Gold Butte: Seven Keyhole Slot & Babe's Butte, plus Little Finland
Details
Rating: Semi-easy to moderate, about 4 miles total, with less than 500 feet total climbing. Optional extra mile of hiking to visit nearby Little Finland rock formations after main hike.
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This hike is in conjunction with Red Rock Hikers and Peaks & Trails Baggers.
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This hike is fairly easy for its 4 mile distance and goes to two first class rock art sites with a story to tell, far out in a howling wilderness of sand and desert redrock formations.
These sites are very remote and generally intact, with many dozens of glyphs at six separate locations.
After the hike to the main sites, there will be a second (optional) hike from the same trailhead, but to Little Finland instead, only 0.6 miles away with about 200 feet of climbing. More rock art can be found there and the rock formations are stunning.
Basically, you tramp around in the desert for a few hours, looking at oodles of rock art, and some unearthly landscapes done in vibrant hues. It's great.
See you there! M+J :)
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Prep: Stout boots or shoes, two big bottles of water, a sun hat, and some food to keep us going for a while. Optional gloves and hiking poles.
A hiking pole provides stability on numerous gravelly slopes, and leather gloves will protect the hands from sharp desert stones in case of a slip and fall.
The Drive: We meet at 7:30am near I-15 Exit 2, the Southern Parkway overpass, at the Smith's Market parking lot (SE corner). We'll carpool there, then proceed down Interstate 15 past Mesquite to Rt 170 and the Virgin River bridge (at 7:30am Nevada Time), where we will meetup with those coming from Las Vegas.
Then we'll carpool in the more dirt ready vehicles and head south around Virgin Mountain to Whitney Pockets, some 25 miles on old pavement. Then about 8 miles on dirt roads and sandy/rocky washes to the trailhead.
A good high-clearance SUV is needed, but 4x4's are not usually required (except in very wet conditions) .
Moderate moisture makes the road much easier.
Getting rides with group members is generally very easy. Just ask in the comments if you haven't got one and someone will volunteer. :)
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Please Note The Following:
Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being.
By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event.
All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or injury to themselves or their guests.
By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.