Sentiment for North Potosi and Meditaton Point

Sentiment for North Potosi and Meditaton Point
off Rte 160 near Las Vegas, NV

This area is much wilder than the tower-covered, road-connected and higher Mount Potosi to the S. I used these mountains before and after a shoulder operation 3.5 years ago, to judge my rehab. Today it was a reality check, and also a check on access. The rte 160 highway project has removed much access to public lands; here is a way, with some caveats. Much of the west side of the range was owned by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), and is signed "No Trespassing," but only on the road to the camp. A sale was reported for some of that land, but the County Assessor's Office still lists ownership as BSA. The route from the east is still "open" with the caveats below. The loop gives about 3200' accumulated gain and ~5.6 miles. I took 4h55m including stops; I certainly wasn't rushing.

NOTE: The rough powerline road, which intersects the OHV parking road to east, is signed NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES. This road cannot be legally used for access. The "drop method" described below has no prohibatory signage.

Pics by Harlan W S
Sept. 28, 2021

My recent route. I parked on a very wide shoulder on the S side of the road. See comments on access in last frames	A zoom-out for context.	AQI was well above 100 when I started.
Early view WSW to N Potosi (also called "Buddha's Rest")	Mounting first ridge to S	View ~SSW. These ridges were burned over decades ago.
View E, old firepit and first on many lumps	View ~W to N. Potosi; the ridges are quite rough	View ~E at unnecessary downclimb.
Unnecessary upclimb. I found 4 cairns which probably lead around these cliffs.	Top of N Potosi, view ~N over smoky sandstone peaks of Red Rock
View of big Mt Potosi to ~SW	Heading down. Meditation Pt below. Stay on the more open areas to L.	The dish at left likely provides cell service to BSA. Meditation Pt. at R.
My car is down there somewhere.	View ~ S to cliffs on N Potosi.	Next lump we traverse on way back E. First, we must negotiate a ridgeline. Stay on more open areas at L.
Register on Meditation Point needs work.		3.5 years ago, I went L of that cliff. The ridge down from here is rough, but just class 2 with some exposure.
In my younger days I went directly over the top. Today I went L around base.	View back ~S at Meditation Pt (center) and N Potosi (L).	First lump of the day.
Old burn on the last ridge	Juniper stump from fire break	View ~W, N Potosi at L. Meditation Pt at R. I once came down the ridiculously brushy valley between.
This the barrier one faces getting back to your car. This is a smooth 6' wall with a steel bar 1' above the top. I climbed it easily, but someone with less upper body strength might want to bring an etrier and hide it on the S side of wall.	Here's the fence opening. The 6' drop is to R (S), my car is parked L (N).	3.5 years ago. Sometimes we forget. And forget again.

Sentiment for North Potosi and Meditaton Point off Rte 160 near Las Vegas, NV

Sentiment for North Potosi and Meditaton Point
off Rte 160 near Las Vegas, NV