We set off up the wash: El Padre and La Madre ahead.
La Madre and El Padre Mountains
La Madre Mountains, Nevada
April 18, 2009
The La Madre Mountains lie east of the Spring Mountains and north of Red Rock Canyon NCA. The highest mountain in this range is La Madre Mountain, and like Turtlehead Peak, it can be reached from Sandstone Quarry in Red Rock Canon. As an added bonus, for an extra 130 m elevation effort, nearby El Padre can be climbed as well. For La Madre and El Padre Dinah Kruze and I joined the Las Vegas Hiking and Outdoors Meetup group, led by Shin. Shin would lead us up washes and slopes to the La Madre-El Padre saddle from where we could ascend either peak. Filling out our ranks were John, Matt, Chris, Kevin and Karen. The convoluted route defies description, but Shin expertly led us up both peaks. On the way out, as an added treat, Shin had us scramble up to a wall in the Calico Hills to view petroglyphs, a few hundred years old. We thoroughly enjoyed the hike and the company of the Las Vegas hikers. If we ever have a chance to bag a peak with them again, we will! For more photos see La Madre Meetup page |
We set off up the wash: El Padre and La Madre ahead.
We leave the wash and start up a gully.
Taking a break: John, Matt, Shin, Karen, Kevin and myself
A lot of terrain to cover before we reach the base of the mountains.
Spinystar cactus
Looking back at Mount Wilson, Rainbow Peak, Rainbow Wall and Bridge Mountain
Hiking up another gully
Turtlehead Peak in the background
Matt comes up the trail.
Shin leads us up a faint trail.
We hike alongside a cliff face that leads to El Padre and La Madre saddle.
Ascending La Madre from the saddle
A drop-off on our right
The summit of La Madre
Griffith Peak, Mount
Charleston and Mummy Mountain (mouse over each to zoom in)
El Padre Mountain
View from La Madre summit
Dinah and I on the summit
Myself, John, Kevin, Karen, Chris, Dinah and Shin
As we make our way up El Padre we find snow.
El Padre summit ahead
The Las Vegas Meetup group are an animated bunch.
Looking down at the Sand Quarry parking lot (mouse over for a close-up)
Coming back: a technical section of the trip.
Hiking back on a wash that made a good trail.
Shin leads us across some rocks to see petroglyphs.
John peers at the ancient artwork (mouse over for a close-up).
La Madre Mountain map