Sunday, July 17, 2011

Hikes around Ely and Eureka,Nevada


   
Schell Creek Range

  • For HEUSSER MTN, take Aultman St in Ely to Ogden St. Head north on Ogden for about 9 miles to a crude dirt rd at N39 21843, W114 54923 mp 1.5. Go right thru the fence then left along the fence. Take the first right then go up to the mouth of a canyon and take a right fork into the creekbed. Park at the end of the road reading 24293, 53799 el 7600. Follow the closed rd up a steep slope. After it fades head for a saddle at 24373, 53351 el 8300 overlooking a little valley of aspen. Go left to 24605, 52872 where it steepens. Here is where thick mosquitos hit me in mid July. Go up and angle right to the summit ridge  at 24526, 52601 then go right 600 ft to the EGAN BM with old USGS junk. 3 hrs, 1800 gain if you can make it to roads end.
    • For NORTH SCHELL PEAK, from Mcgill, go north about 5 miles on 93 to the paved Duck Creek Road. Take that for 8 and a half miles and turn left at the sign for Timber Creek Campground. Go 4 miles on bumpy 2wd thru the campground then to roads end on 4wd in about half a mile after the campground. A couple of good camps are here at 9000 ft. Hike up the trail in the left fork. Above timberline, forget the trail and get on the ridge to the left and then go on to the top at N39 24812, W114 36010 el 11800. 4 hrs, 2800 gain.
    • SOUTH SCHELL PEAK is a short hike. Drive the same as North Schell but don't turn off the Duck Creek Road. Stay on it going south for nearly 2 miles to the end of pavement. Turn left for 5 miles on the graded Berry Creek Road to a campground. Now it's easy 4wd to the end at 9400 feet. Mtn bikes would work but strenuous. I filled up at a gushing spring at N39 19018, W114 37102. Then I went up to the right on a game trail. When that fizzled I came back left into the trees to another trail at 19011, 36907 and kept going north to a saddle at 19541, 36359 el 11100. From there it's an easy stroll north for 3/4 mile to the summit el 11700+. 3 hours, 2400 gain.
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    • CLEVE CREEK BALDY has a trail most of the way. Drive to Cave Creek State Park but don't turn in at the entrance. Instead,keep going north to Success Summit. Then go another third mile down the other side to a sharp left turn. Now go right for a mile on a 4wd road to a camp spot at the end el 9500. Hike up the canyon on a rocky trail to timberline then go up the easy slope to the reg at N39 15621, W114 38776 el 10940. I prefer to leave the trail a half mile before the peak and walk the rim of the canyon for good views and no brush. 2 hours, 1500 gain. Cleve Creek BM is 700 feet south of the summit with more good views. Nice easy hike. If you really want to wuss out,you can drive to the top of CAVE MOUNTAIN el 10700. Drive thru the state park. I never pay to drive thru. Go on up canyon and turn left after 3 miles and go up on an easy 4wd road. This is the highest in the state that the average SUV can make it.
      • For CHERRY CREEK RANGE HIGH PEAK,  drive to Cherry Creek town. Then go west nearly 3 miles toward the pass. An easy 4wd road to the right has power lines going up it. Take this to it's end at 8500 ft. Hike north on a faint track then aim for a game trail at N39 55906, W114 54985. Go west on this a short way to a saddle. Go thru then contour west till you're on the ridgetop. Go up along a fire break to a game trail 56472, 55087 which angles up left to a saddle. Keep going up then contour left at 56779, 54960 to pass a bump. The ridge drops a little then goes up to a peak. Here, go left to a game trail 57671, 54677 el 10100. Use this to contour left around the peak. It drops a little. Don't get back on the ridgetop till 57763, 54552. From there,go down a wide knife edge to a saddle then up another peak. At 58015, 54258 el 10240 either go on over the top or contour to the right for 15 mins (I contoured)to the last saddle 58087, 54010 el 10111. Now it's an easy slope to the top 57969, 53750 el 10500. 7 hrs, about 3000 gain. Had some skeeters. Take a stick for lots of contouring. This area was logged long ago. If you don't want to fool with all these waypoints, just go over all the bumps on the ridge.
      • WARD MOUNTAIN is the high point of the Egan Range. An ATV track goes to the top at nearly 11000 ft. Go south from Ely on 50 to the charcoal ovens turnoff at mp 44. It's about 5 miles south on this graded road to the turn at N39 04769, W114 49596 where a sign says Ward mining district. Go up and look at the metal buildings then come back and take the first left that goes up a steep ridge. Go right on a spur road at 04964, 53572 el 9400 that goes to the top of Ward Mtn. Jeeps might get close enough to make it an easy hike.
      • For CURRANT MOUNTAIN el 11500, go south from Ely on 6 for about 30 miles to the good White River Road at mp 8.6. Go west for nearly 11 miles and then left on the road to Currant Creek. This road is about a mile past the main campground. Go 1.7 miles south and over a little divide to a 4wd track on the right. 2wds park here. 4wds can go a mile up the road to a fork at N38 55257, W115 23744 el 8100. The road up the canyon is washed out,so hike up it on the left side of the creekbed. When it fizzles get on the left bench and walk parallel to the creekbed and aim for a game trail at 54863, 24191. This trail shortly puts you in the main canyon. (If you come up the creekbed you could get in the wrong canyon.) Go up canyon to about 9200 ft. Then go right into a steep gully at 54469, 24603. Follow this up and it takes you to the ridgetop at 54357, 25049 el 10600 just left of a crag. Now go up the ridge keeping close to center till you're at a notch at 54295, 25169 el 11000. Cut across a gully to get to the main ridge. Walk the ridge going left around the first bump then right around the next one to get to the last saddle. The final slope is next but it's not as vertical as it looks. Go up into a bowl left of center to 54511, 25436. At this point move to the right side of the bowl and go on up to the reg and BM. On the way down in the lower part of the steep gully, I got on the left side in the trees and cut the corner to get back in the main canyon. 5 hours, 3700 gain. For 2wd, 6 hrs 4200 gain. 2wds will have to negotiate one creek crossing on the Currant Creek road. I filled my bottles at a spring on the 4wd track before the parking area.
      •  Cleve Creek has a couple of fun trails. Nv 893 goes north from US 50 to a sign for Cleve Creek then a good dirt road goes 2 miles to the campground. Go on up the canyon on the easy Cleve Creek 4wd road and park at the TH for the north fork at N39 15449, W114 36396 el 7400. The north fork trail can be followed into the upper part of the fork where aspens are thick. A big spring is at 17978, 35482 el 8850. This could be used as a base camp for the peaks. For ROCKY TOP,  park at the KOLCHECK TH on the Cleve Creek Rd at N39 14202, W114 35557 el 6900. This is 3 and a third miles up from the campground. The trail goes left of a closed road. It tops on the crest after 3000 ft gain. Go left a short way to Rocky Top 12905, 37467 el 10150. 5 hrs, 3200 gain. Hardcore hikers can make a loop back via the Kolcheck Mine. Hike west on the crest, use the left side at first. Aim for a saddle at 13274, 38169 el 9900. A game trail can be used to continue along the left side of the crest.Another trail is further along at 13662, 38657. Don't drop off the crest until 14092, 38567 el 10400. Go down here on a steep ridge and aim for the mine road at 14590, 37742 el 8600. A cliff is just before the road. I went left around it, or you could try going right around the cliff and you'll hit the road no matter what. Going left on the road leads shortly to the mine,going right is the way back. The mine still has rails. Structures were built with logs instead of milled wood. The mine road goes down a canyon and connects with the Cleve Creek Rd about a mile up from the start. 7 hours, 3800 gain. Mtn bikes would work on the 4wd portion.
      • MOUNT HAMILTON has an OHV track up the east side to 10300. Not rough,but steep and narrow. Turn off US 50 near mp WP 22 at a sign for the Belmont Mill. Go 9 miles on a good road to the mill el 7500, staying left at a main fork along the way. Keep going up the canyon for a couple miles on easy 4wd to a fork at N39 15045, W115 31346 el 8300. Mtn bikes are no good beyond here. Go right at the fork then left at the next one and go up a steep canyon, ignoring any fading tracks that fork to the left. The road swings left out of the canyon into the trees and zigzags up the slope. At 14584, 32101 el 9800+ are some small parking spots. I made it to the 10000 ft level on a 125 then lost traction. The road goes past a cabin then left to a ridge then soon fizzles. Use the ridge to climb up near the crest then angle left for half a mile to the reg at 13941, 32477 el 10700. I had a one hour hike with 700 gain. But it's a nice hike even from the mill. Hardcore jeeps could still go a long way up as of 2012.
      • DIAMOND PEAK is a short hike. Coming from the east, take NV 892 north from US 50 for 8 miles then go left on a good road for 4 and a half miles to Newark Pass at N39 31432, W115 50305 el 7400. Or from Eureka, take Reno Ave at the west end of town. Go a mile and a quarter toward the dump then turn right on a paved road at a landfill sign. Soon the road forks 3 ways. Keep straight on the middle fork and follow the main wide road past a ranch. The road shrinks at the ranch but is still good for cars to the pass. It's nearly 7 and a half miles from the 3 forks to the pass. At the pass,go north on 4wd and stay left at forks. The road tops out at a saddle on the crest el 8800 with room to camp. The last bit of road shouldn't be attempted without a locking differential. If you have to ask what that is, then it's the same as not having one. At the saddle, get on a horse trail at N39 33250, W115 50188 that goes around to the right of the first bump. Now stay on trails close to the ridge center or to the left when in doubt. There is a minor bump at 9300 and one more at 10400. Stay left around these and any brush along the way. You'll rub up against the vegetation but if you ever really need long pants then you screwed up. The reg is at 35097, 49120 el 10600. 3 and a half hours, 2000 gain. NEWARK MOUNTAIN el 8800 is a good diversion. From the pass, go north and keep right at forks. A steep but not rough jeep road goes up to 8700 then just hike a tenth mile to the reg. It needs a better book and jar. There is a left fork on the way to the peak that goes down to meager springs and viewpoints.
      • TOLLHOUSE CAVE is shown on maps but I only found a short slot canyon. Use the eastern drive route for Diamond Peak. A couple miles after leaving Nv 892 is a pullout at N39 29755, W115 49746. I went down the canyon on the north side of the road for 4 minutes to the only fall. I tossed a 200 foot rope down but only needed half of it. I went down the single line then walked a short way to a trail on the right that climbs back to the road. I went back for the rope. The whole affair took 40 minutes. Good rappel practice.
      • The BAY STATE MINE is off Nv 892. Turn at mp WP 11 and go a short way to a canyon.Walk up the canyon for 15 minutes to metal buildings and a shaft with rails. A little further on is a homemade ore car. I followed water pipe up canyon for 20 minutes but found nothing.
      • BUCK MOUNTAIN el 9100+ is east of Diamond Peak. Turn north off US 50 at mp WP 15. Go in a straight line a dozen miles or so to where the road jogs left at a spring. Turn right here and proceed to a fork at N39 36200, W115 36650. Go left on a crude road then stay right at the next fork. The road goes into a main canyon. Go on up to 40084, 35526 then make a left. Go about a mile to the end el 7800. If you smash into a cliff you went a bit too far. Hike up the easy ridge to the BM and reg at 39642, 37604. 2 hours, 1300 gain. Vegetation is so sparse you'll think you're at 11000 ft. I went over to the north summit which is allegedly lower. An alternate route up is the canyon north of the ridge. Use a horse trail at 39978, 36499 to get in it. Backpackers could go up this way to get on the huge summit table. I saw only 2 trees up there,no water in July. All roads are easy 4wd
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      • TELEGRAPH PEAK el 9900+ is north of McGill. An easy 4wd road goes to the 9400 level. Take US 93 to Monte Neva Rd at mp WP 82.7. The reading there is N39 39264, W114 45385. Follow that graded road to the Log Canyon road at 40725, 48899. Go up canyon on that and stay left at main forks until you reach the NW ridge at 41728, 53971 el 9400. Hike up into the trees on the right and go up on game trails. NORTH TELEGRAPH PEAK el 10154 is what hikers call the peak to the north. Follow the main road going north from Telegraph Peak for about 2 and a half air miles and turn right at a main fork. Drive up to a trough at the 8600 level then walk left thru aspen for 600 feet to a man made trail at 43416, 52776. An X rated figure is on a tree to the right. Follow the trail thru a major saddle to where it crosses a draw at 43944, 52716 and fades. Just cross the draw and go up the bald ridge to the top. For the last fifth mile stay low left of center to the reg at 44638, 52348. 3 hrs,1600 gain. Only the last 300 ft is steep.The road keeps going over a pass into Log Cyn. Posted 2015.
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      • EGAN BENCHMARK el 10120 is the southernmost 10,000 footer in the Egan Range. A jeep road goes to el 9600 on the east side. Take US 6 to mp WP 54.9 and go SW about 8 miles on a good road to a T. Go left a mile and a quarter to a 4wd road reading N38 56287, W114 48647. Take that to a fork at 55259, 50961 el 7500. Right is an OHV track that goes to White Rock Spr which had a good flow. But go left all the way to the high pass el 9200. Go left there thru a shady camp and on to the end at 56557, 53281. The summit dome is in sight less than a mile away at 55915, 53619. There is a lovely forest to walk thru. The cycle ride is half the fun. The 4wd road is mostly packed dirt. I could see the 4wd tracks from a Vegas party 10 days before. Posted 2015. 


      • TONER PEAK el 9541 is what I call the highest peak in the Bristlecone Wilderness 16 miles north of Ely. It has an outstanding forest all the way up. Take Ogden Street out of Ely for 10 miles to the end of pavement. Keep going on good dirt for 6 and a half miles to a 4wd road at N39 28175, W114 58930 el 7100. Follow that north along the base for over 2 miles to the wilderness boundary el 8050 NE of Toner Spring. The road is rutted but not bad enough to stop serious 4 wheelers. Hike to the obvious NW ridge and go up to the crest. Peak 9423 at 29430, 57423 is the first summit along the crest. The crest looks craggy from there, but is easy class 2 over to Toner at 28716, 57427. Survey junk is along the way at 29129, 57496 el 9450. For the return, I came back along the crest for a third mile then dropped directly back to the start on soft dirt. Under 4 hours, 1800  gain. Loggers worked all the way up to Peak 9423 decades ago. Posted July, 2017.


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