My GPS reads .89 miles, closer to my target but still further away than I hoped to be before starting my ascent of peaks 3990 and 3537. According to my CalTopo map, the rise would climb a ridgeline from the north side of peak 3990, following it to the summit before backtracking to a high saddle between the two mountains, then climbing to the summit of 3537. The hike would be a full-day event, and I wouldn't say I liked getting started on the wrong foot. The problem is I'm running out of feet.

I'm back in Gold Butte for the third week in a row. This time I brought the ATV and mapped several routes to the north side of 3990. I offloaded the quad, attached hiking poles, and pack and I haven't gone 200 yards before the trail spiders in 4 different directions. That wouldn't usually be a bad thing; however, 3 of the four tracks don't show up on my maps. All the trails are well-traveled and marked "designated route," and I choose the path heading in the general direction. I traverse far enough before checking GPS to verify that I'm on my overlay route, and nope. Running in a northerly direction, I decided to see if the paths end up at the same location. It doesn't.

I find this to be one of the main challenges and frustrations of outdoor activities. I'm sure I've elaborated on it in other reports so that I won't belabor the point again here. Still, I screened and searched several ATV trail maps in the area and found nothing to indicate this extensive trail system near Gold Butte National Monument. Perhaps that is part of the problem, Gold Butte is officially on the south side of the road, and I want to go north. Maybe I should have searched "near" Gold Butte for better results.

I circle back from by .89 mile GPS reading near "Government Springs" and decided to pick up a side trail between Juanita Benchmark and the peaks I had hoped to summit today. I'm quickly losing my day, and unless I can park my ATV right at the base of one of the peaks, I'll have to postpone for another day. I follow the trail; however, it never comes close, and no side trails lead up washes to the base of 3990. Another day then. I turn around near a fascinating window arch of rock in the wash and return to the main trail. If I'm going to return, I might also map out the routes in the area to find out where they lead. I travel some roads, make notes of junctions eventually end at Nickel Creek. A side trail intrigues me, and I decide to follow the path to the canyon in the distance.

Water runs in the shallow creek bed as I unload my pack and hike the few hundred feet to a beautiful waterfall. A short scramble allows passage above the falls as the canyon continues to narrow. Soon boulders and water prevent further venturing without getting wet, but the view up the canyon is stunning, and I take a few minutes to admire its simple beauty.

I successfully map out several junctions and routes close to additional peaks in the area that should keep me busy well into the heat of summer. It appears that next time I arrive in Gold Butte National Monument, I'll be hiking the .89 miles to the base of Peak 3990.