Topo and tracks for today. 6.5 miles and 3200 feet of gain.

I had originally planned on hiking Virgin today- but Virgin still had a fair amount of snow so I backtracked a bit and headed for Moapa.

This was my 2nd attempt at Moapa- I stopped at the beginning of the knife edge on my first outing due to snow. Those pictures (which include better shots of the route, can be found here.)

The BLM had erected this signboard sometime in the last month. Similar to other nearby backcountry trailheads it had a signin kiosk and an information board. Or will have- the kiosk was presently empty and only the frame of the signboard was up.

Driving past the signboard into the breach of the Jack's Pockets ridge. Moapa looming to the north.

The hill leading up out of the breach was rutted and the outback was having trouble near the top of it. So I backed down and just parked in the wash. Only added about 50 yards to the outing.

About a mile across the wash to start the day. Heading for the canyon left of center.

Into the wash at the outlet of the canyon. The wash contoured around the right side of Peak 4542.

The first marker cairn in the wash. (And to the back of this shot, the use trail leads up out of the wash to the left)

Picking my way up the slope to the saddle between Peak 4542 and the Moapa ridge.

Looking back down into the canyon from the same spot.