Monument Ridge Traverse (near Red Rock, NV)

pics by Harlan W. S.
Oct 12, 2008

This is a very complicated, tricky, and exposed hike. If you really want to try this route, consider joining www.hikinglasvegas.com and following BW. The route-finding is tricky, and there are very few places where the terrain is “just” class 3 and class 4. Some of the class 4 sections have rotten rock and significant exposure. The class 4 descent is almost impossible to find, so a rappel off the west side of Monument is nearly mandatory, and the rap station is not easily seen.

Back in December 2002, a version of this hike was my first real test of balance, after learning how to walk 8 months previous.

This hike is most easily approached from Rte 160.	“Center” is Center Monument. The return route is through Black Velvet Canyon.	View W at parking. We are going up a gap between the two peaklets at R.
		View W to West Monument.
A sheep.	Two sheep.	The route goes up the wall, then L into the larger slot.
		Oddly enough, this is one of the more difficult sections. The photo is pointing up, so the steepness and exposure are not obvious. One wants to go up the shallow chimney in front of BW, but the rock is rotten; normally a strap hangs down, but this time, the strap had been blown out of the way.
	We’re at the top of the nasty section that normally has a strap. The strap was gone, so BW spotted Luba up, and she secured another strap.
		View up. Dana comes down a handline as we go to visit the arch.
View W. NN is near the bottom of the arch opening.	View W as BW takes a handline down to a viewpoint below the arch. The dark rock at L is the inside of the arch span.	View NE an up, through the arch.
We’re going to climb the R wall. It looks awful, but there is a narrow ledge that makes it class 3 with exposure.		The single ledge. Next we cut L up the wall.
	Good holds, but steep, with bad consequences for a fall.
View NE from Center Monument.	To the W is W Monument and Hidden, our next goals.
	Black Velvet, with Potosi in back.	Wilson at L.
We head W to the summit of W Monument.	Again, very steep. You can see the green arroyos in the desert far below.	View SE from W Monument.
		The easiest way W is to rap down to Gap between Hidden and Monument.
Peppe starts rap.	Dana on rap.	BW on rap.
View SE as we head to Hidden.	View E to W Monument.	Wilson and La Madre at R.
		Black Velvet in back.
	Halverson sizing slot.
Fuschias
		…and almost back.