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Slick Rock Summit by Jim_H  The Marsh Pass area has a number or sections of monocline which are separated from the main body of Skeleton Mesa. They appear to make excellent summit scrambles or hikes. Point 6,919 is a large prominent one which is easily accessible and close to US 160, just east of the pass area. Entirely off-trail, this is mostly slick rock and offers some excellent views and a quick way to gain some elevation and exercise. Depending in where you park and start you will only hike a little over a mile to maybe just over 2, so this can be a nice fast elevation hike. This is sort of an equivalent to Flagstaff's Fatman's Loop, or Squaw Peak in Phoenix, though without any people. This can be snow covered or icy in winter, and hot in summer. The slope is southeast facing, so it can be well over 100 at the hottest time of year. It can also be very windy in spring. Thunderstorms do occur here in monsoon season, but not like in other higher elevation areas. Watch the sky during the afternoon in the appropriate time of year. Starting from the bridge over Laguna Creek, hike up the road and proceed past the home site at the base of the monocline. You shouldn't have trouble out here, but it is best to stay away from homes, so you will want to hike away from the home site. After the home site and before crossing the next large wash, there will be a two-track that heads off north towards a canyon. Hike this briefly and you will see the bottom of the sandstone ridge that is behind the home site. Hike towards the ridge and then up it. Follow the ridge across the bottom of the monocline. As you move towards point 6919, look for a small depression or bowl on the side of it. You'll want to take the ridge that is beyond the small bowl. Taking this ridge will bring you to the summit. When descending, be careful to take the same ridge, otherwise, you may cliff out and need to hike back up some distance to access the correct ridge. Summit views include some excellent pass views, Black Mesa, back to Kayenta, and some of the interesting eroded basins at the edge of Skeleton Mesa. On a good winter day, you'll be able to see summits in Colorado; both the La Plata sub-range and the Wilson group by Telluride. While this is on the Navajo Reservation, this is a hike that you can do without really being concerned with the recreation permit. It is close to the highway, so it makes another short hike a person can do while passing thru. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Point 6,919 near Marsh Pass
Went out to do this for the exercise, but was rewarded with a hazy view of the snow covered Abajos. I can't wait for the snow to start to melt on the north slope of BM so I can start hiking that. I'm not really enjoying off trail slick rock hiking all the time. This is also a little dangerous with moist rock and snow in protected areas, which are numerous.
2012-02-29 Jim_H
Point 6,919 near Marsh Pass
Did a late day hike up to the point since the road has dried out and there isn't much else to do on short notice. I am considering exploring some of the other narrow fins and points, maybe tomorrow, but I remember there being homes near the base of them, so I don't know. I wish Black Mesa would melt out, I would like to hike that again. I might just explore a lower section of that near the highway. Being a late day hike, I was able to enjoy the reddish hues on the west facing walls of B.M. and also on the Abajos.
2012-01-09 Jim_H
Point 6,919 near Marsh Pass
I waited a little later than ideal to do this, but I won't get out until the weekend at the earliest, so it was today or never. I won't do this type of hike again, as it was way too slick on the slick rock to be safe. I summited, but was in a fog and it was snowing heavily. Most wasn't sticking, but where it was it was dangerous. I am concerned about not being in shape to snowshoe on my first outing, and hopefully this will help maintain some level of endurance.
2011-12-12 Jim_H
Point 6,919 near Marsh Pass
Got out and enjoyed the warm sunny weather. Real nice day for this. I would like to try Pt 6827, but I have other stuff to do today. Days are really short this time of year. I really like the views on this hike. The rocks and mesas make up most of it, but the roughly 90 degree slots of distance views to the east of the mountains and the horizon is also really cool. Being able to see well over 100 miles with hardly any elevation gain is neat. The Wilsons are loosing their snow. I think there are enough up and downs on this that the AEG of 1009' is on the low side, but who knows how high the AEG really is. Every hike will probably be different, so you can't tell.
2011-11-29 Jim_H
Point 6,919 near Marsh Pass
My expectations for this were off, I thought it would be easy to access the south face from the road before the house, I was able to do it, but found a better way for the future. Today, I parked south of Laguna Creek near a big cleared area and hiked over the bridge. Up the road a bit and took the first gully to the left which is also before the house. I had to scramble up the loose dirt embankment near a rotting cottonwood tree and wouldn't have been able to do it if the tree wasn't there. Then, I hiked a way on a two-track towards what might be an occupied hogan or octagon of some sort. From there I was out of the homestead and hiking up the sandstone ramps, but being as it was my first time, I was exploring as much as hiking. I mean that I had to look for the correct way and ended up losing and gaining ground a few times. I made the summit a little faster than I thought and was able to see the Wilson Group and the La Plata Sub-range in Colorado. Starting down, I took the wrong rib and cliffed out and had to regain up to 200' of elevation to access a better rib. I then went across the face to a sandstone hill that is behind the home site and down a series of ledges to a two-track near a wash. My descent route is the preferred way to hike this as it avoid any of the homes. I might be under estimating my elevation, and the current map points elevations are way off, so I'm being really conservative there. Mileage should be almost spot on.
This could very easily become my new Elden/ Fat Man's Loop hybrid. From my perspective, it pretty much has it all. Even though the summit is just above my old apartment's elevation in Flagstaff, you feel much higher. This could be an excellent weekly or twice weekly hike for a Kayentan.
This could very easily become my new Elden/ Fat Man's Loop hybrid. From my perspective, it pretty much has it all. Even though the summit is just above my old apartment's elevation in Flagstaff, you feel much higher. This could be an excellent weekly or twice weekly hike for a Kayentan.
2011-11-22 Jim_H
