Adalac Benchmark and Calada Peak in Lucy Gray Mountains BLM, NV

Hike Adalac Benchmark and Calada Peak Lucy Gray Mountains BLM, NV

Class 2 5.1 miles 2300 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Jan 21, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Adalac Benchmark and Calada Peak GPX Track

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Adalac Benchmark is the high point of the Lucy Gray Mountains, south of Las Vegas. Despite its proximity to the city, I've held off on this one for a while because I thought the road to reach it was horrible. Ultimately I didn't have any trouble, but it was nice to engage 4WD to get through some of the deeper sections of sand. To get to my starting point, after heading east out of Jean NV, head south here (35.7760705, -115.316757) and follow this paved, then mostly well-graded dirt road. Turn left here (35.655261, -115.265640), then right here (35.6568039, -115.262103) where the road deteriorates, and then continue south and park on the side of the road. 

I started up the eastern spur ridge of Adalac Benchmark, which was mostly just a steep slope with an occasional short section of Class 2. I made quick work up this, scared an incoming storm would head my way. I wrapped around a false summit just before Adalac, but it would likely have been better to just go up and over because of the somewhat tedious side-hilling. Class 2 boulder-hopping led to the summit.

I dropped off the peak and started north toward Calada Peak (Adalac spelled backward, though I don't know who named it this). On a topo map this ridge looks like it could be difficult, but ultimately it was only Class 2, though for the most part was easy walking. Although there were two major bumps along the ridge that added vertical gain, I found it to be a pleasant traverse overall. I kept to the ridge crest for its majority, keeping left at times to avoid rocky parts along the crest. A final drop to the saddle on the south side of Calada Peak required either Class 3 boulder-hopping if going direct, or an easy Class 2 slope descent if staying slightly to the east.

Another steep slope with a couple of Class 2 sections led up the south ridge of Calada Peak, with a Class 2+ bit toward the summit. I dropped back down to the southern saddle and decided my best bet for returning to my car would mean side-hilling on the slopes and dropping into a couple of drainages before finding a pleasant wash that took me back. This was the least fun part of the day because the ankle-high brush was a little annoying, but I got out of it quickly enough. The final wash led back to the road I drove in on, which I followed to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Adalac Benchmark
5715 ft
1155 rise
2
Calada Peak
5640 ft
555 rise

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Just after leaving where I parked, I passed this old rusty truck. Adalac Benchmark visible top left.
Just after leaving where I parked, I passed this old rusty truck. Adalac Benchmark visible top left.
Approaching the base of Adalac Benchmark. I headed up the ridge on the left in this photo.
Approaching the base of Adalac Benchmark. I headed up the ridge on the left in this photo.
The initial slope.
The initial slope.
View back as a storm rolls over McCullough Mountain.
View back as a storm rolls over McCullough Mountain.
I headed up the shallow gully in the center of this photo, which leads to a false summit.
I headed up the shallow gully in the center of this photo, which leads to a false summit.
View back as I start into the shallow gully. My car is somewhere down there in the center.
View back as I start into the shallow gully. My car is somewhere down there in the center.
Within the shallow gully.
Within the shallow gully.
A close-up looking back down at my progress. I came from the rocky outcrop just right of center.
A close-up looking back down at my progress. I came from the rocky outcrop just right of center.
Side-hilling around a false summit, Adalac Benchmark visible center.
Side-hilling around a false summit, Adalac Benchmark visible center.
Class 2 to the summit.
Class 2 to the summit.
Adalac Benchmark summit, view toward Calada Peak (left) and the ridgeline traverse I'm about to do.
Adalac Benchmark summit, view toward Calada Peak (left) and the ridgeline traverse I'm about to do.
Adalac Benchmark summit, view west.
Adalac Benchmark summit, view west.
Along the ridgeline. Calada Peak visible left.
Along the ridgeline. Calada Peak visible left.
View back toward Adalac Benchmark (right).
View back toward Adalac Benchmark (right).
A drop and a big hump along the ridgeline.
A drop and a big hump along the ridgeline.
Another drop with some Class 2. Ahead you can see another hump.
Another drop with some Class 2. Ahead you can see another hump.
Coming down from the second hump, a view toward Calada Peak.
Coming down from the second hump, a view toward Calada Peak.
Avoidable Class 3 coming down to the saddle on the south side of Calada Peak.
Avoidable Class 3 coming down to the saddle on the south side of Calada Peak.
On the way up Calada Peak, view back toward the previous bump obstacle. As you can see the boulder-hopping in the previous photo is avoidable on the left side of that ridge. Adalac Benchmark visible right of center.
On the way up Calada Peak, view back toward the previous bump obstacle. As you can see the boulder-hopping in the previous photo is avoidable on the left side of that ridge. Adalac Benchmark visible right of center.
Calada Peak ahead.
Calada Peak ahead.
Class 2/2+ to the summit.
Class 2/2+ to the summit.
View down at the Class 2/2+.
View down at the Class 2/2+.
Calada Peak summit, a shot back at the traverse.
Calada Peak summit, a shot back at the traverse.
Calada Peak, view north.
Calada Peak, view north.
Calada Peak, view west.
Calada Peak, view west.
Heading back down to the saddle on the south side of Calada Peak. I traversed the hills, heading toward the center of this photo.
Heading back down to the saddle on the south side of Calada Peak. I traversed the hills, heading toward the center of this photo.
View back toward Calada Peak as I head across the somewhat brushy side-hilling slopes.
View back toward Calada Peak as I head across the somewhat brushy side-hilling slopes.
Dropping down into the wash visible below. I took this wash back to the road I drove in on.
Dropping down into the wash visible below. I took this wash back to the road I drove in on.
Within the pleasant wash, which leads back to the dirt road I drove in on.
Within the pleasant wash, which leads back to the dirt road I drove in on.

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