Bovine Ridge (NNW Ridge) : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

The NNW Ridge offers a mostly brush-free, easily navigable route to the top. However, it is still brushy in places, with loose rock and unbelievable amounts of cow poop.

Getting There

See the main page.

Route Description

At the lip of Brush Canyon, you can see two promising ridges leading to the summit: a northeastish ridge to your left, and the NNW "Bovine Ridge" to your center/right. The NE ridge is doable but appears to have very thick brush near the top. The Bovine Ridge appears to be mostly open, at least for the first 3/4 of the way.

Drop into Brush Canyon and re-ascend the other side. There are paths in here, mostly cattle but some obviously augmented by human. Hike by sight to some tanks sitting on the ridge near a single juniper tree.

Follow some good cow paths (avoiding the poo) most of the way, up and around the various ridge points. The brush gets thicker the closer you get and at some point, about 400 feet below the top, the cow paths end. Just hike by sight up the brushy slopes to gain the summit. One way is about 4 miles. Return the same way.

Despite the cow paths, the route is still rocky. Cactus is abundant higher up. Watch the footing, mainly to avoid twisting an ankle or scaring up a snake.

Essential Gear

Long pants, sleeves, gloves. Something to pull cactus barbs from the skin. A trekking pole may be useful in spots.

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