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Mar 26, 2020 — Noon Benchmark, the high point of the South Nopah Range, is usually approached from the south, but after driving past it a bunch of times on the north and seeing it looming in the distance, I've wanted to approach it from this direction. Additionally, I've been on a desert running kick and the slopes appeared to be pretty clear of rocks as a nice change from my recent rocky desert peaks, making the descent a fun jog. While this northern approach is a bit longer than what seems to be the standard route, I recommend it over the southern approach. It's got a more relaxed grade and some nice desert scenery.
A short approach from the road led to a low saddle, where Noon Benchmark appeared ahead. A half dozen slightly annoying little drainages made crossing the desert more effort than it appeared to be on a map, but eventually we made it to the base of Noon Benchmark. We took the northernmost slope finger of the peak and just followed this all the way, the slope really pleasant and progressively getting more steep, slowly enough that we almost didn't notice the change. A hundred feet of a Class 2 talus field led past some cliff bands to the northern end of Noon Benchmark's summit ridge. The final ridgeline to the summit had some nice desert views.
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