Route Editor
Route Scout
Overview A casual offtrail hike around the perimeter of a massive rock monolith. Hike Park at a pullout on the west side of Hwy 93 at lat 34.344022 lon -113.157890. Depending on road conditions and your vehicle, you may be able to shorten your roundtrip hike by 2 miles. Road was in decent shape for a high clearance 2wd vehicle. You can practically drive right up to the monolith. Others will have to walk the road. Once you start following the dirt road west, you can't miss this prominent feature. Hike the perimeter, explore the area, or plot yourself a route to the top (if there is one). Water Sources Very dry part of the state. The Santa Maria River runs just north of here. The washes around the Monolith are likely dry except during times of heavy rainfall. Check out the 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
Shiprock - Black Mountains
Years ago I caught a glimpse of this massive rock. My curiosity finally led to opportunity. On my way up to Vegas for the winter electronics show, I stopped for a hike.
Rain had just pounded me while driving through two storm cells. It was sprinkling when I started and I felt I might be asking for trouble by continuing. Went for it anyway and my pre-Vegas luck paid off. Caught some beautiful photos of the area, great clouds, great light and interesting geology.
The rain had passed through here and left me with some active run-off in the surrounding wash and drainages. No doubt the running water enhanced the experience.
I hiked my own off-trail perimeter of the rock, then returned down the road I had arrived upon. Continued on to Vegas while driving through 2 more rainstorm cells.
Rain had just pounded me while driving through two storm cells. It was sprinkling when I started and I felt I might be asking for trouble by continuing. Went for it anyway and my pre-Vegas luck paid off. Caught some beautiful photos of the area, great clouds, great light and interesting geology.
The rain had passed through here and left me with some active run-off in the surrounding wash and drainages. No doubt the running water enhanced the experience.
I hiked my own off-trail perimeter of the rock, then returned down the road I had arrived upon. Continued on to Vegas while driving through 2 more rainstorm cells.
2016-01-07 RickVincent
Shiprock - Black Mountains
Shiprock Violas & Ives Peak - Arrastra
Shiprock was remarkable. Violas was a pimple. Ives was enchanting. The hike to the base of Ives was nice. We wanted to hike through Joshua Trees and we did. However they were on the lower part alongside the jeep road, not in the wilderness portions.
The adventure began at the base of Ives. The scramble up was fun. A saguaro plastered with snow greeted us right when we topped out. It was a little windy and cold so we forged on.
Bruce wanted to return on the jeep road. John eyed a shortcut canyon. I had an idea of where I wanted to go and somehow worded it in a way to convince Bruce and John.
Luck worked over a blind horizon a time or two before we cliffed out. True luck IMO was that we were far enough away from backtracking that we could concentrate on the adventure ahead of us.
We took turns looking for a route off the cliff edge. This is called sending out a "test hiker". I jumped on the 1st and bombed. John checked an option that looked impossible yet came within 20 feet of victory! Then surprise of the day, year or life happened when BRUCE took the lead down a scree slide. It sounded like wind chimes descending!
We brought it home via the Santa Maria and Black Canyon Wash. It's been a while since I was so exhausted.
2 minutes and 46 seconds in the Arrastra Wilderness
youtube.com/v/qnhhO ... sBXg
Route Fly Over
youtube.com/v/vDrJd ... K_c8
The adventure began at the base of Ives. The scramble up was fun. A saguaro plastered with snow greeted us right when we topped out. It was a little windy and cold so we forged on.
Bruce wanted to return on the jeep road. John eyed a shortcut canyon. I had an idea of where I wanted to go and somehow worded it in a way to convince Bruce and John.
Luck worked over a blind horizon a time or two before we cliffed out. True luck IMO was that we were far enough away from backtracking that we could concentrate on the adventure ahead of us.
We took turns looking for a route off the cliff edge. This is called sending out a "test hiker". I jumped on the 1st and bombed. John checked an option that looked impossible yet came within 20 feet of victory! Then surprise of the day, year or life happened when BRUCE took the lead down a scree slide. It sounded like wind chimes descending!
We brought it home via the Santa Maria and Black Canyon Wash. It's been a while since I was so exhausted.
2 minutes and 46 seconds in the Arrastra Wilderness
youtube.com/v/qnhhO ... sBXg
Route Fly Over
youtube.com/v/vDrJd ... K_c8
2013-02-09 joebartels
