Sheep Peak

Sheep Peak
Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
November 1, 2009
Distance: 13.3 km (8.3 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1382 m (4534 ft)

I hadn't climbed any peaks north of Las Vegas so on Shin's invitation, I joined him and his two friends, John and Tim, to bag Sheep Peak, the third-highest peak in the Sheep Mountains.

John drove his SUV several kilometres up 4x4 roads and parked by a corral. After starting, we realized we had driven up the wrong fork and parked at the wrong trailhead. Instead of going back, however, we pushed on to the correct trailhead, adding 1.2 km to the approach and 130 m of elevation gain.

I had no knowledge of the route and left the routefinding to John and Shin. At first we floundered, trying to get our bearings, but eventually settled on ascending the west ridge. There was no trail. We covered ground mostly by hiking, although at times we were forced to do a little bushwhacking or scrambling.

We made slow progress. Although Tim and John enjoy hiking, neither get out often because they have families. Nor did it help that it was hotter than we expected. However, after making our way up and over a series of ridges we arrived on top of Sheep Peak.

We had started shortly after sunrise, but the ascent had taken time and now the return trip ate up the rest of the daylight. We arrived back at the SUV at dusk just when the bats began flying about.

KML and GPX Tracks

Sheep Peak seen from Las Vegas

Starting from the corral

Looking back at our start. Mummy Mountain in the background (mouse over for a close-up).

Heading up the slope

Arriving at the usual starting point

Hedgehog cactus

After climbing a minor ridge, we made for the rock outcrop above

There was some uncertainty as to the best way to take, but it turned out well

Negotiating the rocky ridge

John and Shin

We encountered several ups and downs along the way

Shin stopped to look for our next move

After dropping down, we continued up the other side

This ridge section climbs for quite a ways

Eventually we saw the summit (centre peak) but it's still some distance away

Tim crests another ridge

Looking back at the last ridge: we tackled it from different directions. Shin came over the far right end (not in view). Tim and I came up and over the middle. John went around left to try to avoid climbing. He's somewhere in the middle of the photo (mouse over).