Crabby Appleton Pk, Rainbow Pk and Wall and Bridge Mtn

On Saturday (10-11), 16 hikers followed the wild route to Crabby Appleton Peak, a little known summit in Red Rock Canyon. This is one of my favorite moderate hikes in Red Rock and it's a loop hike. The route travels through Pine Creek Canyon before starting the ascent to the summit. There's lots of class 3 scrambling to reach the top, but the views from the summit are worth it.

Now the interesting part comes: a very exposed downclimb to reach the descent gully. In fact I had to tie a swami belt for a few people and lower them down. Once past this obstacle, it's a fast descent to the trailhead. Everyone had a good time and I am sure a few hikers will never forget this hike!

On Sunday we hiked Rainbow Peak and Rainbow Wall via the Rainbow Peak Without the Ledges route, one of the best in Red Rock Canyon. The real route starts at the base of Rainbow Wall with a long pull up a rope. The route then descends 200 feet of exciting and exposed rock before starting back up over 1,000 feet to the summit. We were at the peak by high noon.

One peak was not enough, so we hiked over to Rainbow Wall. We climbed the famous "ledges" on our way to the 1,200 foot wall. Just past the ledge is Photographic Ledge, another cool spot in Red Rock Canyon. Another 15 minutes of hiking and we were looking down Rainbow Wall. We descended via Gunsight Notch and were back to the cars by 4 pm. Panorama from Rainbow Peak.

Since Monday was a holiday for some, Nancy, Kathy and I hiked Bridge Mountain via the North Peak Wash route. I rewrote the hike description and included more waypoints. This is a great route to Bridge and cuts the drive on the Rocky Gap Road in half. The Rocky Gap Road is in about the same shape as always. Panorama from Bridge Mtn.

During the descent I almost step on a baby rattlesnake. This is the time of the year the snakes are most active. Despite what many books say I have never seen snakes on ledges, only on the ground and mostly on trails.

Notes: Book on Crabby Appleton is in good shape. A new book was placed at Rainbow Peak. There's a small sign in book at Bridge Mountain.

Rainbow Peak Without the Ledges

Today (4-22), I hiked with Doyle, Peter, Ed, Luba, Candice, Jacquie, and Barb to Rainbow Peak following the Rainbow Peak without the Ledges route. I think this is one of the best routes in Red Rock. Although the forecast called for temps in the 90's, we got lucky with all the cloud cover.

Once at the peak we decided to follow the traditional route back to the cars. This route travels to Gunsight Notch and then descends the notch into Juniper Canyon. During our descent we heard two rattlesnakes. This got my attention as I was the first upon them. No one got bit, but we were a little more cautious after that.

Once at the notch I went looking for the camera lost on Sunday's hike and I found it with the help of Barb, Candice and Jacquie. We then descended Gunsight Notch and eventually caught up with Peter and the others.

Notes: This is the time rattlesnakes are most active. Early morning and early evening are the most likely times to stumble upon snakes.

Rainbow Peak and White Rock Hills Peak

On Saturday (4-4), 12 hikers scrambled to the summit of Rainbow Peak. We started at Oak Creek trailhead and hiked into Juniper Canyon. We then headed up Gunsight Notch. There are some down trees due to the snow this past winter. They need to be removed as they make for tough going.

We then traversed above Gunsight Notch Canyon and headed up to Rainbow Wall. I was the only hiker who had been to the top of the wall. Needless to say the other hikers were quite impressed looking down 1,200 feet into Juniper Canyon.

Are next stop was Rainbow Peak via the Ledges. It got real quiet as hikers got their first glimpse of the exposed ledges. We all made it across and then down to the saddle. From there it's an easy walk (sort of) to the summit.

After eating and signing the book we followed the Rainbow Peak without the Ledges route down into Juniper Canyon. This is a very short and quick descent aided by three ropes. All in all a great day.

On Sunday (4-5), 16 hikers stood on the summit of White Rock Hills Peak. We ascended the southern route, which is the original route. It's pretty well cairned, but still is one of the hardest routes to follow in Red Rock. After eating at the peak we descended via Surprise Canyon, an excellent route and it's very well cairned.
Notes: The books and containers at both peaks are in good shape, though the book at Rainbow Peak is fragile.

Rainbow Peak Without the Ledges

Today (11-23), seven hikers hiked to Rainbow Peak following one of the best routes in Red Rock Canyon, which is just 20 miles west of Las Vegas. I had looked at this seemingly impossible route for years before trying it. If fact, the route came about by accident. Valentina and I had be up around Rainbow Wall and headed east until a huge cliff stopped us in our tracks. It became apparent if a route to Rainbow Peak was possible the route would have to avoid the cliff by staying low and descending to an area below the cliff.

A year later Richard N. and I were in Juniper Canyon. We found a deep slot and we were checking it out. The slot ended, at least for us, at a 75 foot dry fall. We headed up Juniper Canyon and then pulled ourselves up the rope at the bottom of Rainbow Wall. We headed east toward where we thought the top of the deep slot would be. As we started descending to an area well below us where we figured the top of slot is located. The descent was tricky and we placed one fixed line. Once down we found the top of the slot and realized there were two big dry falls, each at least 75 feet high.

I then realized we had successfully navigated below the cliff that stopped Valentina and I a year ago. Although the terrain ahead of us did not look too promising, we started up with the goal being to find a new route to Rainbow Peak. We made it up another 400 to 500 feet, but the rock was too steep and it was getting late, though we did think the route still had a chance of going.

A few days later we returned and this time headed up a sketchy looking ramp. It went and the rest of the route turned out to be mainly class 2! It seems impossible with 1,200 feet to go the route wouldn't encounter some serious climbing. The route is named, Rainbow Peak Without the Ledges. If you have done the normal route, you know the ledges I am writing about.

Notes: The route is well cairned at this time. Luba replaced the container for the sign in book. The book has plenty of pages left. I put in a fix line at a downclimb with lots of moss. It's only class 3, but the moss makes it tricky.