Massacre Rim Petroglyphs

 

      The name may refer to some historical event, but the only thing to get massacred nowadays is any truck that tries to go in there. This site is nearly a mile long. The photo above is Massacre Lake.

Peaks around Hawthorne, Nv

                                   Alum Canyon, Wassuk Range.                     

Hawthorne is a good place to spend a week if you have a jeep. Many peaks in the area have 4wd roads to or near the summit. A paved road runs the length of the Wassuk Range on the east side. The north end of town has dollar stores and a Safeway. The best camping is in Alum Canyon about 6 miles south of town off Nv 359. Go to mp MI 27.3 then turn on a good dirt road for 3 or 4 miles to campsites under ponderosa pines. Sharp dips in the road will stop RVs until they grade it. The stream was flowing near the upper campsites in June 2013. In 2020, it had even more dips.

• EXCELSIOR MOUNTAIN el 8670 is SE of Hawthorne. Take Nv 359 south from town to mp MI 17.3. Go east on a graded road for 2 and a quarter miles then go right on a decent road that goes around a farm and keep going for about 8 and a half miles to a 4wd track on the right at N38 19246, W118 25161 el 6500. Go up the rocky track for a mile to the end el 7000. A couple of saplings need to be cut out of the way. Start hiking up the slope at 18554, 24570 which is right next to the parking area. It starts out steep and seems to be the wrong way but it soon eases up on the ridgetop and circles to the peak. At el 8100 keep to the right of a minor bump. It's a very pleasant grade and had a good flower show in late May. The reg is at 18089, 23506. A unique quadpod is just to the north and still standing in 2013. I went straight back down on a steep slope. 3 hours, 1700 gain. This is a much nicer hike than Moho. Posted 2013.
• BUCKLEY BM el 7888 is the high point of the Gillis Range. Go to Thorne Rd at the north end of Hawthorne. It's at a flashing light a mile and a half north of Safeway. Take Thorne until the end of pavement then follow graded dirt for 5 and a half miles to a faint 4wd track going up a canyon on the left. GPS reading here is N38 39162, W118 31344 el 5900. The 4wd track goes left of a dike and stays on benches for 3/4 mile and is fairly easy. It then drops into the wash and the going gets tougher. It's faster to walk the wash. I made it another mile up the wash on a heavy dirt bike. Then the badly eroded road goes parabolic up a ridge. I had a short but steep hike to the reg at 40975, 33040. From the graded road it would be 3 miles one way and 2000 gain, 4wds would have a little over 2 miles. Posted 2013.
• MABLE MOUNTAIN el 8014, high point of the Garfield Hills, is east of Hawthorne. Go east from town on 95 to the Garfield Flat Rd at mp MI 41.2. Take that graded road for 17 miles to a 4wd road at N38 23163, W118 17388. The first 4 miles of the road aren't tough. The last mile goes parabolic and is eroded. I walked the last mile gaining 1000 feet. The reg is at 27395, 18491. The Garfield Flat Rd goes on to Mina.
• POWELL MOUNTAIN el 9540 is in the south end of the Wassuk Range. Take Nv 359 to mp MI 17.3 and turn west on a good road into Powell Canyon. Go about 4 and a half miles to an easy 4wd road at N38 20191, W118 39597 el 7200. Take the 4wd road toward the peak and keep right at forks. In about 2 miles it ends at el 7900 but it will cost you some paint. I had a simple plan. Just go up the canyon south of the peak and then up into a high saddle behind the peak and come back to the summit. But the canyon is clogged with aspen. I had to go directly up the SE ridge. The first 500 feet is too steep and loose to be any fun. Here's what I would do next time. From the end of the road, walk up the aspen canyon on the left bank to a left side canyon at 19167, 41215. Go up that to a broad basin. Then go right to 18742,42534 where you can easily pass back into the aspen canyon then aim for the high saddle at 19435,42672 el 8800. The reg is at 19665, 41984. Then come down the SE ridge. This loop looks like 5 miles. It took me 3 hours to go up and down the SE ridge. I saw bear tracks in the aspen canyon. Posted 2013.
• NORTH CANYON PEAK 8860 is what I call the high one at the head of North Canyon- drive the same as Cory Peak to the 4wd road N38 26241, W118 44230 el 7500, but turn left on FR 753 and stay straight on it to a T then go left to a gully at 25169, 43764 el 8100. Go up that to where it tops out at 25071, 43565 el 8600 then go left on class 2 to the summit at 25160, 43479. It's easy to walk south to peak 8850 that has survey junk then down the obvious ridge to the road. 90 minutes, 1000 gain, no brush. The road goes on to a mine then switches down but that part is eroding. Posted 2020.
•  BIG INDIAN PEAK el 10000+ also has a road most of the way. Take E Street south out of Hawthorne to paved Spanish Spring Rd. This is just a half mile before the Lucky Boy Pass turnoff. Follow the pavement to the end then keep going up into Cory Canyon. The road is good until a narrows where it becomes 4wd. Keep right at a main fork at el 7600. Here the road starts climbing the slope. The road goes on up to a locked gate el 9600. Then it's a short hike to the peak at N38 29291, W118 47924. It's just inside the military base but I could tell no one ever goes out there. Posted 2013, 2020.
• BULLER MOUNTAIN el 9450 has a jeep road most of the way. Go south from Hawthorne on Nv 359 for about 4 miles to the sign for Lucky Boy Pass. Take the graded road  west for a dozen miles then turn left at a sign for the Borealis Mine. Follow this good road past the mine then it loops west around it. After more than 4 miles from the Lucky Boy Rd look for a jeep road on the left at N38 22359, W118 44929 el 7200. The first 3 miles to el 8200 are easy 4wd, then it gets steeper and rubbly. If you make it to the treeless summit plateau area above 8500, you can camp with good views of the Sierra. I saw bear tracks on the jeep road. There is a smoother 4wd road going up Jim Canyon to el 8800, but then there is a 300 foot peak in the way. The main dirt road at the base of the range goes on thru Powell Canyon back to 359. Posted 2013.
• BULLER MOUNTAIN EAST APPROACH - Cottonwood Creek has a trail to el 7200. Take highway 359 to mp 23.8 and turn on easy 4wd and go up canyon nearly 3 miles to the end el 6800. A shady camp area is 2.3 miles in at el 6600. A trail goes on up canyon to cabin ruins in an aspen grove el 7200. I left the trail just before at N38 23119, W118 38890 el 7150. I took an angle up to the right to get on a ridge. It goes parabolic but I could zigzag up. At 23330, 39386 el 8250 I walked level to the left to get to a saddle el 8250 on the rim. I went up the rim and hit a game trail at 23180, 40348 el 8700 and just kept going up the bald ridge to the reg at 22870, 41255. On the return I retraced back then stayed on the rim past peak 8374 and took a ridge directly back to the TH but had to deal with clutter to get past that peak. It's better to retrace back the same way. 4 hours, 45 minutes, 2800 gain. I can do this in shorts. I saw no water in September but an ancient pipeline along the trail means there was some once. This is the best hike on this page and next time I'll descend into Alum Creek and it will be even better. Posted  2020.
• BULLER MOUNTAIN from ALUM CREEK - this is one of the best summer hikes in the state. Take highway 359 to mp 27.3 and turn on the decent road that goes up the canyon. Cars might have trouble at several dips. The road ends at a major fork in the canyon el 6400 with camps under ponderosa pines. Stroll up the left fork for nearly a mile to a main fork and start up the ridge in between. The reading there is N38 24073, W118 40403 el 6950. Go up to el 8000 where brush gets in the way. I moved right to 23518, 40333 and that worked OK, but moving left might be less steep. Just keep going straight up to the rim of Cottonwood Creek el 8600 or so then it's easy to the summit at 22870, 41255. Then descend to a ridge at 23131, 41088 el 9100 and on past peak 8161 to 23767, 41035 el 8100 and the rest is obvious down the main ridge to the start.  4 hours, 2600 noticeable gain, no brush. The east rim of the canyon would make a good alternate descent as well as Cottonwood Creek. I don't even know how far you have to go in Nevada to find a pine forest as good as this one. Posted 2020.
• JIM PEAK el 9311 is what I call the one at the head of Jim Canyon. Turn off highway 359 at mp 17.3 and follow a good road up Powell Canyon for nearly 4 miles to FR 168. Turn right onto that and stay left at main forks to the end a decent camp el 8800. Walk a game trail extending from the end of the road for a quarter mile or so to where it turns a corner then go up a ridge to Jim Peak at N38 22120, W118 40745 el 9311. A faint road connects over to Buller. The reg is at 22871, 41258. 2 hours for both peaks, 1200 gain, short patches of very light brush. The roads are smooth but will soon be for OHVs only. Posted 2020.
• ALUM PEAK el 7700+ is what I call the prominent peak at the mouth of Alum Creek canyon. Take highway 359 to mp 27.3 and turn on the decent road that goes up the canyon. Cars might have trouble at several dips. At N38 25627, W118 39909 el 6000 there is a brushy road branching to the left. It soon gets narrow then no more turnarounds. It ends at a fall el 6200. It's easy to walk around the fall to the creekbed at the top then go up onto the left rim and just keep going up in a nice forest. A good Indian rock ring is on the summit at 25515, 38709. 2 hours, 10 minutes, 1700 gain, no brush. PEAK 7711 is another easy one up canyon. Drive to the end of the road el 6450 in Alum Creek then stroll up the left fork. At the next main fork el 6650 there was a tiny stream. Stay left at that fork then start up at 24060, 40313 el 7000 and walk an easy angle up to the left to get on a ridge. Go up that to el 7500 then cut left to an obvious saddle el 7550. Keep going to rock rings at 24402, 40093 el 7600 then to a saddle at 24616, 40121 el 7500. The peak is a fifth mile beyond that. Then head down the west ridge to 24720, 40368 el 7450 and then at el 7250 there is a rock ring. Just below that get on the final ridge at 24663, 40514 el 7200 and follow it down. 2 and a half hours with 700 noticeable gain, no brush. This has a great ponderosa pine forest. Both peaks could be done together with a shuttle. Posted 2020.
• NORTH CANYON is the next major canyon west to Alum Creek. It has a decent high clearance road then it's easy to walk the creekbed but I didn't go far. Posted 2020.
• BLACK MOUNTAIN el 8100 is at the north end of the Wassuk Range. The roads are so tedious that it's not worth it unless you're going out to the west and maybe doing nearby Bald Mountain as well. Leave 95 a few feet north of mp MI 74. Go west a short way to a T at the old highway. Go north on the old highway a short way then go left on a decent one lane dirt road. The first 6 miles are on packed sand then comes another 6 miles on bumpy rocks. You'll merge with a better road on the west side valley floor then go another mile to a 4wd road reading N38 52182, W118 56721. Take the 4wd road north for 4 miles to a bad spot in the canyon where bedrock is exposed, but it's not a big deal. Right after that keep right at a fork that goes onto the right bench of the canyon. Soon you're at another fork reading 54826, 54153 el 6500. Go left at this fork and start climbing the left slope of the canyon. The road looked wide enough for a jeep but I didn't see any tracks wider than an OHV. As usual the switchbacks have turnarounds. The road tops out above el 7000 in a valley with two lake beds. I rode on another 2 and a half miles to the end of the road at 56790, 55038 el 7800. From there it's a third of a mile to the BM at 56655, 54739. The actual high point is a bit to the south. The surveyors erected a 15 foot high pole at the BM to rise above the trees. The reg was placed in 2009 but no one had signed in since. One way to cut down on driving bad road is to use a short spur road shown on the map at 55650, 54822 el 7500. It seems to go to el 7700, but will have more walking on lava rocks.   Posted 2013. BALD MOUNTAIN el 9000+ has a road up it from the west. Drive the same as Black Mtn but turn south at N38 51735, W118 55718. Stay on the main road and don't take any left forks. I tried one for a shortcut and it was washed out. The main road will swing far west to major power lines. Go south along those to a road with wooden power poles at 44812, 57615 el 4950. Now there is just this one road to follow east to the summit. I made it on my 125 to el 7700 where the road goes parabolic. I couldn't get traction but a Dodge truck had no trouble. In a 4wd I would camp on the summit and hike the crest north to the last 9000 footer. Posted 2014.
• DRY CANYON is on the west side of Walker Lake. The road in it is washed away except on benches. Cycles can still get part way. Turn off US 95 at mp MI 65, right across from the Sportsman's camp area entrance. I rode up about 1.8 air miles from the highway to a 4 foot high dry fall. One tricky spot along the way was in some cottonwoods. There was nearly always a narrow channel to ride in. One potential hike here is to go up Dry Canyon and cross over to Copper Canyon then down that to US 95. About a half mile south on US 95 is another 4wd road in better shape. It goes up to a mine at el 5700. It's easy to there, then the road narrows and gets rubbly. I was stopped by deep rubble at el 6100. Turnarounds are scarce beyond the mine. Posted 2014.

Mt. St. Helens Motorcycle Trip 30+ Years Ago

  I didn't let a little ol' sign stop me.

    I went right up into the crater and cooked my dinner.

                           This was right after it was re-opened.

Plomosa Mountains, Az

               Ibex Peak and Haystack Peak.                                                                

• IBEX PEAK el 2800 is in the middle part of the range. Use the paved Plomosa Rd out of Bouse. Go to mp 8 and turn east on an easy 4wd road. Stay on the main road going east, keeping left at a fork nearly 2 miles in. In about 4 miles from pavement you come to a rock house ruin at N33 46941, W114 02452. Use the road to the left of the ruins and it ends in less than a mile at the north base of the peak. There is a sheep route at the base of the big west facing cliff near the summit. It's an obvious route and has one minor class 3 spot.When you top out just go left to the reg, but stay far right to avoid cholla. 2 hours, 1200 gain, steep. Mtn bikes would work as far as the ruins but there are some rubbly spots. . The west route starts at a nearby canyon at 46401, 02527. Go up canyon to a saddle at 46149, 02315 el 2100. Go down the other side less than a hundred feet to easier ground then go to the cliff base at 46075, 02150 el 2200. Look up to the left at a Saguaro lined main gully going into a notch. Go up that, passing 46111, 02142, then soon look for a lesser gully on the right. It's before the main gully tops out in the notch. Go up the gully on the right and it soon goes back left then up ledges to the summit area. The reg is at 46098, 01995. Not scary, but take leather gloves and a cholla whacker. 3 or 4 hours, 1400 gain. This is not as steep as the direct north route, but takes longer.
• HAYSTACK PEAK el 2700  is right next to Ibex Peak. Drive the same as for Ibex Peak, but at the rock house ruin take the far left fork. The road heads for plains in the distance, and don't take any right forks. After .6 mile from the ruin, go right across a wash to the end of the road in 3/4 mile at the base of the peak. Hike left around the base for a mile on game trails then go up to a smooth bedrock creekbed at N33 46443, W114 00771 el 1700.  Stay in that until it fizzles then go up to 46415, 00919 where a hidden class 3 ledge is just above you. Get on the ledge and go up to the left to get on the ridge above. Follow the ridge up keeping right of center with a few class 3 obstacles. Aim for an arch on the ridge top at 46405, 00957 el 2300+. Step thru the arch and you're home free to the summit dome at 46439, 01254 where a little more class 3 rock awaits. It's easier to walk thru an arch at the summit dome. 4 hours, 1500 gain. Of several ways up, this is the most interesting route. Updated 2020.  I went up the south side years before but can't remember driving directions.Go up the main south canyon and get on the ridge at N33 46233, W114 01165 and head up to the summit dome. 1200 gain. 
• BLACK MESA el 3639 is the high point. Exit I-10 at the Gold Nugget Rd about 8 miles east of Quartzsite. Take the south side frontage road going east for 2 and a half miles to a dirt road. The frontage road is the old highway and still had pavement in 2013. Go south on the bumpy dirt road. In about 3 miles is a fork. Both go, but right is shorter. Keep going south in and along Apache Wash. At about 5 and a half miles in from the frontage road you leave the wash on the right side. This is the start of the DRIPPING SPRING BM hike. But keep going on the road for over a mile to a nasty spot el 2400. Hike a short way up the road then go left on a trail at N33 35099, W114 02507 el 2600 (Jeeps can make it that far). The trail goes up the south ridge but fades as the ridge goes parabolic for 400 feet to the top of the mesa. But I found it easy to move right into a drainage and up that then right again to gain the plateau. Then it's an easy mile to the BM at 35935, 01313. 3 hours, 1200 gain. No reg in 2013 but a new one was there in 2021. EAST SUMMIT el 3500 - a rocky canyon splits the mesa. I walked on to a point on the rim then down the right side at 35763, 00624 el 3400. I drifted to the right into a drainage then went up the other side in an easy drainage and on to the reg at 35179, 00320. Placed by Bob Packard in 1998, only a few had signed in. One was Emma age 12. I took a sidetrip for a mile to the east on the easy plateau then came back and skirted left under the summit to the SW ridge at 35128, 00489 el 3400 then down it to 34845, 00857 el 3050 where I could see a road below. I angled down to the right then dodged cholla to hit the road where it ends in a saddle el 2600. I stayed on the high ground walking SW and left of center to keep level then went left at 34563, 01471 el 2600 to get into a wash then up the other side on a sliver of bedrock. Rocks had eased up by then and I walked west across a flat to a miner trail at 34402, 02174 el 2300 that took me west thru a saddle and on to a closed road that soon led to the starting road. The whole loop took 7 hours but one hour was for the side trip, so count on 6. Gain is about 2500 but hardly any is steep. Rocky slopes are stable. It's also possible to drive roads in Apache Wash. They are softer but less erosion. Posted 2021.
• For DRIPPING SPRING BM el 3400, use the road to Black Mesa and park at a wash at N33 35938, W114 03240. Hike up this wash, using the left bench, to a main fork. Go up the left fork but it's easier to use the right bench at 35567, 03399. The left fork leads to a ridge at 35306, 03884. Go left up the ridge and it hits a cliff band then go left for 500 feet to a class 3 ramp at 35134, 04154 then up to the top 35132,04286. It's best to aim for a saddle 150 feet left of the summit. 3 hrs, 1100 gain. We came down the south ridge then dropped back to the wash, but had to deal with cholla.
• IBEX BM el 2777 is just north of I-10. The west canyon is one route. Exit at Golden Nugget Rd about 8 miles east of Quartzsite. Go north on easy 4wd, keeping right at forks. At 3/4 mile from the exit, go left at a fork and follow the road around the base of the range. At about 4 and a half miles from the exit, turn right at N33 43027, W114 06701. Go another half mile and park at the mouth. Hike up into fork at 43242, 05631. Go up this bouldery fork to a dam. A waterhole along the way had sheep bones. It's easier to pass the dam on the left. Right after the dam, go left at a main fork and go up to about el 1850 where it opens up. Now go up the right slope to the ridgetop at 43452, 05233 el 2000 which is between the forks. Now it's easy to walk into the head of the right fork then up to the main saddle. Then go right a short way to the BM at 43355, 04849. The knob to the NE is higher. I came down the cholla infested west ridge, which runs along the south side of the canyons I went up. 4 hours, 1600 gain. Nice canyon. No reg in 2013. Don't confuse this with Ibex Peak to the north. NE CANYON ROUTE - this is a good route, maybe not as interesting. Take the paved Plomosa Rd to mp 5.5 and turn SW on a major dirt road. Go a about 1.1 miles to a 4-way then turn left on easy 4wd road #78 and keep going to a secret fork at 44897, 04262. Turn toward the peak for 1.3 miles and park in a wash el 1480. Walk to the NE canyon and go up along the right side to a tiny saddle at 43453, 04428 el 1950. Then follow sheep trails on up canyon to 43263, 04475 el 2350 and make an obvious right turn and on up to the reg. 4 hours, 1300 gain. Posted 2020. 
• IBEX BM EAST SUMMIT el 2840+ - a secret road comes in from the east. Take Perry Lane on the west side of Brenda to the end of pavement then go a little more to the road going west. After a mile and a half comes a tricky fork. Go right and on to another fork where the road enters the mountains. Go right again for a short way to the end next to peak 1772. Walk NW into a wash and up that until a half mile from the start then over a saddle at N33 42766, W114 02794 el 1800 and into a main canyon. Go up that a fifth mile to a mess of forks then stay far right in the main arm. Use the left bank at 43063, 03558 el 1800 and keep going up canyon bank to bank on sheep trails. At 43174, 04358 el 2600, cut back to the right on a shelf to get at the NW saddle el 2750. But stop 50 feet short of the saddle and stay low around the right side of the summit block to 43108, 04184 el 2800 then go up to the reg. 5 and a half hours, maybe 1000 noticeable gain. This scenic canyon is one of the best in the range. A guzzler is the only eyesore. I could do it in shorts. The roads are bumpy high clearance and mtn bikeable.  PEAK 2800+ is next to the freeway. The east ridge is easy. At the tricky fork, stay left to the end el 1600 near the east ridge. I went up that on a spotty sheep trail to the reg at 40949, 02452. I could see a decent ridge running down to the north so I went down that to a main wash. The banks only work for short spurts until 41260, 02008 el 1750 where the right bank goes for a tenth mile then to the left bank then far right bank at the last mile. 3 hours, 1200 gain. This is better than it looks. Nice bank walking. Posted 2021.
• BLACK BEAUTY PEAK el 2520+ is what I call the one a mile south of Ibex Peak. Take the paved Plomosa Rd to mp 5.5 and turn SW on a major dirt road. Go a about 1.1 miles to a 4-way then turn left on easy 4wd road #78 and go straight into the mountains then stay left at main forks to a 4-way at N33 45534, W114 03251. Take the one dropping into a wash and follow it east a half mile to another fork. I parked there and walked the left fork a short way to a guzzler along a wash. I walked up that wash and came to a short narrows. I used a trail on the right bank to get on bedrock and walk the rim of the narrows then on up canyon to the main saddle at 45453, 01953 el 2050. An invisible guzzler is near there. I wonder how sheep find it? I went on up from the saddle staying low and left of center to a saddle el 2350 which is .13 mile from the summit. Then I had a class 2 knife edge but wide enough to be safe. Chickens can walk lower. The reg is at 45126, 01600. Placed by M&L in 2002, only one other party signed in. I kept walking the main ridge to a saddle at 44987, 01516 el 2450. I dropped down to the west and went straight along a cliff base for 250 feet then I could move left onto the ridge. I walked down the center of the ridge a short way and a tiny crag blocked me. Well I showed him. I dropped down along the right side of the crag and followed a cliff base down to the creekbed. A couple of minor drops in the creekbed were easy to bypass then at the mouth I cut thru a saddle at 44722, 01739 el 1800 and followed a trail up onto the high right bank then turned into a canyon going  back toward the start. I followed the main canyon to the saddle 45018, 02569 el 1900 and down the creekbed on the other side, but might have been better off to use the right rim. I shortly hit the road and strolled on back. That took 3 and a half hours with maybe 800 noticeable gain. This is one of the more pleasant hikes in the area. The road going north from the 4-way goes on out, but is rougher. Posted 2020.


• PLOMOSA  BENCHMARK el 2273 - take the paved Plomosa Rd to mp 11.9 and turn on a decent high clearance road. Follow it and stay right at tricky forks to a key fork at N33 49749, W114 04787. Turn toward the peak there on road #93A and keep going toward it to get close. Hiking routes are obvious but all can be summed up with just two words - " cholla city". To avoid that, I crossed a gully at 49989, 05624  el 1450 then walked the low  ground to 50239, 05807 el 1600 where I went up to the main ridge el 1700. I stayed on center of that for 400 feet to the only major bump and went right of that on sheep trails then on to the reg at 50184, 06160. 2 hours, 700 gain. I  didn't get any cholla on my boots. The nearly 3 miles of dirt road is easily mtn bikeable. FOUR PEAKS is to the north but only the second highest peak is safe to climb. Retrace back to the key fork and go north on road #94 and go nearly a mile to a main fork. Go left to a T at 51307, 04842. Turn left there on road #80 and it goes to a guzzler on the west side of the peaks. It's a 30 minute hike to peak 1785 with 400 gain. Those roads may need 4wd. Posted 2020.
• LAMOSA BENCHMARK el 1904 - take the paved Plomosa Rd to mp 16.7 and turn on a decent road for .8 mile to a 4wd road at N33 53608, W114 02690. Follow that to a fork at 53759, 03285 and go right across a wash then stay on the main road to the south canyon. Drop into the wash and go a few feet then up a right fork to the end of the road el 1350. Walk that fork to the end and thru a low saddle and on to the SE canyon at 54574, 04902 el 1400. Go up that to top out on the ridge then on to the reg at 54716, 05183 which dates back to 1964. M&L placed a book decades later but didn't see the earlier one. It's a 90 minute hike with about 700 gain. The 3 miles of dirt roads are mtn bikeable and on the topo. There are no good south or west routes to the summit, but north canyons might work. Posted 2020.


Indian trail cutting thru the range along the I-10

Central Sierra Peaks

                               The 4000 foot north slope of Silver Peak

     Freel, Jobs Sister and Jobs                                                                                 

• BLOODY MOUNTAIN el 12500 is south of Mammoth Lakes. From Vons, go south on Old Mammoth Rd to Sherwin Creek Rd. Take that to the Laurel Lakes Rd at N37 37411, W118 54402. Drive up this rubbly 4wd road for about 4 miles to a trail at 34745, 54337 el 9800. This is a good trail to the pass at el 10700, but switchback cutters are wrecking it. From the pass, go right up the ridge on a hiker trail to the summit at 33638, 54427. 4 hours, 2700 gain. The 4wd road is the hardest part of this trip. Backpackers could set up at a lake near the TH. Go up the trail a short way to see it. The VALENTINE/LAUREL LAKES LOOP is nearby off the Sherwin road. Use the Valentine TH or the higher Sherwin Lakes TH to get to Valentine Lake el 9600 at trails end. Go left along the shore,climbing a few boulders at first, then there is a trail at waters edge. When you get to the inlet creek, climb the slope along the left side of the creek to some nice meadows. Stay along the left side of the valley on easy terrain and finally enter a talus field then climb left to a saddle in trees at 34004, 55609 el 10700. Do it right and you only have to deal with talus for a quarter mile before the saddle. Go down the valley on the other side on easy ground and keep to the right side where it's easiest. In just over half a mile from the saddle you come to a drop off where you can see Laurel Lakes. The creek emerges at the bottom of the drop off. Move to the far left and go down a game trail and stay left of the creek all the way to the first lake then cross the inlet to the road. The road goes up a little then it's 4 miles downhill to the Sherwin Rd where you should have a bike or car waiting.7 hours, 3600 gain. The Valentine TH works best if using a bike for shuttle, the Sherwin Lakes TH is best with 2 cars.
• CARSON PEAK el 10900 is a craggy looking peak above June Lake. Luckily there is a wuss route up the back side. There is a cheater TH on the June Lake loop at N37 46743, W119 07767 el 7200. The real TH is a quarter mile north. It's a rocky, stinky trail to the dam at Agnew Lake. The correct trail forks left here at the sign for Clark Lake and you'll be glad to see horses don't use it. The trail goes up along the left side of the lake to a meadow at 44470, 07999 el 9900 where the trail levels off. I saw a bear here but he took off like a rocket when I showed him my fists. Hike up the left side of the meadow to 44251, 07743 where you can see the rest of the route. Aim for a main saddle at 44161,07529 el 10500 then it's an easy 3/4 mile stroll to the reg at 44865, 07460. 6 hours, 3900 gain. Only 2 or 300 feet is steep.
• DEADWOOD PEAK el 9850 is the most pleasant hike around. Take the paved Blue Lakes Rd from Highway 88 for a dozen miles to a T at Blue Lakes Basin. Go right for 1.7 miles to the dam at Upper Blue Lake el 8100. Walk across the spillway on a metal bridge and make a hard left before the dam. Now you're on the trail. It soon crosses a creek with a log for a bridge. Then it goes downstream along the right side of the creek before swinging to the right. If you get lost, aim for it at N38 37630, W119 56351. It's 2 miles to Granite Lake el 8700. The trail goes left at the far end of the lake. There is a good spring at 37422, 59088 el 9200 where the trail tops out. Stay on the trail as it dips 150 feet then get off at 37434, 59640 and walk easy slopes to the reg at 37729, 59960. Take a pipe wrench to open it. 5 hours, 2200 gain. Nice flowery meadows dotted with granite boulders. Another good hike nearby starts at MEADOW LAKE. Follow the signs to the lake TH. The last 2 or 3 miles is easy 4wd and would make a good mtn bike ride. Walk an old road to the lake then go left around it. You have to get past some granite slabs then go down to the high water mark and get on a trail. The trail goes along at that level a short way then goes up into the trees and on to the dam. Some ancient machinery is here. No real trail goes beyond the dam but it's easy to walk the left side above the creek. Eventually you will be forced to drop down to a small meadow then the canyon drops to falls and cascades. The falls are about 2/3 mile past the dam. It takes an hour to get to the falls from the TH.
• FREEL PEAK,  JOBS SISTER and JOBS PEAK can all be climbed as a loop,mostly on trails. Take Highway 88 to 89 and go north on 89 for 1.8 miles. Turn east on FR 51 and go 3 and a half miles on easy 4wd and park right after a bridge el 8300. Hike west across the creek on a narrow road until it ends in nearly 10 minutes at N38 49732, 119 54554. Skinny motor vehicles seemed to be allowed this far. Now go up a hiking trail to Armstrong Pass. Signs here ban everything but mtn bikes, so if you got your car this far,park it here. Go east from the pass on a trail marked Star Lake. I found a spring that looked safe along here at 51214, 54893. The trail steadily climbs to a ridge el 9700. Mtn bikes stop here. A sign on the ridge points to the right for the trail up Freel el 10880. It's 2 and a half hours and 2600 gain to Freel. A hiker trail goes east from Freel to Jobs Sister el 10820. It's 3 and a half hours and 3000 gain to that peak, counting from the start. Come back from Jobs Sister a short way then head south down to the main saddle crossing over to Jobs Peak. A hiker trail angles down to the saddle el 9800. Cross the saddle and get on a trail at 51473, 52518 that goes along the left side of the ridge. If you lose it, you're likely too low. The trail goes up and connects with the main Job trail at el 10200 which is easy to find because mtn bikers use it . Go left to Jobs el 10600, but don't tell him you were on top of his sister. It's 4 and a half hours and 3800 gain to Jobs. Or you can skip Jobs and go right on the main trail, but make sure you pass right thru waypoint 51035, 52233 to be on the right trail out. The trail stays high on the south wall of the canyon. At 9000 you hit logging roads that take you back to the start. The whole loop takes 6 hours, 3800 gain. Stashing bikes at the Jobs TH would save a mile of road walking. Go past the Freel TH for 7/10 mile and go left for half a mile to a circle. This is as close to the Jobs TH as you can get on a good road. Jeeps can go back from the circle and take the first right to get right to the TH at 50515, 52837 el 8900. It's 3 hours and 1700 gain just to do Jobs. I saw a low slung Mazda at the Freel TH in 2019.
• HIGHLAND PEAK and SILVER PEAK can be climbed as a loop. Spot a car at the Noble Canyon TH at mp ALP 22.8 on highway 4. This is at a switchback at N38 34983,W119 47357 el 7200. Drive up to the PCT just east of Ebbetts Pass and hike it south to Noble Lake el 8900. A hiker trail goes up from the lake to a meadow just above. Aim for a faint trail at 31814, 46220 that goes up to a saddle at 31782, 45993 el 9400. Now the ridge goes parabolic. Use a hiker trail right of center. At 10500 the trail contours right then goes up a chute between cliffs to the top of a false summit at 32216, 45523 el 10800. Now you have to cross a 300 foot deep saddle. Go down about halfway then move left of crags. Then the final push is on talus. Keep left of crags near the Highland summit el 10900+. Now drop down nearly a 1000 feet to the main saddle before Silver Peak. Decide here if you want to make the 2 hour side trip to Silver. Go up the ridge toward Silver but move right when the talus gets serious. Aim for a spot below a crag at 33840, 45588 el 10700 where you can see the peak for the first time. Now drop a little over 100 feet to cross a saddle then stroll on up el 10700+. Go back to the main saddle beween the peaks and start down a ridge at 33063, 46053 el 9600. You can go down at warp speed with no issues. Beware the ridge veers to the right around el 8500. Aim for 32865, 46871 el 8100 then it's less than a fifth mile down to the trail. It takes an hour to stroll on down to the TH.  8 hours, 4000+ gain for the whole enchilada. 6 hours, 3000+ gain just to do Highland and skip Silver. If you die on this trip it will be on the shuttle. Another worthwhile hike is to go up Noble Canyon to Noble Lake then come back some and take the trail to Ebbetts Pass. Use a bike you stashed there to coast down to your car at Noble Canyon TH.      
LEAVITT PEAK makes for a nice loop from Leavitt Lake. Turn off highway 108 at mp MNO 3.8. Drive nearly 3 miles to Leavitt Lake el 9500 on a bumpy 4wd road. Hike left around the lake on the main road and go left at a fork N38 16517, W119 36801 to get on the old road that goes up to the divide el 10600. Once on the divide, go thru a metal gate and soon you hit the PCT. Take that all the way to an easy ridge at 17228, 38443 el 10800 that has a hiker trail to the top at 17174, 39079 el 11500. Go back down and cross the trail and keep going down the ridge. Head for 17143, 37960 then drop to a trail below to the left. The trail goes a short way down canyon to a steep nose but go down the gully on the right. Koenig Lake is at the bottom of the gully. Use a road left of the lake that goes back to the start. 4 hrs, 2500 gain. The peak can also be accessed from Sonora Pass via the PCT. That route has similar stats but took me an hour longer. LEAVITT FALLS makes a good short hike. Park at the vista at mp MN0 6.2 on 108. Hike up the rim past the tables to a steep gully at N38 19278,  W119 33746 where you start down. If you go off a cliff then guess what? You went down the wrong gully.The main threat here is someone above kicking rocks down. Near the bottom there is a wall of brush.  Veer right across a log then head straight down a path to the falls. Take some pruners.It's about 400 feet down. This is NOT for tourists.   
• LOST CANNON PEAK el 11100 is the last 11000 footer going north in the Sierra. Take highway 108 to mp MNO 11.1 and turn into the Marine base. Show your ID and make sure there's nothing in plain sight that looks like bombs. Hide that bowling ball. Proceed past the guard shack on the public Silver Creek Rd for a mile and a half to a main fork. Go left for another couple miles to a main fork at N38 22646, W119 32687. Go right for a mile and a half to the pass el 9300. Hike up the slope aiming for a minor saddle at 23941, 32797 el 10300. Stay in the trees all the way. Go straight up from the saddle to 24103, 32952 el 10900 where there's a route thru the rocks to get over the spine where you can walk along the left side and get to the summit crag at 24319, 32946. I had to walk on talus above scrub trees. The summit crag is class 3 plus one 8 foot crack .Walk around to the notch on the north side. Go up exposed class 3 until you are stopped by the last block.Then go right on a wide ledge then go up a little to the 8 foot high crack, too narrow to chimney. One person could boost another up. I read later on the web that I should have crossed over from the crack to the east side then go north then up, but that looked more exposed than what I had already done. A 20 foot handline with ibis hook might come in handy. There is a north summit above 11000 that is easy to climb. 3 or 4 hours, 2000 gain. The Marines had a reg between the summits but that's all I saw. I didn't attempt the 8 foot crack. It's best to go on Sunday when the Marines are off. The name refers to a cannon that John Fremont left behind in the mid 1800s. Details here
http://www.longcamp.com/how.html. Parts of the cannon are on display at the Bridgeport ranger station.

• MOUNT AGGIE el 11500+ is a wuss hike if you have a jeep or OHV. Turn off 395 at the sign for Mount Morrison Rd. Go a short way then turn left at the cemetery to get on the powerline road. Go south less than a mile then the road gets close to 395 then swings up a canyon. Go up the canyon but don't take a steep left fork. Soon it opens up and you'll see the switchbacks. It's not steep to the top but it gets loose at 9400. After that it levels off then stay right at forks to the end where the road is blocked at a fork el 10300. Mt Mcgee is an easy stroll to the left. Use the right fork for Aggie. The road fades in half a mile on the ridge top. Follow the easy ridge to where it steepens. Then angle right thru trees to a game trail at 33155, 50508 that angles up to the summit ridge. Now it's a short stroll to the summit at 32746, 50575 . 3 hrs and 1300 gain.Stunning views of Morrison's brilliant south face. The main reason for this hike is to play with your jeep.


• MOUNT CONNESS el 12590 is the highest peak in the range north of Tioga Pass. Drive east from the pass and turn at the sign for Saddlebag Lake. Go a mile and a half on bumpy 2wd dirt to the walk-in Sawmill Campground. Walk an old road to the pay station and get on a trail that shortcuts thru the campground and merges with the old road you started on. Soon the road crosses the main creek then there is a fork. Keep right and go on to a research station then on to a stream with some little falls on the right at N37 57689, W119 17786 el 10200. This stream is coming down from Alpine Lake. Go up the steep open slope to the right of the stream. I never saw a good hiker trail so pick your own route. Aim for Alpine Lake at 57747, 18167 el 11000. Walk along the right side of the lake staying near the water to get to the valley behind the lake. Go up the valley a short way then start climbing easy bedrock up to the left to get to where you top out at 58029, 18545 el 11800. Now there is an obvious ridge to climb. Go up along the left side of the ridge.There are a million hiker trails to choose from. This ridge tops out on the summit ridge at 57933, 18865 el 12300. Now go right nearly half a mile to the top, but you have to cross a long narrow neck. I didn't find it scary or unsafe in good weather,but a fear of heights will stop some. 6 hours, 3000 gain. A prettier hike than Mt Dana.                                                 
• MAMMOTH CREST makes a fine loop hike. Take the Lake Mary Rd at the west end of Mammoth Lakes. Go about 4 miles from the last light and turn left at the sign for Lake George Campground. Near the campground is the Crystal Lake TH at N37 36212,  W119 00672 el 9000. Go up it and keep right at a signed fork about half an air mile from the start. The trail goes up to 11200 then drops 600 ft to a basin containing DEER LAKES. There seems to be more than one trail to a lake at the upper end of the basin. At the far end of that lake is a talus slope. Stay low along the base of it and you hit a hiker trail that goes up into the saddle. Be on the trail by N37 33558, W118 58838. There's a peak 600 ft up to the right from the saddle with good views. Go thru the saddle on the trail as it heads for Duck Pass. The trail fades out in the flats,but just aim for a gully near the pass at N37 33518, W119 57823 (keep right of brush when you're a fifth mile from the gully) where you drop down and pick up a main trail to the TH at the upper end of Coldwater Campground. This trail is the roughest part of the hike.It takes 5 hours and nearly 3000 gain to go from TH to TH. To get back to Crystal Lake TH, go down a road on the left edge of the campground to a T. Go left at the T then follow the GPS back. It takes half an hour to walk back.
• MOUNT DANA el 13050 has a steep hiker trail to the top. Start at the Tioga Pass entry booth and head south on a good trail thru the trees. At el 12000 the trail gets splintered. Be attentive and stay on the main trail. Be on it at N37 54062, W119 13463 el 12500. 4 hrs, 3100 gain.It's the second highest peak in the park.
• MOUNT WARREN looms above Mono Lake. Use the signed 4wd Log Cabin Mine Rd across from the ranger offices on 120 not far west of 395. The steep road tops out then goes left thru a camp.area. Keep going for about 3 miles on rougher road and park near the north ridge where you go up at N38 00180, W119 11552 el 10000. Follow the easy ridge to a ridge left of the peak. When it steepens go left to another ridge then on to the top at N37 59393, W119 13410 el 12340. 3 hrs, 2400 gain. The easiest 12er I ever did. Lots of good camps along the road in.
• PICKETT PEAK el 9100 is south of Freel Peak. Turn south off Highway 88 across from where 89 goes north. Follow this 2WD Burnside Lake Road for about 3 miles and go left at N38 44710, W119 54862 on easy 4wd. When it tops out at a 3 way fork in nearly 2 and a half miles, take the middle fork and go nearly a quarter mile to a faint road at 45501, 53782 el 8500+. Walk the road to the east saddle at 45350,54037. Climb right to the top up 300 feet of talus. 1 hr, 600 gain. HAWKINS PEAK is nearby at 44324, 52350 el 10000. Stay on the Burnside Rd then take a left that leads to a closed road at 43449, 53474. I never saw a sign banning mtn bikes on this road. Walk the road to where it levels off on the spine and turns toward the peak. Soon a fork is reached. Take the right one which is lower. At the base of the peak, I prefer to walk the road left around to the end el 9650 on the north side where it's easier to get to the summit. 3 hrs, 1600 gain.
• RAYMOND PEAK el 10000 is accessed using the Blue Lakes Rd from Highway 88. Turn on the road to Tamarack Lake just before Lower Blue Lake. Go to its end keeping left at Indian Valley. The last mile is easy 4wd. Park at the Wet Meadow TH at N38 36625, W119 51588. Walk the trail for 500 feet to the PCT then go right and right again on an old road at 36774, 51377. Follow that to 36296, 50947 then 36250, 50807 then 36283, 50705 at the creek.Stay right of the creek passing good springs at 36080, 50618 then head for a wide chute at 36134, 50145 on the peak. From there go up to a saddle then right to another saddle then left to the top at 36224, 50002 el 10000. I filled up at the springs. 4 hrs,2000 gain. Mosquitoes at the start.   The Raymond Lake jct is about an hour further on the PCT at 37011, 49902. That hike just to the lake is a 4 hour roundtrip with nearly 2000 gain because the trail loses 5 or 600 ft. There is a hikers route down from the peak to the lake but returning that way is longer.
• RED LAKE PEAK and STEVENS PEAK can be climbed from Crater Lake. Go nearly 2 miles west of Blue Lakes Rd on Highway 88 to N38 43614, W119 57249. Turn right and follow the bumpy county road for nearly a mile and a half to its end at a fork where you go left on 4wd to Crater Lake at 43346, 58429. There is camping here and on the road in. Cross the dam and go up the ridge to the main ridge. After gaining 500 feet I veered right into a canyon and filled up at a spring at 43736, 58729 el 9000 then went up on the right side of the canyon. Once on the main ridge, go right to Stevens at 44030, 59081 el 10000. Then go back down and use a trail that goes right around a long bump. Then head up to Red Lake Peak at 42749, 59236 el 10000. Return down a steep ridge 42982, 58756. 3 and a half hrs, 2000 gain. Another way to do it is to start at Carson Pass and go up the peaks then come down to the lake and walk the road out. No 4wd needed.
• REVERSED PEAK el 9400 overlooks June Lake. Use the southbound lanes of 395 to get to an easy 4wd road at N37 50474, W119 04662. The nearest crossover is a mile and a half north on 395. Go west on the 4wd road and stay right at forks until you reach a T at a powerline. This is nearly half a mile from 395. Go right at the T then stay left at forks thereafter until the end of the road at 48521, 05618 el 8400, nearly 4 and a half miles in from 395. Go up the steep slope thru the trees to the reg at 48281, 05960. 1 and a half hours, 1000 gain. Some light brush at the top. Mtn bikes are feasible.The last half of the road is firmer and shady. Many shady camps. The peak is so named because it's downhill all the way to the summit, and uphill all the way back. Exactly the reverse of all other peaks. I've never seen anything like it. It's simply amazing!
• ROUND TOP el 10370 is near Carson Pass. Hike the trail south from the pass to Winnemucca Lake then on to Round Top Lake. Walk along the left side of the lake to a trail that goes up the left side of a gully. Take that to the main saddle then go left to a crag. The route goes left around the crag then follow the beaten paths to the first summit. Walk toward the east summit, then at a gap,drop down to the right to cross the gap. Go up a short class 3 chute to get to the top at N38 39817, W120 00061. 5 hrs, about 2000 gain. There is a parking fee at the pass. 

             

• STANISLAUS PEAK el 11200 is the northernmost 11000 footer on the Sierra crest. Use the St. Mary TH el 9400 about 3/4 mile west of Sonora Pass. The trail goes up to a pass at 10400 about an air mile from the TH then levels off. It stays near this level all the way to the peak. I filled up along the trail at gushing springs at N38 21719, W119 38952. The south ridge at 22742,39934 is the standard route up. Stay on the trail until you're a third mile from the south ridge. Then cross a shallow valley to get on the ridge. Now you can turn out the lights 'cause the party's over. The ridge goes parabolic for 1000 feet to the top.Stay left of crags and aim for an easy chute at 22978, 40059 el 11000. Then it's a short way to the top. No reg in 2012. 4 and a half hours, 2000+ gain
• TRYON PEAK el 9970 has an old road up the west side to 9000 feet. Take highway 4 to the sign for the paved Highland Lakes Rd. This is nearly a mile and a half west of Ebbetts Pass. Go 5 miles on the Highland road then turn left a short way to the Gardner Meadow TH. The last 4 miles is bumpy dirt road. Hike the trail less than a fifth mile then veer left to the old road at N38 29919, W119 47550. Stay on it thru 30111, 47331 then cross the main creek and pick it up on the other side at 30340, 47081. Hike the road on up to the 9000 foot level where it fades.You can go straight up the ridge or wuss out like I did and use a trail on the right at 30893, 47083. This trail connects to the PCT at the pass. From the pass, I went up a little then contoured right under the talus. I filled up at a spring at 31230, 47019 el 9400. Get at it from the right side. Keep going below the talus then you come to a ridge to go up. The reg is at 31317, 47277. 4 hours,2000 gain. It would take 2 hours longer to use the PCT from Ebbetts Pass.
• WADE BENCHMARK el 9367 is about 3 miles south of Jobs Peak. The Horsethief Canyon Trail is the standard route but not shown exactly on the topo. Take highway 88 to the TH el 6650 at about a mile down from Sorensens. The trail goes up steep along a roaring creek then levels off at el 7700 and soon meets a logging road. It follows that to the right then up to el 8600 where I left it and walked to N38 49104, W119 51934 then to 49109, 51831 then 49167, 51710 where a passage led me down a stairway into a gorgeous forest with easy walking. The forest is really the main attraction. I went up to 48854, 51231 el 9150 then curved left to the BM at 49000, 50550. It sits on top of a brushy talus pile, but I walked left along the base to get around to the east side for easy passage.The reg goes back to the 80s. Then I went SW to peak 9390 at 48581, 51344 but found nothing so it must not be on a list. From there, I returned to the stairway and retraced back out. That took 6 hours, 45 minutes with a little over 3000 gain. I hauled long pants but never used them. New signs had been installed and trees cleared on the trail. The first good camp with a stream is at 47351, 52803 el 7750 and the last water I had is a stream at 48006, 52421 el 7950. Posted July, 2019.
• WATERHOUSE PEAK el 9497 is SW of Luther Pass on highway 89. I parked at the pass then walked a paved trail for 450 feet to a signed bike trail that goes to Scotts Lake. I followed that for half a mile to N38 46827, W119 56782 el 7700 then went up to 46819, 56861 el 7850 where I angled up to the left on a game route. I zigzagged up thru a gorgeous forest to the reg at 46568, 57906. That route kept me out of brush but not mosqitoes. 3 hours, 1800 gain, not steep. Posted 2019.
• WHITE WING PEAK el 10000 is north of Mammoth Lakes. Turn west off 395 at the sign for the graded Deadman RD. Go just over 6 miles to the TH at the end of the road. The correct trail has a bridge across the creek. Follow the trail and it becomes overgrown. I was able to follow it to N37 43164, W119 04572 where it emerges from the scrub trees. Weave around brush to get to the ridge top. Then walk in the forest on the left side of the ridge to pass a bump and get to a saddle at 43390, 03564 el 9400. Then go up the ridge and angle right to some rocks then go on up to the reg at 43520, 02784. I went down the south ridge with no issues. 3 hours, 1700 gain