WINTER 2002 SOUTHWEST LOOP

CONTINUED:

Becoming cold and awake at 4:00 a.m., I got up and motored off, hoping not to wake the group. Headed slowly out on the dirt, washboarded road, I came to North Las Vegas to have breakfast and organize my gear. I went into town to secure a room, but wound up only cruising the Strip with a few more photos of the newer casinos. I did go briefly to Red Rock Canyon NRA, to check on the vista board as to which one was Bridge Mountain.

The discount room rates were already taken at my favorite major hotel. I was too tired to check other hotels for vacancies and a good rate, so I chose to head into Arizona over Hoover Dam. The security check there didn't cost much time, and before I knew it I was in Kingman, AZ.

After some comfortable, inexpensive, and usually reliable Motel 6 lodging, I ventured up Monday into the nearby Hualapai Mountain Park to do some hiking. Thanks to mostly well-signed trail and dirt road junctions, I came to the base of the summit of Hualapai Peak (8,417') after two and a half hours. I searched and looked, but cross-country travel with a poor, intermittent use trail led me to the far (north) side of the summit rocks to discern that with the thick, thorny brush and the climbing symbols on the signs, the summit was not easily attainable. The top rock looked like some serious bouldering.

Disappointed, I hiked back to try nearby Aspen Peak. There, the situation was the same. No followable trail led past the lower viewpoint. Another two peaks I don't get! But, I had fun taking pictures and being reminded of scenes in Arizona Highways magazine. I took the dirt service road back to make a loop, and arrived at the car parking by 4:11 p.m. MST.

Headed east on I-40, I gained another room in Williams, AZ.

With the sunrise, I took early morning pictures of this historic town, the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon." I passed through Flagstaff, AZ, and motored down the highway 89A past the scenic Oak Creek Canyon viewpoint, then found that a "Red Rock Pass" was required to hike in the area. I found a ticket machine, placed at the trailhead and elsewhere, and deposited my $5. I took the receipt/parking permit, and came to a nice paved parking area at Encinoso campground for my hike up Wilson Mountain (7,122').

Steadily climbing up the good trail from the north, I arrived at a flat area, then came to the trail fork. Nearby was a great view of the Sedona area, with the large red rock crags and cliffs. Because the view was so backlit, I didn't spend much time except to rest.

The trail climbs upward some more, then flattens out on a open pine forested plateau. I had previously thought again I would bag a summit, but the trail does not run to a highpoint. Instead a great view north to the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness was gained upon hiking the extra 1.5 miles from the little cairn at the top level area. The drop here was quite vertical, and I edged close to the lip for good shots of this most scenic area, again reminding me of the color glossy magazine.

I returned to the car parking the same way I had used going up. My round trip time was 5.6 hours. I canceled my ambitious plan to hike East Pocket Knob as well. I motored about a bit in Flagstaff, and resolved to head east again. Meteor Crater was closed, being after hours, so I again got a Motel 6 room in Holbrook, AZ.

Up the next day, I took Highway 180 to the south entrance of Petrified Forest National Park. I had seen impressive colors in the photos, but this day started a bit hazy, with white sky. I went about taking the short loop trails at the main viewing points. I snapped digital pictures with abandon, since now I had a routine of charging up my depleted camera batteries each night in my motels.

This was the last substantial hiking for me on this trip. I resolved to head for New Mexico, the last of the Lower 48, mountainous, eleven major, Pacific Western States I had not visited. The forecast was favorable, so I motored along I-40 into Gallup, NM, and took so many photos of all of these towns. I headed north on Highway 666 to Shiprock, NM. This massive rock was the goal of 1950's Sierra Club climbers, who completed the first ascent of this formation. With the sun setting and no maps, I could not get a better shot of the peak. After drink and food, I lodged again in Farmington, NM.

Leaving town in the morning to take U.S. 550 north, I walked about Durango, CO, to enjoy the trendy and scenic town setting, with snow on the nearby peaks. This is said to be a real rec town, and I was surprised at the low rates advertised for a room. A highway sign advised, "Red Mtn Pass closed Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m." This blocked my planned driving route! I went to the Federal multi-agency headquarters, and spoke with a clerk. I learned some good information on rec ops in the San Juan National Forest. I supposed than rather to take a different highway route north, I would wait for the road to open when the daily construction work was finished.

Passing cliffs graced with huge stands of aspen groves, I resolved to come back here in late September for the glorious fall colors. I stopped briefly at the ski resort, then motored slowly on, taking in the snowy views of so many high peaks.

Going over Coal Bank Pass (10,640') and Molas Summit (10,899'), I came to pretty Silverton, CO. Because of the road closure, the economy here was almost dead. I walked up and down the main street, and shot so many photos. The library computer made for good surfing and I sent e-mails after checking my mailbox. With food and drink, I was ready for the 5 p.m. road opening.

Cars began going through the gate, and I stopped for pictures along the way. Red Mountain Pass (11,075') is no where near the highest pass in the state, but the drive was a good test for my car. The highway is cut into a large cliff, and only one lane of travel was possible at one point.

I expected nothing much, but the town of Ouray, CO, is spectacularly set. I detoured to the ice waterfalls, and stopped at the hot springs for photos. What a place to live!

As I came to flatter land, the evening glow illuminated the San Juan Mountains to the south, and I chose Montrose, CO, to stay in.

Hoping to see the nearby Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument, my plans were defeated by some three inches of snow falling overnight, with low clouds. I suspected I would get out of the snow country by driving northwest to Delta, CO. The cold, fresh, blowing snow and spindrift didn't require chains, and I could motor along at good speed, some 45 mph. Some road work required my attention to safely travel, and then I was mostly out of the snow.

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