Hiking Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte National Monument
 Mica Peak trailhead along Vermiculite Mine Road (view S) |
Overview Mica Peak, via the North Ridge, is a fun hike deep in the heart of Gold Butte National Monument. The route ascends the fairly steep and strenuous, but safe, North Ridge, which is followed south towards the summit. Parts of the upper ridgelines are rocky, but the craggier portions can be bypassed on one side or the other. The summit is guarded by rocky crags, but the easiest route cuts across the north face just below the crags to gain the summit from the west ridge. Presented here are photos of the descent. For details of the hike, including driving directions, maps, and GPS coordinates, see the Mica Peak -- North Ridge webpage. |
 Departing the summit (view W along ridge) |
 Descending towards enormous boulder (view NW) |
 Passing enormous boulder (view N) |
 Descending steep hillside (view N) |
 Descending steep hillside (view N) |
 Descending steep hillside; staying left of boulder field (view N) |
 Angling down and across steep north facing sideslopes (view NE) |
 Crossing steep sideslopes aiming for the North Ridge (view NE) |
 Better to avoid descending steeply the north gully (view N) |
 Crossing steep sideslopes below lowest rock outcrop (view NE) |
 Arriving back on North Ridge (view NE) |
 Passing left of large white boulders (view N) |
 Joshua Tree growing back after the fire (view N) |
 Descending North Ridge (view N) |
 Descending North Ridge; stay right of upcoming crags (view N) |
 Descending North Ridge (view N) |
 Descending broad left side of North Ridge (view N) |
 Returning past the second mining cairn (others are off route) |
 Starting off North Ridge into broad gully with penstemon (view NE) |
 Passing first mining claim cairn (view N) |
 Descending canyon towards spring (view N) |
 Entering dense vegetation at the spring (view N) |
 Descending old road past Snowflake Mine (view N) |
 Descending old road past Snowflake Mine (view N) |
 Descending old road with lots of flowers (view E) |
 Arriving at the trailhead (view N) |
Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
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