Three slots loop with Fire wave

This hike in Valley of Fire starts at Parking lot #2 and goes east, then north to the wave. Then it takes the Wave wash west through one slot, crosses the road for two more slots. After the highest and last slot it turns south and works it way into the area south of White Dome area.

Bush Penstemon was blooming all over. This is like the same plant in Red Rock that blooms pink.

One of the many colorful rock areas.

Purple, yellow and white.

View toward the rock of Gibralta looking north. The wave is on the right.

More colorful rock

More colorful rock

The Wave

Small slot in the wash before crossing the road.

Window in one of the slots.

Blooming barrel cactus.

On the slickrock.

Woolly Blue stars, erigonium?

Bush Penstemon and colorful rock

The route. About 4.5 miles

Mary Jane falls

This was our first trip to MJ falls this year. We wanted to see more water. We will plan to go earlier next year while there is still some snow on the trail.

The falls really look high with someone in the photo. This is just the lower third of the falls.

The temp last night must have been below freezing. But daytime highs were around 65.

This is Big Falls across the valley taken with a tele lens.

Route is about 3 miles RT and nearly 1000ft gain.

Upper Bristlecone to Bonanza to ridge

Today was a perfect day for hiking in the Spring Mountains. Temp started around 50 but got up to over 70. Winds were light, mostly. Did wear long sleeves and long pants, but got kind of hot at times. Poles are a great help on steep snow slopes.


At the last switchback before the crest trail junction we lost the trail entirely. Too much snow there. So we went up the ridge to a high point that was snow free and called it a day.

6.2 miles and 1600 feet gain.

This is how much snow is left at the ski area.

Heading up the trail there were small patches of snow and some running water.

This is the junction for No Name trail. Not much snow there, but probably gets worse higher up.

There were some downed trees from the winter. We counted about 5 downed trees.

We came to a few more snow patches, but just enough to make it more fun. By the way, poles help on steep snow patches. I recommend them highly.

Sometimes we had to walk across the snow. The footing was pretty good and we did not sink in much. Just enough to have secure footing.

At Bonanza junction there is no snow.

Shortly up the trail there is more snow. Enough to make it "more funner"

We had too much fun in the snow patches that we had to turn around shortly after this section when the trail disappeared  totally.

On the trip back we saw some flowers. This is western wall flower.

Alpine Phlox

Birds were out too. This is a Clarks Nutcracker.

Butterflies were out too. This is a Mourning cloak

Oregon Grape.

This might be a Green Comma. It is certainly some kind of Comma.

Hairy Woodpecker

Little Zion

Photosphere at Little Zion

There were many flowers on the hike. I have tried to identify them below.

Desert Barberry

Desert Barberry

Primrose

White Aster

View from the ridge

Yellow throat, or Fremont Phacelia

Black Brush

Twinpod

Angelita Daisy ?

Bigelow Monkey flower

Claret Cup cactus

Pink Phlox

Desert Ceanothus

Utah Penstemon

Redbud

Jewel Flower

Bigelow Monkey flower and Purple Mat










7 miles and 1600 feet