Rock 'The Rock' - hike to the Castle Rock.

[zzyzx]

The triangle of lower Hackberry and Cottonwood road offers a lot of hiking opportunities. One of them is the hike to the top of Castle Rock. Since a couple of years, this was my goal. Now it became reality.

Where: GSENM, Cottonwood Canyon Road
Topo: Calico Peak
TH: Cottonwood Canyon Road, east of Castle Rock
Date: 06/2011
Weather: hot, sunny and windy
Time needed: w/ photo stops, 6.5 h
Length of hike: 3.2 mls
We started the hike 06:00 AM.

The Sun is spotting 'The Castle'.

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Hike into the little Canyon and find a ledge.

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Scramble up to southwest, meet the cairn

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and don't forget looking back.

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Reach the rim, enjoy the view.

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Find your way, scramble down into the wash.

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Pump-up your legs and rock 'The Rock'.

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Enjoy the colors and structures of sandstone

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from different variations

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and far outlooks to White Pocket

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and Yellow Rock / Red Top.

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Have fun - and maybe see you on trail!

[mattandersao]

Very Cool! Thanks!!

[accadacca]

:popcorn:

[powderglut]

Nice TR. Amazing you picked out White Pocket from across the Hwy.
I like!:2thumbs:

[Sandstone Addiction]

Beautiful pictures and awesome TR. Thanks. :2thumbs:

[Jammer]

Awesome -- I'm headed there in April so this just got me very pumped up!

- Jamal

PS -- do you have any pics to the north? I'm really curious about the landscape of the Cockscomb north of Castle Rock along Cottonwood Road. Thx.

[zzyzx]

Thanks a bunch for your comments, folks.

Jamal,

Sorry, the only one I have, is this

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For you as a long distance hiker. If you like the Cockscomb / monocline.
You can start your hike (if you like) at Chynoweth corral or Goulding trail, towards Castle Rock.
You'll see the beautiful rough landscapes of the Rush Beds, colors like Yellow Rock, pinnacles, hoodoos and good outlooks to the Cockcombs.

[Jammer]

That's awesome -- Google Earth only helps me visualize it so much. Thanks!

Yeah... I was thinking about crossing via the Goulding Trail. However, my plan is to actually head north, so I might actually try and get across farther north in the heart of the Rush Beds. If I have the time I'd love to summit Castle Rock too though!

- Jamal

[zzyzx]

Have fun, Jamal and post your pictures of the north.