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Fire Wave and other points of interests
Valley of Fire, Nevada
October 17, 2013
Distance: 6.7 km (4.2 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 165 m (541 ft)
Although Valley of Fire lacks any sizeable peaks, it abounds with fantastic landscape features worth seeing. I strung a few of these together to create a trip. Dinah, Sonny and I sought out Fire Wave, Fire Cave, Thunderstorm Arch and the White Domes (Sonny scrambled up the highest White Dome while Dinah hiked to a high point where I took the above panorama). Although it was satisfying to see all these attractions, the real excitement lay in exploring the colourful and amazing wonderland to reach them.
Our route took on a figure-8 loop that defies an easy description. It worked well except for one thing: unwittingly we parked illegally. Only after finishing our trip to find a notice on our windshield did we realize that roadside parking is prohibited. We could have completed the same route had we parked at the White Domes parking lot. Bad choice of parking aside, our trip has much to recommend. Valley of Fire is a large state park with lots more to see. We're sure to return.
KML and GPX Tracks
Sonny's Trip Report
Heading into a small slot canyon
In the canyon
Deeper into the canyon
After leaving the canyon we'll cross the plateau ahead
Starting up the plateau
Looking back
Heading to Fire Wave
Fire Wave is the rise in the foreground on the left
Sonny stands on top of Fire Wave
Gibraltar Rock on the skyline seen from Fire Wave
Setting off for Fire Cave
Looking back
We had hoped to reach Fire Cave by crossing this red sandstone formation but we got
cliffed-out and had to backtrack to seek another route.
Sonny follows
Sonny scrambled up a high point. Dinah and I later climbed the next
point on the right.
The same high points seen from behind
Crazy Hill in the centre (mouse over for a close-up)
Fire Cave doesn't look very cave-like (mouse over for a closer view)
Thunderstorm Arch. Afterwards, Dinah and I hiked up the ridge In the background.
Dinah heads to the high point we reached
Sonny gravitates to one of the White Domes
Another look at Sonny's objective
Sonny near the top
On top
Sonny points to the chimney he ascended
Coming down White Domes Trail
Movie set for the 1966 movie "The Professionals" (mouse over to read sign)
Heading back through a small slot canyon in Kaolin Wash
Valley of Fire West (4.2 mi, 2116 ft, 279 ft)