Parked at the trailhead: Pahrump Peak on the right
Pahrump Peak
Nopah Range, California
April 16, 2009
While I work on the trip report Pahrump Peak in our hotel room, downstairs Dinah is trying her luck on the machines. Between the two of us, though, I expect to have a more satisfying evening! Pahrump Peak is a seldom climbed mountain west of Las Vegas just across the Nevada-California border. Summitpost provided a little information but I also found a route map on the internet. It's a simple route: after crossing the flats to the base of the mountain one hikes up a drainage and then ascends a ridge leading to the summit. It's rated as class 2 meaning it's an easy scramble. We followed a road that leads to the drainage, marveling at the flowering beavertail and barrel cactus along the way. After entering the drainage we followed intermittent trails and cairns. We made the mistake of leaving the drainage prematurely and found ourselves climbing steep slopes to reach the ridge. However, this brought us out of the drainage and into the views quicker. And the views were grand. We could see expansive flats of the valley floor as well as snow-covered Mount Charleston. A ridgewalk to the summit finished the climb. On the return, we descended more directly to the drainage, avoiding the steep slopes we had climbed earlier. The walk back across the flats was unavoidable of course, but looking back, the sun now low in the sky, Pahrump Peak showed off its colours. |
MOVIE (3:11)
Parked at the trailhead: Pahrump Peak on the right
The road leads to a drainage. The summit is centre right.
Plenty of barrel cactus here
Closer look at a barrel cactus
Entering the drainage
Looking back
The grade starts off gentle
A Utah agave towers over me.
The sides of the drainage are rugged.
Except for this gravel flat, the drainage is rocky.
Reaching the first of two notches we go through.
We leave the drainage and start ascending.
The peak is still some distance away.
Looking back as we climb
We reach the ridge with the summit above.
Hedgehog cactus (mouse over for a close-up of a flower)
Chicago Valley below
In a cave at the second notch.
Dinah tops out after ascending a gully after the second notch.
Below is the drainage we hiked up.
On the summit ridge
Mount Charleston on the left (mouse over for a close-up)
The summit ridge was longer than we expected.
On top!
Heading back along the ridge. Nopah Point on the right (mouse over for a close-up)
A rough trail leads back down to the drainage.
Heading back to the drainage
Long walk back to the car
Looking back at Pahrump Peak
Last look at the mountain as we drive down the highway.
Summit panorama
Twelvemile Spring map (showing our descent route)
