Pine Valley Wilderness Trip Report

“This trip report is long overdue but I didn't dare post a trip report here without pictures of the trip!

Flash back to several weeks ago.....
My fiance flew out Thursday night at midnight to go to her sister's graduation and was due to return Monday night. I figured this would be a great opportunity for me to do a nice long backpacking trip in the Pine Valley Wilderness. The likelyhood of her returning with me to Pine valley is in doubt due to the fact that we had a very close encounter with a cougar the last time we were there, it was about 30' away sitting on the trail.

Anyway back to my trip.
Got a late start Sat. morning, it was a long week and I need the extra sleep. Drove from Las Vegas to Pine Valley, Utah, which is just north of St. George and west of Zion Nat'l Park. It's a pretty big mountain range with peaks topping out over 10,000 ft. making it an alpine island in the surrounding desert. After taking the wrong turn, I first went to Grassy Flat instead of Grass Valley, I made it to the trailhead, where I was all alone. It's rare to see anyone while backpackinig in Pine Valley. The weather was overcast and threatening rain and I hadn't brought any rain gear because the weather report was for clear and sunny. I flip the bird to the rain clouds and head out.

I didn't realize how good a snow year it was in the southwest, the streams were still very swollen and the north facing slopes were all covered in several feet of snow. I had hiked this trial before and I knew I had about a dozen stream crossings to deal with before I got to Mill Flat 5 miles away. It was a slow 5 miles, and I had several dangerous crossings.

By the time I got to Mill Flat the clouds were clearing and it was a beautiful day. I took a break, snapped some photos and wandered around a bit. Then I headed south on the Summit Trail. As soon as I left the grassy meadow of the flat and entered the trees I encountered deep snow. It was probably 3-4 feet deep in most places and had softened up in the afternoon sun. So I pulled out the map and found an unnamed trail that left Mill Flat to the west to Bare Valley. So I headed to Bare Valley to spend the night. Easier said than done.

The trail followed a broad ridgeline with several small knolls on it to a point, and then switchbacked down the south facing hillside to Bare Valley. Well about half way along the ridge I lost the trail in the snow covered and flooded forest. Then when I picked it back up I found not one trail but a three way intersection and neither of the trails went in the direction that I needed to go! I gave up all hope in the trails and pulled out the compass and map. I aimed my path the point at the end of the ridge and cheated to the south side to try to catch the trail as it started to swicthback down. About an hour later of nasty bush wacking, I found the trail at the point where it dropped off the ridge and made my way to Bare Valley. Crusied through Bare Valley and made my camp at a small clearing just downstream of a waterfall. I set up my tarp and took a long nap. Woke up cooked dinner (boiled), and went back to bed.

After another late start I was on my way. I was hiking through a open rocky area and I heard a rattling sound very close to me! I froze in my tracks and quickly looked around. About 10 feet away a large rattlesnake was sunning himself in the morning sun. I think it was a green mojave rattler but I'm not sure, you'll have to check out the picture. I was about 3-4 feet long and pretty fat, but very lazy. I got with about 3 feet of it and it just looked at me rattled it tail a couple of times and then stopped and just sat there.

The trail I was on was headed to a different trailhead then the one I started at so Sunday afternoon's adventure was to purposely lose the trail. I followed some game trails around the base of the mountain, got to see a golden eagle trying to catch some thermals and made it back to my truck without further problems. I think I'll wait a few more weeks for the snow to finish melting and the streams to shrink a little before I head back there, and bring a snake bite kit next time too!

here's the pics.
Pine Valley Pictures[/a]”

“Reptiles pictures
Nice pictures and report. (your link didn't work for me so I made another. I had to go in as a guest by using your e-mail address)”

“reptiles, I KNEW it HAD to be you!!

So you're on the west side of the range, right? I've only seen the campground on the east side and the mountain goes straight up there in some areas.

That apparently is a great place for wildlife... EEK!!

Also, what map are you using.

OK, now my complaint!!! Hey, the link to photos didn't work. Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!”

“Weird, half the time the link works, the other half of the time it doesn't!
Thanks Baume 66!

Lizs, yes I was on the more gentle sloping north east side. Though some sections of the west side are just as steep as the east. The trail on the east side climbs 3000' in 3 miles. The trail I was on climbed maybe 2000' in 5 miles. I had the USGS quad for that area (there about 4 that cover the entire range) plus the local map showing all the trail names and distances.”

“reptiles, nice trip report and pictures. I used Baume's link too, cause yours didn't let me in.

That was some healthy looking snake!”