Vegas Area Peaks

Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Great American Southwest. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the Southwest US Climbing Partners section.
User Avatar
cp0915

 
Posts: 1306
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:40 am
Thanked: 2 times in 2 posts

by cp0915 » Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:12 pm

Pete, I might be able to get away a day to join you for something. None of the peaks interest me, though, as I've already done them. What others would you be interested in?

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:07 pm

Still recovering from the ankle, but may be out in a week.

Mummy: definitely a snow climb right now -- all the way, at least 2' snow in some places. This week will be a bit warmer, with highs approaching 40F at 10000'.

Virgin -- some snow on top. The warmer rains melted most snow below about 6000', but more fell above that.

Wilson -- First Creek is probably pretty high, if you go that route. Ice near the top, will probably melt in the next week. The fastest route is from the west, but that requires mild 4wd or awd with some clearance.

User Avatar
cp0915

 
Posts: 1306
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:40 am
Thanked: 2 times in 2 posts

by cp0915 » Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:34 pm

There are dozens upon dozens of area peaks I've not yet done (though they're nearly all unnamed, if that matters to you). Let me know if you change your mind.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:43 pm

Actually, the Worthington Range is off 375 (best accessed via 375 east of Rachel). Mt Irish is an easier hike, if you can drive most of the way up the road from 318 (nice peak, but is has a communications shed and tower on top).

I see lots of snow down to about 6000' on the mountains west of Red Rock. It may still be snowy in a week above 7000', depending on the side you use for approach.

User Avatar
cp0915

 
Posts: 1306
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:40 am
Thanked: 2 times in 2 posts

by cp0915 » Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:03 pm

It would be tedious for me to generate a wish list for you. Suffice it to say, the peaks on the list would be obscure.

I could probably join you for a day, but you'd be on your own for the rest. Ball's in your court. Sounds like we're hearing excuses again though. I'm trying; Bob tried a couple weeks back; Moapa (and I) tried a few months before that; etc.

User Avatar
Day Hiker

 
Posts: 3156
Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2003 2:57 am
Thanked: 61 times in 43 posts

by Day Hiker » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:47 pm

1000Pks wrote:Does anyone know if there's free Wi-Fi at any campground in DV?


This article claims there is at Furnace Creek and nearby at Sunset Campground:

http://roadsidejournal.rvtravel.com/2008/02/gas-cell-phones-and-wifi-in-death.html

This surprises me, since the area is still in the 20th century when it comes to cell service. Cell phones are completely useless in Death Valley, unless you're one of the 3 people on the planet who still use an analog phone.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:04 am

1000Pks wrote: That no one takes me up on Virgin, Mummy, and all, what might that say about this all?


I'm having a hard time following the intent here, but do remember that I have a grade 2 ankle sprain, so things that I would normally do are not in the cards for at least a week.

To repeat -- Mummy is very snowy right now. The steep-angled scree slope--550' vertical -- is covered with at least a foot of mainly unconsolidated snow. That's the easiest approach to the summit. (Folks who went up Fletcher last weekend found fairly substantial snow, requiring snowshoes start to 10250' (summit). So snowshoes are de rigueur.) After one reaches the top of the scree slope on Mummy, there is a traverse across steep, north-facing slopes that carry soft snow into June in a normal year. That stretch, near 11000', will be very slow. Frankly, I'd wait on that one until the snow has a chance to consolidate a bit.

The ridge to Virgin is likely just snowy above about 6000 to 7000'. As I've said before, the old DPS-mentioned road is washed-out, so you have to start a bit lower. Modest clearance (more than a normal passenger car) is needed to get as far as you can up the road, which is ~5350', at which point you cut W up the ridge.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:38 am

Virgin is the sort of peak I'd normally do alone in a heartbeat. There is some brush on the ridge, but it is class 2.

The turnoff for NV route 170 goes through Riverside, which has no motels; but Mesquite is just up the road, and is full casino-motels aching for business. I know you declined camping, but Whitney Pockets is a very decent place close to your turnoff past Quail Point (the rougher road N to Virgin).

User Avatar
Day Hiker

 
Posts: 3156
Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2003 2:57 am
Thanked: 61 times in 43 posts

by Day Hiker » Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:03 am

1000Pks wrote:Yes, doing my own search, I found there is Wi-Fi from the Furnace Creek V.C., although if it is not on at night, or 24/7, it's not much good to me. My idea is free access covering all of Stovepipe Wells. If they were with it, they'd have 811n and 54 Mbs for all users. Makes use of the land lines to bring that in, now that most all have cells.

Sadly, with budget as the reason, they long have had no showers there, or now I think even a water faucet. This forces everyone to obtain lodging, where I surmise there is access. $$$$ for the concessionaires, which helps us all (economy).


No water faucet? Where? There is supposed to be water and flush toilets at all 4 campgrounds around Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek.

http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Even if the website is somehow wrong, I know for sure that they have sinks, faucets, and water at Sunset and Texas Springs campgrounds because I was just there a couple weekends ago.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:18 am

1000Pks wrote:The DPS guide proclaims 7 hours r.t. for Virgin from the 2WD start (Moapa Peak is 6 hrs r.t.).


My experience is that the DPS guide (at least, the Cd-ROM version) is way out of date w.r.t. road rating. Especially for BLM roads, the philosophy has been : no maintenance and natural decay. Many of the "2wd" roads are now in terrible condition, and maybe were more apt for the days when 2wd cars had 200 hp and 8" clearance.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:41 am

1000Pks wrote:I've found the DPS guide is pretty good and well worth the money. Though I only have the third edition and now it's been awhile since the 5th (latest) edition came out. Anybody with recent info on getting to the DPS 2WD start?


Pete, I'm having a tough time with the context. If you mean access to Virgin, I think I mentioned that above. The SP page on Virgin, form 2005, looks accurate. I doubt the road has spontaneously gotten better. With careful driving, some of the 4x4 road mentioned in the SP article could be handled by a more modest car.

I've found the DPS road guides to be inaccurate in at least these places: Clark; Tipton (the 4wd route has large boulders across it); Porter and Sentinel by the east; Kingston from the west; Avawatz from the east; NY Mountain from the NE; McCollough from the west; Granite Mojave (where an illegal trespass is indicated); and Mitchell from the east. I'm sure I'd find others if I thought harder. The basic trouble is that a lot of the roads have decayed or been closed since the guide was originally written.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:38 am

Virgin Roads: On the topo map, Look for the 1640 meter contour on the gravel road; this is the road that heads N, just a ways east of Quail Point. A modest 4x4 had to stop there, so the 2wd access has to end before that point. That's a lonely road, so I wouldn't go up it without the usual desert emergency stuff.

The washout in 2004 was extensive, and used the road as the channel, so there is actually a deep pit running parallel to and within the roadbed in places.

User Avatar
Bob Burd
Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 4271
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2001 10:42 pm
Thanked: 572 times in 296 posts

by Bob Burd » Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:19 pm

MoapaPk wrote:Virgin Roads: On the topo map, Look for the 1640 meter contour on the gravel road; this is the road that heads N, just a ways east of Quail Point. A modest 4x4 had to stop there, so the 2wd access has to end before that point. That's a lonely road, so I wouldn't go up it without the usual desert emergency stuff.

The washout in 2004 was extensive, and used the road as the channel, so there is actually a deep pit running parallel to and within the roadbed in places.


fwiw, we were there a few weeks ago and drove Bill's Suburu all the way to the washout point a bit more than a mile from Quail Point. Nothing can drive beyond that point. The road up to Quail Point was in excellent condition and easily navigable. After that, I wouldn't bother driving unless you have 4x4 or high clearance. The extra hiking distance isn't a big deal. And there were lots of motor homes and OHV folks parked around Whitney Pocket a few miles to the west, so it didn't seem lonely at all.

And for WiFi at Stovepipe Wells in DV, Just go to the rec room of the motel across the street. There's usually a few folks with laptops in there using the free WiFi.

Pete - stop making excuses and just go out and climb something, with or without someone to join you. Beats sitting at home and it will do you a world of good. Remember, "Going out is going home". Muir, I think.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:58 pm

I meant that the road N of Quail Point is lonely. In any case, I just checked and a normal 2wd is supposedly limited to 0.8 to 1.0 miles up this last rough road, just before the corral.

From that point, you walk a short ways and just mount the ridge before the 4x4 road turns R up the canyon. It's about 5 miles each way and 4300' accumulated to the summit from there.

Or you can walk up the old road to the dps suggested left turn up the ridge.
Last edited by MoapaPk on Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User Avatar
MoapaPk

 
Posts: 7780
Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 7:42 pm
Thanked: 787 times in 519 posts

by MoapaPk » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:23 pm

If you go up Frenchman, park west of the peak down by the Mormon Temple (or whatever road now allows access, NOT on Lake Mead Blvd (vandalism).

There are a lot of nice peaks out by Lake Mead Northshore and Redstone (both on SP) let you park away from vandals, on a paved road.

Next

Return to Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, TX)

 


  • Related topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests