Jaybird Benchmark in Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Hike Jaybird Benchmark Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, NV

Class 2 3.2 miles 1600 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back May 9, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
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Even though Jaybird Benchmark was supposed to just be an add-on peak to nearby Mount Stirling, we enjoyed it quite a bit and were happy we put in the extra effort. Our route ended up being more interesting than anticipated, and we actually ran into a fellow peakbagger on the summit! What were the chances?

Google Maps won't take you to the trailhead. Instead, navigate to here (36.5746, -115.87831) and follow this good dirt road to the trailhead attached to this trip report. We parked on the side of the road at the closest thing to a turn-out that we could find (mid-clearance required to get to the trailhead) and started through the desert toward a weakness on Jaybird Benchmark's east ridge. The cliffs seemed a little daunting everywhere else leading to the summit, so we played it safe and headed to a spot we were confident would pose little threat. After some side-hilling on mellow slopes, we made it to a Class 2 slope that took us to the ridge at the weakness we had scoped earlier. We started west along the ridge, encountering a couple of Class 2 obstacles, and overall just enjoying the ridge hike. There were a couple of steeper sections, but mostly it was just a pleasant ascent. When Jaybird Benchmark's summit came into view at a false summit, a short Class 2 down climb gave us a small obstacle before the final ridgeline to the peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Jaybird Benchmark
6564 ft
839 rise

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Starting from the dirt road where we parked, Jaybird Benchmark ahead. We headed for a weakness along the ridge, just to the left of the black hump right of center.
Starting from the dirt road where we parked, Jaybird Benchmark ahead. We headed for a weakness along the ridge, just to the left of the black hump right of center.
Approaching the weakness after traversing the desert, right of center.
Approaching the weakness after traversing the desert, right of center.
Ascending a pretty steep slope with some Class 2 to the weakness, view back the way we came. My car is in the center somewhere.
Ascending a pretty steep slope with some Class 2 to the weakness, view back the way we came. My car is in the center somewhere.
Class 2 to gain the weakness we chose.
Class 2 to gain the weakness we chose.
Class 2, as we reach the ridge.
Class 2, as we reach the ridge.
Continuing southwest along the ridge, a straight shot.
Continuing southwest along the ridge, a straight shot.
Looking back along the ridge as we ascend.
Looking back along the ridge as we ascend.
A Class 2 obstacle along the ridge. We kept left around it.
A Class 2 obstacle along the ridge. We kept left around it.
Looking back from above the obstacle, Jon navigating the Class 2.
Looking back from above the obstacle, Jon navigating the Class 2.
Looking back again, my car somewhere in the center of this photo.
Looking back again, my car somewhere in the center of this photo.
A short Class 2 down climb before the final push to Jaybird Benchmark.
A short Class 2 down climb before the final push to Jaybird Benchmark.
Jaybird Benchmark, view back along the ridge.
Jaybird Benchmark, view back along the ridge.
Jaybird Benchmark, Charleston Peak visible center.
Jaybird Benchmark, Charleston Peak visible center.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

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