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Armatron Approach

Original Post
Kate Holden · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2024 · Points: 0

Visiting red rocks this April and hoping to hit Armatron. Just trying to figure out why the approach is 2 hours? Is it very far from the parking lot or is the ascent up jackrabbit buttress just really strenuous and time consuming? We were thinking about skipping the hike up and instead climbing Myster Z up to the brownstone wall, but I have no idea how long the approach to Myster Z is. Could anyone help with some more information?

David Burridge · · Simi Valley · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 0

My recollection was that it takes a surprisingly long time just walking from the parking lot to the rocks. 2 hours sounds about right, probably half that to get to Myster Z. We took that route, starting relatively early and got to Armatron in the early afternoon. It was November so we topped out at sunset and then had to find the descent in the snow. Got back to the car around 9ish I think. It was a surprising long day considering the routes are not hard and we were 2 experienced and solid 5.10 trad climbers.

Kate Holden · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2024 · Points: 0
David Burridge wrote:

My recollection was that it takes a surprisingly long time just walking from the parking lot to the rocks. 2 hours sounds about right, probably half that to get to Myster Z. We took that route, starting relatively early and got to Armatron in the early afternoon. It was November so we topped out at sunset and then had to find the descent in the snow. Got back to the car around 9ish I think. It was a surprising long day considering the routes are not hard and we were 2 experienced and solid 5.10 trad climbers.

Thanks, that is helpful to hear. I just felt like I was missing something because I made a trail map using alltrails and referencing it to the ones on onX and from pine creek parking lot it says the hike is about 2 miles and 1000 ft of elevation gain, which as a backpacker, seemed like it shouldn't take 2 hours. But I can imagine scrambling and navigating to the exact spot on the wall might take longer than a map would make it seem. Might have to skip Armatron this time since we need to be done by mid afternoon

Blaine Hartness · · North Carolina · Joined May 2021 · Points: 71

Climbing MysterZ is the way to go. We got to the base in a little over an hour or so from outside the loop. Took about 1.5-2 hours to climb MysterZ (we pitched it out) and got to the base of Armatron around 9. Two parties ahead of us but they knew what they were doing. Topped out around 1 or so. It took us about 4 hours to get back to the car outside the loop. Base of MysterZ wasn't hard to find at all. There's a trail that splits off to the right once you're about to enter the mouth of the canyon. As long as you know relatively know where the start of it is you'll be fine. If you really want to do Armatron just park outside the loop and start super early (skipping MysterZ)

Bryan K · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2016 · Points: 652

Lots of people take 2 hours to get to the base because it's easy to get lost in Juniper Canyon.  There is maze of social trails that gets confusing and if you dip into the wash too early then you'll go much slower.

If you really want to just climb Armatron, I would recommend hiking through Juniper to skip MysterZ.  We planned to to both a few months ago but found 7 parties waiting on MysterZ, so we hiked around instead and found Armatron open.  Also climbed Nightcrawler recently and Armatron was open for a while before several parties showed up and it got busy.

Finally, there is a very high chance that Armatron will be too hot by the time you visit.  I would not plan on climbing it if temps are above 70 in town.  The route gets VERY hot in the sun with that dark rock.

Cosmic Hotdog · · Southern California · Joined Sep 2019 · Points: 300

The approach from the Pine Creek lot to Brownstone wall takes ~2 hours, yes. It's a long approach with a bit of scrambling towards the end and traversing slab at the very end to reach the base of the wall. It will almost certainly be too hot in April for Armatron, it's in the sun and gets hot AF. I was at RR last weekend and it was already to the point where climbing in the sun all day was borderline too much. I'd pick something in the shade 

Josh Janes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 10,245

I can do this approach in approximately 1.21 FDU’s which is about the same as 0.6 TTPD Units.

You, however, will surely take longer.

Colby Wangler · · Reno · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 321

Did myster Z to the top of Armatron in 3 hrs. From the car. Just depends how fast you’re moving. 

Val Frost · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2021 · Points: 0

So if you go through juniper canyon you skip myster z? 

Cosmic Hotdog · · Southern California · Joined Sep 2019 · Points: 300
Val Frost wrote:

So if you go through juniper canyon you skip myster z? 

Yes you can, you stay left of Jackrabbit Buttress and go directly to the Brownstone Wall

Val Frost · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2021 · Points: 0
Cosmic Hotdog wrote:

Yes you can, you stay left of Jackrabbit Buttress and go directly to the Brownstone Wall

Is there a way to do myster z but still start outside of the loop? 

Cosmic Hotdog · · Southern California · Joined Sep 2019 · Points: 300
Val Frost wrote:

Is there a way to do myster z but still start outside of the loop? 

You'd want to have a bicycle to do it but you could park outside the loop (at the exit to the loop) before opening, ride the bike in the reverse direction that you'd drive the loop until you get to the Pine Creek lot, take the Juniper Canyon approach to Jackrabbit Buttress, and then Myster Z is on jackrabbit buttress

Edit: Listen to Valerie, that sounds preferable to what I said 

Valerie A B · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 37
Val Frost wrote:

Is there a way to do myster z but still start outside of the loop? 

Yes. Park at the loop exit and there is a nice trail that leads west to the Oak Creek parking lot. From there, take the Arnight trail towards Juniper Canyon. Find trails that lead into the canyon. Gaia and Alltrails shows all the trails needed to get there. (Pink route in image). 

I prefer this way to driving the loop for Juniper Canyon routes. 

dave custer · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 2,903

To reinforce Bryan's comment about getting lost in the web of trails made by lost climbers, I recommend against trying to make speedy ascents up Juniper Canyon unless you've scoped the approach. Doubly unrecommended if you start the hike in by headlamp. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
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