Hike Hyko Benchmark South Pahroc Range BLM, NV

Apr 26, 2020 — Hyko Benchmark, the high point of the South Pahroc Range, was much more incredible than I thought it would be. A steep slope, rock garden, maze of sorts, and amazing sunset views kept me highly entertained.

The spot where I started is accessible by any vehicle, and better trucks could continue along the spur road for another half mile. I walked it since I'd already been giving my car a fair beating. The grassy slopes of Hyko Benchmark's east slopes were really gorgeous, round and pretty boulders poked out from all directions, and flowers added color to the route. I was already excited. I left the road at a point where the slope on my right became less of a nuisance and hiked steeply up a slopy ridge. Along the way, I encountered three sections of Class 2 route-finding on bouldery rock outcroppings. The majority of the vertical gain was in this short section, probably about 1500 feet in three quarters of a mile. It was grassy and overall pleasant, just a quad-buster.

I reached the ridgeline and immediately stopped in my tracks. The route ahead was riddled with gorgeous boulders and the high point sat majestically in the distance. I took a million photos on my way, just enjoying the natural rock garden-esque vibe of this section. The slope was mellow and enjoyable. Views in all directions had me shrieking with glee. The rocks began to get more dense and tall and the mellow rock garden became a somewhat complex boulder maze. It wasn't without brush, but bushwhacking was minimal. I made a few wrong turns, but had better luck later on my descent. I would recommend playing on the boulders, but you can definitely keep to Class 2 route-finding with some thoughtful planning. Soon the boulders became very concentrated as I neared the summit, and I avoided the majority of them by following a sparsely-cairned route up to the southern ridge of Hyko Benchmark. A couple of easy Class 3 moves led to the final summit block. I scoped the base and located what I thought was the most feasible Class 3 option to gain the summit. The views were stunning, and I took in the setting sun for a bit before returning through the maze.