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| Hiking | 6.56 Miles |
584 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.56 Miles | 2 Hrs 50 Mns | | 2.32 mph |
| 584 ft AEG | | | | |
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| Partners |
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none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Usually, my wife & I have our annual romantic Las Vegas visit earlier in December, but this year we could not swing it until Christmas week.
The Prospect Trail is short, only 4.6 miles, with not much elevation change, so I planned to also do the White Domes Loop at Prospect’s north end, then hike Fire Wave at the end. Besides the exercise, I figured that would give me enough material for a decent length hike video. I should have known better: Valley of Fire State Park absolutely loaded with amazing rock formations. 
It had been a chilly 41℉ at breakfast time in Las Vegas, but by the time I started hiking at 9:30 a.m., it had warmed up enough that I could remove my hoodie, and use exercise-generated body heat to keep me warm.
Four tenths of a mile north of Valley of Fire Highway, the jeep trail turns east. Though Prospect Trail continues north, I first headed east to check out some whazzits. (A ‘whazzit’ is why I call an interesting object I see, but cannot identify, on satellite view.) The whazzits ended up being a large fiberglass water tank and a inoperative pump house. There were some other bits & pieces laying about, including what looked like a collapsed antenna. I wonder what the pump house’s purpose was? Besides simply pumping water. 
The hills just west of the trail look like old ocean sediment rather than the cliff / mountain’s orange sandstone. I guess Valley of Fire’s orange formations were used for the original, and much better, “Total Recall” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but they reminded me of Bedrock, home of the Flintstones.
As I descended from the saddle, I was passed by three other hikers, because I was taking so many photos. (Close to 200 on the day!) I caught up to them around the two mile mark. As I began to pass them, they brought my attention to group of four male desert bighorn sheep: Three mature rams, and one young adult, with partially curved horns: https://vimeo.com/494095071 .
One of the things I’ve noticed about the terrain in Nevada is that it is very stark and barren relative to Arizona. Still very beautiful though, especially in Valley of Fire. Nevada has much less brush or cacti: No cottonwood, palo verde, saguaro, cholla (of any variety), etc. The only grab & stabs I saw were some desiccated prickly pear and a few fishhook barrel cactus. Of course, I did not see the only two catclaw on Prospect Trail. 
Near the end of Prospect Trail, 4.4 miles into the hike, I encountered the only confusing part of the route. To my right was a small slot canyon. To my left, a faint trail headed out of the wash. I saw no white guide poles, so I started to follow the faint trail. I did not go far, before doubling back, into the small slot canyon (which is the correct route).
There were scads of people on the White Dome Loop, so I finished the last ¾ of a mile as quick as possible. The White Dome Trailhead was full to overflowing. As was every other parking area the entire 6.7 mile length of Mouse’s Tank Rd., from the White Dome Trailhead to the Visitor Center, back on Valley of Fire Highway.
p.s. My wife reports that the White Dome TH toilets are disgusting, even worse than the toilets at the AZT trailhead outside Pine. 
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/494091097 |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Saw scattered instances of one yellow species north of the first dryfall. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
