.
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View down that
route. I put another
line to R (after), went
down and spotted folks
on normal step route.
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On top!
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Now it was time
for me (in blue) to
spot people down...
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...not always
with grace!
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I went to another
spire to view the
group on Facade
Peak.
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These are fossil
footprints of a
tiny critter, possibly
a primitive mammal.
Ten days later was the accident. MDs quote the medical school idea that broken ribs heal in
6-8 weeks. More recent peer-reviewed studies show 60% still have significant pain after 8 weeks.
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March 19 was my
first real test of my
balance. I went mostly
cross-country to
King BM ("Goat-
Roper Peak") and
intentionally went down
steep talus.
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Talus is on L side
of peak.
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I'm down and look
back at descent
route. First 5
mile day. No
stumbles.

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Next was a test
on sustained class 3,
Mar.28, up PT peak.
I planned to meet a
P&TB group at
Muffins.
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View up PT Peak.
From N.This lump has
just 80' prominence,
but is a challenge
from the N side.
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My first time on
this route was at
least 15 year ago.
In 2018 I jokingly
called it "pusatile
tinnitus"
peak as
I tried to recover
from another fall,
and someone entered
the name in Peakery.

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The last part
of route before
the easy slopes.
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Heading back N
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The P&TB group
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Mar. 30 was a
harder test, and
much-needed
socialization. P&TB
again on RedCap
(Turtlehead Jr.) on
a very windy day.
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We started with the
original rte from
the 1997 book
"Hiking Las Vegas."
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Jack found a less
scary way (at L,
out of view) to start
this ramp. I had
gone this way for
21 years, but never
looked for a better
way!
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Up the slot
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The exposed
traverse
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Slot just below
red sandstone.
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I dropped a handline,
because of the
fierce wind.
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The last slot to
summit block
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We didn't stay
long in the wind!
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We descended
2nd slot of the
double slot route;
this is now called
Angelina's Crack.
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We went down
"The Curvature." I
last went here, by
mistake, over 15
yrs. ago, and could
never find the lower
entrance after.
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End of Curvature.
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Up to this point,
I wore tiny packs
to deal with rib pain.
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April 03 tested if
I could carry a full
pack for a 7 mile
hike... and if I
was overcoming
the vertigo from
the concussion.
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"Hi Squirrel" by the
4th class route with
tiny holds, in my
running shoes. (The
3rd class route is
to my L.)
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On the way down
I met Mike Connor
with his niece and
2 brothers. I first
met Mike Dec 21,
2002.

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I nearly ran down,
as rain started
racing from W.
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April 05 was much-
needed P&TB
socialization, with
GrayCap by cl 3
Ghost Canyon.
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The hardest thing to
do, was to stay back.
I have an extremely
hard time dealing
with multiple
conversations
at once
.
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At times I had to
isolate myself, so
I could focus.
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20250405_114505 - Copy
The psychotic
Teddy Bear.
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April 12 was a solo
test to see how I did
on 5 miles of rough
terrain; I went to
N Potosi from NW.
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View S from
Cotonwood
Overlook;
N Potosi on L,
Meditation Point
on L.
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Last ridge to
N Potosi. It was
so Windy, I took
no pictures on
Meditation
Point.
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Big Potosi on L,
Pa's Rump in
distance on R.
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View NE
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View N
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This ridge to E is
only reasonable
non-tresspass
route.
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Meditation Point
and Las Vegas to
NE, on descent.
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On April 14, Liza
led a great P&TB
trip up Magic Mt.
and Rose Tower.
I first went this
way over 20 years
ago.

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There was no rope
in the final chute.
Liza placed one;
as my last test I
climbed without
it.
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View from true
cl 4 summit. I put
a strap down and
everyone climbed
sans strap.
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Coming up
Rose Tower
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descending Rose
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