Trip Report Mojave Desert Finale, yep, Summits-Canyons Feb 12-13, 2015 Now w Pics!

Two days left and I could not make a decision. Was it going to be peak scrambles, narrow canyon descents, or perhaps more hot springs? Well at Lake Mead National Recreation Area you can have each of the above each day if you like! So that is just what i did.
Overview map in Flickr set:
Upper Left: Goldstrike Canyon
Lower Left: Boyscout Canyon
Right: AZ Hotspring Canyon-White Rock Canyon-Liberty Bell Arch Loop

Thursday.
From another nice primitive car camp a couple miles in on the Lovell Wash Road (most cars)off the paved Northshore Road, I made my way across the new Hoover Dam Bridge into AZ for a hike up Fortification Hill 3717 feet. The access road is 5 miles of good graded dirt and gravel. All trail except for a very short Class 2/3 step through the "fortifying" basalt cliffs. The first 2/3 of the trail has a wash and a rib option for a loop opportunity.
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Four miles RT left me with the whole afternoon so back across the bridge I drove and parked at the TH for Goldstrike Canyon by Hoover Dam exit.
Now Goldstrike is a bit trashed (only four miles RT to the hotsprings and river) but don't let it deter you because it has many fun dryfall and chokestone scrambles and is a beautiful canyon. Fixed ropes for anyone not into scrambling but I wonder if the rif-raf might stay out if they were removed.

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More pics with chronological annotations:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/235578...7650850255535/

Friday, final day.

My final free camp was in the Lake Mead established primitive dispersed camp along the Bitter Springs Road off Northshore (1 mile dirt..any vehicle carefully).

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Thursday brought me everything except on thing: more rock art. So the finale day what I chose was the AZ Hotspring Canyon-White Rock Canyon-Liberty Bell Arch Loop. Not only did I get dryfall scramble descents (bypassable by maintained trail), canyon narrows, rock art, hotspring soaks, a cold river dip, more canyon narrows, a couple bighorn ewes, and a craggy little summit to scramble; but I even got to see a very large natural arch! All in about 9 to 10 hiking miles.
The perfect end to the perfect introduction to the natural wonders of the Mohave Desert landscape!

Down to the hotsprings in AZ Canyon to the Colorado River.

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Up and out to the Colorado viewpoint with a look at Liberty Bell Arch and a scramble of Liberty Bell Arch Peak...craggy at only 1716 feet!

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More pics with chronological annotations:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/235578...7650427287499/