Wonderland of Rocks and Red Obelisk - 1.7.2020
We parked at the dirt parking lot a short distance NE of the paved parking lot for Barker Dam.
|
Less than a quarter mile of hiking brought us to the Worth Bagley Ranch (aka The Pinkhouse)... this is pretty much the gateway into the southern end of the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
Entering the southern end of the Wonderland of Rocks... I call this rock formaton The Matterhorn... of course there are lots of formations in the Wonderland that could be called this.
|
Approaching Shark Rock.
|
Getting deeper into the Wonderland... the two Astro Domes on the far left... and The Camel on the far right.
|
A closer look at The Camel as we near the Freak Brothers Dome (not in this photo).
|
We reached the Freak Brothers Dome after hiking a little more than an mile... we will come out this gap later in the day to complete the loop portion of our hike.
|
Continuing north in the main wash of the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
After hiking ~2 miles we have left the main wash in the Wonderland and are heading NE in search of a backdoor route to Elephant Arches.
|
Kind of looks like an elephant trunk... but this is not Elephant Arches.
|
The terrain is getting more rugged... brushy and bigger boulders.
|
Sometimes dealing with boulders and rock is better than dealing with brush in the washes.
|
Star Dancer finds a route through the boulders.
|
I stayed high here while Star Dancer and Denali Girl found a route through the boulders.
|
The terrain doesn't look like it is going to get any easier for awhile... heading for the gap in the distance.
|
Nice rock formations in every direction.
|
Denali Girl going between some huge boulders.
|
I'm looking back as Denali Girl works her way up the canyon.
|
Looking back as Denali Girl comes up the canyon... the brush and large boulders make for slow going.
|
Star Dancer and Denali Girl turned back here... while I continued on.
|
Continuing on.
|
Head between the boulders... looks better out there.
|
Ugh... still lots of work to do.
|
Keep on moving.
|
It is not going to get any easier in the near term.
|
Continuing south.
|
Lots of climbers say that random bouldering is harder than climbing with ropes... this hike confirmed that theory for me.
|
Looking back at the canyon I just came up... my guesstimate is that it took me one and a half hours to navigate the last quarter mile.
|
Looking back at the gap in the rocks that would have taken me to the Elephant Arches... however, there was no way that I had the necessary time to try to get there... maybe another time.
|
This little passage will get me to some easier terrain... finally!
|
Hooray!... finally I can exhale... I recognize the rock formation above that looks like a turtle.
|
I met up with Star Dancer and Denali Girl at the Red Obelisk.... frankly I was exhausted.
|
Looking back at the Red Obelisk... closing the loop portion of my hike/scramble.
|
Almost back out of the Wonderland.
|
Back at the Worth Bagley Ranch... leaving a short walk to the car... another beautiful day in the Wonderland... 5.4 miles roundtrip, gaining 395 feet of elevation.
|
