The Vagabond Hiker

Hiking, trekking, and climbing the world

Hiking Southwest Utah and Beyond, Part 1

Southern Nevada and the Arizona Strip

Although I have published a number of blogs from my travels around the US, despite spending about 10 months in St George, Utah in the past two years, I have been remiss in describing any of my hikes in this wonderful part of the country. This post is the first of two that will attempt to remedy that omission.

Driving North from Las Vegas to St George Utah on Interstate 15, one observes a number of desert peaks and ranges in southern Nevada before entering the dramatic Virgin River Gorge in Arizona, part of a narrow belt of land in Mojave County Arizona completely cut off from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon.

Nevada

Autumn morning light, Charleston Peak, Spring Mountains Nevada. North of Las Vegas, Charleston Peak (11,918 ft) is the highest peak in southern Nevada and the 8th most prominent mountain in the lower 48. Amazingly, it was actually possible to do the 19 mile loop hike to the summit in a very long day from St George.
A gnarled Bristlecone Pine on Charleston Peak. Some of these hardy trees are several thousand years old. Amazing survivors!
Lynda down-climbing on Muddy Peak, the most interesting – though not the highest – of the Muddy Mountains east of Las Vegas. A long 4WD drive from the highway made it even more special.
A creamsicle sandstone formation in Hidden Valley, at the base of Muddy Peak.
Moapa Peak, to the north of I15 in Nevada, is the second highest peak of the Mormon Mountains. Here is some interesting Class 3 climbing enroute to the summit.
The Vagabond Hiker hanging on the knife-edge summit ridge of Moapa Peak. There is about 1000 ft of air under my heels. A desert classic that I am leading once again this coming week.
On Davidson Peak summit, the Little Mormon Mountains, Nevada. This climb, though not particularly difficult, was much more interesting than I had assumed.
Gold Butte National Monument is an amazing place Southwest of Mesquite, Nevada. Here is an especially complex eroded sandstone formation.
Some Joshua Trees in Gold Butte. They are actually succulents, not trees.
The Newspaper Rock petroglyph, Gold Butte. The monument is an archeological showcase of the native Paiute culture.

Arizona

Virgin River Gorge from the summit of Shadow Mountain, at the southern entrance to the Gorge. Glorious!
View of Virgin River Gorge from Peak 4302 in the Beaver Dam Wilderness, on the north side of the Gorge. Note the swollen, muddy river from all the rain this past winter.
Posing with a milk-vetch, Beaver Dam Wilderness
Taking a picture from Cedar Pocket Ridge in the Gorge
Peak 5060 from the south, off of Cedar Pockets Rd. Note the Joshua Tree in bloom. As far as I knew, this peak, high point of the Beaver Dam Mountains in Arizona, had never been climbed from this side, so I had to try. . .
An interesting rock “face” on Peak 5060. My attempt summitting from the south was without success.
The Shiprock formation in the Gorge. Scrambling to the top made an otherwise easy hike along the Gorge much more exciting.
20230419_094334_Western Redbud_Blackrock Canyon
Western Redbud, Blackrock Canyon at the north end of Virgin River Gorge. Despite the difficult lighting, one can appreciate the beauty of these flowering trees in such an arid landscape.
View southwest from Mt Dellenbaugh, just to the north of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Talk about remote: it’s 70 miles’ drive from a paved road. Three members of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition exited from the Canyon here and were never seen again.

The final part of this two-part blog post should be ready in the next week or two, given time between upcoming hiking and backpack trips.

The Vagabond Hiker

Comments

  1. Nice! I never got around to doing some of those things during the 15 yrs I lived in Mesquite. Thanks for sharing!

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