tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37975980747933781962024-03-17T19:59:29.527-07:00Iron HikerStanding on top of the world, for a little whiletekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.comBlogger606125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-49918287500298672612024-03-15T06:52:00.000-07:002024-03-15T07:57:18.572-07:00Chemehuevi Peak<b>
Hiked: 3/13/2024<br />
Distance: 8 miles round trip cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 3694'<br>
Prominence: 1774'<br>
Elevation Gain: 2079'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.6<br />
Round trip time: 6 hours<br />
Recommended water: 96 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on Hightower Road (BLM NS056)<br />
Difficulty: Moderate<br /></b>
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Chemehuevi Peak is an eastern Mojave peak with a view to Lake Havesu. My physical therapist told me to push the ankle this week. Boulders, scree, and scrambling on Chemehuevi met that challenge. From highway 95, I took the dirt Hightower Road to the approach wash. The road was in great shape with no ruts or deep sand. I started up the wash at 8:30 AM. In a little over two miles, I reached the main gully on the left. There were several boulder and brush choked channels at the base of the gully. I trended left and stumbled on a faded use trail. The trail was faint but useful to bypass some obstacles. The gully was mostly class 2.
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<center><i>Start</i></center>
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<center><i>Entering the major gully on the left side</i></center>
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<center><i>Looking back down the gully</i></center>
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When I exited the gully, I turned toward the summit. There was a steep ravine cut into the cliff wall, but I wasn't sure it was the easiest route. I was tempted to head to the ridge line, but I saw cairns leading that way. When I got into the wedge, some class 3 was unavoidable. Reviewing the track after, I might have done better by moving left a litte. The rock and holds were solid and there was no serious exposure. I emerged from the ravine with the summit in view and was immediately blasted by strong winds. A simple ridge walk got me to the top. The register was new, placed in January, 2024 and nestled in a glass jar. I signed in and was mildy amused by a sticker left behind by Clint Baechle: Hiking Metal Maniac - Death to False Summits. Views were strong in all directions, but haze from high clouds blurred some of the distant attractions like Lake Havasu. I had hauled the drone up but was concerned about high winds, especially the gusts that felt above 40mph. I decided to try flying at least one helix, but as soon as I launched, I got a red warning on the controller that the winds were too much and it could not navigate home by itself. The warning said to manually land the drone immediately. I tried to bring it back, but every time it was above me for landing, a gust of wind blew it 15-20' away, where it would pitch wildly at 45 degree angles trying to right itself. On the third try, I got it within grasping distance. As soon as it cut rotors, another gust grabbed it and slid it along the summit until it hit a rock. It didn't look too damaged, but I would have to test it at home to see if it was still in working order. My ankle was doing OK, but I dreaded the down climb. I took a preventative aspirin before starting back. The scramble bits were fine since I could control my weight and foot placements. What sucked was the scree, talus, and slippery surfaces. Some of those slips put pressure on the ankle at all kinds of weird angles. Honestly, it was probably good therapy, like the bosu tricks in PT. I got back to the truck with only minor pain and swelling. At 10 weeks, I still feel 20% slower than normal and a long way from fully recovered.
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<center><i>Narrow ravine ahead</i></center>
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<center><i>Summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Lake Havasu in the distance behind of the mountains</i></center>
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<center><i>Desperately trying to land the drone</i></center></div>
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<center><i>Back down the gully</i></center>
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<center><i>Final look back</i></center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYX5g3UO_EezVB7DOdgZwmtyVz6oqurZ_mDsXBU6jfbZugVIxry4hnkkbRpiuoKWH6EonARUCBzkFyf0mt_wRm6U17OwkqrySGd8ja8UIXt3pVg9Y16aSJpMzOFagqtVipdm8D4C9cONnQPiVtCszA2ePPJ-ixyCcOMD_B8tNglMqtNwRqzoqZZhWcQ/s2092/chemehuevi-earth.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="2092" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYX5g3UO_EezVB7DOdgZwmtyVz6oqurZ_mDsXBU6jfbZugVIxry4hnkkbRpiuoKWH6EonARUCBzkFyf0mt_wRm6U17OwkqrySGd8ja8UIXt3pVg9Y16aSJpMzOFagqtVipdm8D4C9cONnQPiVtCszA2ePPJ-ixyCcOMD_B8tNglMqtNwRqzoqZZhWcQ/s600/chemehuevi-earth.jpg"/></a></div>tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-46847967711800751822024-02-26T07:35:00.000-08:002024-02-26T07:41:18.041-08:00Oat Mountain and Point 3473<b>
Hiked: 2/25/2024<br />
Distance: 11.2 miles round trip on paved road<br />
Summit Elevation: 3747'<br>
Prominence: 1987'<br>
Elevation Gain: 2800'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.2<br />
Round trip time: 4 hours 20 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 54 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $5 Parking Fee for Mountains Recreation and Conservancy Authority<br />
Difficulty: Moderate<br /></b>
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Nate Underkuffler and the San Gabriel ice pirates had planned an off trail scramble from Santa Clarita Woodlands Park to Oat Mountain (nearly a P2K). It was Nate's birthday hike. I had targeted this hike as a test of my ankle and thought I would be ready seven weeks after the break. But the day before, I was still recovering from physical therapy and decided to take the road route to Oat instead. I emailed the ice pirates about my plan. I wanted to summit Oat, then continue over it and meet them at the ridge/road intersection where they planned to exit the ridge. I parked at the lot at Joughin Ranch, not knowing it was a fee lot. I would have paid had I seen a pay station or sign. Instead, I came back to a ticket and a $73 citation.
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I started at 7:30 AM, expecting to cover the distance to the rendezvous and arrive around the time I expected them to emerge from the park. The entire road was paved. I crossed a cattle guard and found myself surrounded by bovines, including several bulls. The bulls faced me directly and watched my every move. I left the road at one point to give one a wide berth. Fortunately, none were in the mood to charge me. I blazed up to Oat in less time than I expected. The views were darn nice for a small mountain near Santa Clarita. So much green from recent rain. The summit swarmed with towers and barbed wire fences. The gate to the facility on Oat was ajar enough to get in, but I didn't see anything inside of interest. I took a short break, then continued down the other side. I followed the road another 1.7 miles to Point 3473. Yet another bump with another cluster of towers. Just below Point 3473 was where the ridge met the road.
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<center><i>One of many bulls protecting the herd, I gave this one plenty of space</i></center>
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<center><i>Another bull</i></center>
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<center><i>No one's stopped me yet</i></center>
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<center><i>Oat Mountain summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Rendezvous point</i></center>
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<center><i>Rough ridge connecting to the road</i></center>
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When I reached the rendezvous, I texted Sean Cucamonga that I had arrived. I spent the next hour snacking and pacing back and forth searching the ridge for any sign of movement. The upper section of ridge looked like it was bushy with exposed rock and sharp peaklets. It looked hard. At one point, I scanned the ridge with my phone camera at 10x zoom to see if I could spot them. After an hour, I figured they had run into problems and texted Sean that I was headed back. He replied shortly after telling me they were only half way up the ridge and would probably turn back. It not only looked like a tough route, it was. It was a bummer to miss everyone. On the way down, the cattle had moved away from the road and presented no threat. I looked around the old Nike missile site near the bottom, but didn't find much other than graffiti.
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<center><i>Oat Mountain from the east</i></center>
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<center><i>Several pump stations dotted the landscape</i></center>
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<center><i>Abandoned Nike missile facility</i></center>
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<center><i>North toward Los Padres</i></center>
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<center><i>My track in red, Nate's original plan in blue</i></center>tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-62402618356241274892024-02-15T05:44:00.000-08:002024-02-15T14:43:22.473-08:00Sycuan Peak<b>
Hiked: 2/13/2024<br />
Distance: 2.1 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 2801'<br>
Prominence: 801'<br>
Elevation Gain: 790'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.6<br />
Round trip time: 1 hour 10 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 16 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on Lawson Valley Road<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Sycuan was my second planned hike after Mother Miguel. I had lunch with Parker in between and it was a game time decision based on the ankle. It felt strong enough to handle another easy hike. The trailhead for Sycuan was on Lawson Valley Road. However, there were no road signs at a tight pull off area on the north side of the road. I drove past it the first time. The only indication of a trail was a chain with a small sign that read Boundary Ecological Preserve. I ventured past the sign on what looked like an abandoned road. It shrunk to a single track at one point, then expanded again. The trail was deeply rutted in places. The summit had an electric (or telephone) pole with wire going over and down the other side. An 8' boulder marked the high point. I stood on the boulder with unease, testing my stability at an odd angle. Felt solid enough, though I was very careful getting down. I didn't find the benchmark, but didn't spend much time looking. I found a mason jar with something inside, but it looked like tissue instead of a register, so I didn't open it. There were great views of Corte Modera, Lawson, and Gaskill. I snapped a few photos, then returned to the truck without meeting another soul. Sycuan had enough prominence to bump my P-index to 196, an unexpected plus.
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<center><i>Left to right: Corte Madera, Gaskill, Lawson, Lyons</i></center>
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tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-37347318869717112382024-02-14T06:31:00.000-08:002024-02-14T06:34:18.824-08:00Mother Miguel Mountain and Peak 1520<b>
Hiked: 2/13/2024<br />
Distance: 4.3 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 1527' (Mother Miguel), 1520'<br>
Elevation Gain: 970'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.7<br />
Round trip time: 2 hours<br />
Recommended water: 24 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on Paseo Veracruz<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Based on the weather and my schedule this week, I needed to get a hike in on Tuesday. I decided to stick to easy fare in San Diego County. First up was Mother Miguel in Chula Vista. The trail started behind a suburban development on Paseo Veracruz. There was ample parking on the curb and it was popular based on the number of vehicles parked there. There were no facilities, but just before you reach the trailhead on the left, was Mount San Miguel community park. It had shiny facilities and no crowds in the morning.
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The dirt path began next to a house on the corner. It dropped to a T intersection near a creek. The official trail began just on the other side. The trail had a series of tight switchbacks, but they have been cut and eroded so much by foot and bike traffic that I had a hard time staying on the trail. The sat view showed a direct use trail up the mountain cutting every switchback. All over the mountain were signs that read "This is not a trail" and posts with ropes in between. All of it ignored by everyone but one party on the mountain and me. It seemed a lost cause for this trail to be restored. It's too trampled and eroded. At the top, there was a large rock cairn with a new register in a plastic box. I signed in knowing it would probably not last long with so much traffic. There was also a flag pole with three flags waving: the US flag, Marine Corps flag, and a POW-MIA flag in that order. There was a nice view over the Sweetwater Reservoir to downtown San Diego. Lyons Peak was also nearby. After a brief stop, I continued less than a quarter mile to Peak 1520, only 7' lower. The summit consisted of small boulders and brush. I stopped there for water, then turned around. There was steady stream of hikers, but it wasn't overly crowded. The ankle felt alright as I drove to SDSU to pick Parker up for lunch. We destroyed some Old Timers at Chili's and talked about circuit design before I returned him to campus to continue his studies.
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<center><i>Start</i></center>
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<center><i>Mother Miguel</i></center>
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<center><i>Sweetwater Reservoir, downtown San Diego, Pacific Ocean</i></center>
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<center><i>Lyons Peak (no public access)</i></center>
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<center><i>Peak 1520</i></center>
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Hiked: 2/9/2024<br />
Distance: 4.2 miles round trip cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 4493'<br />
Prominence: 1153'<br />
Elevation Gain: 1345'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.0<br />
Round trip time: 3 hours 15 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 24 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $30 National Parks Fee or National Parks Pass<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Forty days and forty nights after my ankle break, I bagged the Cottonwood Mountains High Point in Joshua Tree. Under normal circumstances, Cottonwood would have been the first of a two or three peak outing, but with the recovering ankle, it was about the right amount of challenge. I chose an easy desert peak as a starter, but one that would test the ankle from all directions and let me start rebuilding the tendons and ligaments in my foot, and the muscle in my right calf. There was no trail to Cottonwood, but it was a short hike starting about four miles up Pinkham Canyon Road. I had been down this dirt road in 2015 when I hiked Monument Mountain. Monument was north of Pinkham Canyon Road and Cottonwood was south. The road was in better shape than I remember. Passenger cars can likely make the trip without issues.
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I pulled off the road at an open spot. Several bumps were visible in the direction of Cottonwood, but there were two false summits, so the summit was not visible from my parking spot. I pulled on my flexible brace, but was uncertain how the ankle would hold up on the slopes. I was concerned mostly with side hill angles and coming down. There was a flat approach to the ridge, then a gentle rise. The rocks at this point were small and grass was abundant making the footing quite solid. Damp ground from recent rain also helped. I moved more slowly than usual, paying close attention to where I stepped with my right foot. Reaching the first false summit, I was fooled into thinking the next bump was the goal. The angles on the false summits were higher, but only moderate class 1. I reached the summit with some relief and found a register dated 1978, courtesy of Wes Shelberg. There were some nice views, but San Jacinto and San Gorgonio were both hiding in the clouds. Since Cottonwood was not on many lists, it doesn't see the kind of traffic other JT peaks enjoy. However, it is a P1K so it's not ignored. This day, I had the entire mountain to myself. Getting down proved even slower. Whenever I had weight on the right foot, and my toes were below my heel, there was discomfort. Needs work. At my normal pace, this hike would have taken me 45 minutes less. Still, I was satisfied to be outside and put something on the scoreboard.
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<center><i>Start, summit not visible</i></center>
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<center><i>Braced</i></center>
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<center><i>False summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Another false summit</i></center>
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<center><i>True summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Monument Peak in the distance</i></center>
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<center><i>Dark clouds on the way down</i></center>
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<br>tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-18578661759252798912024-01-17T10:49:00.000-08:002024-01-30T14:48:21.626-08:00Unplanned BreakOn New Years Day, we woke up at Lava Lava Beach Club in the end cabin. It was another glorious day on the Big Island and we set out on the semi-private beach to a spot where we usually found sea turtles. We settled at the spot but no turtles were around. Leisa wanted to stay on the beach a while longer and I returned to the cabin to get in a quick jog. I headed down the road toward the Kings' Shops mall. When I reached Waikoloa Beach Drive, I turned around and jogged back to the cabin. I checked my distance and it was only 0.9 miles. I decided I needed more steps so I started back down the road for another lap. Before I reached the turnaround, I stopped jogging and decided to cross the lava field between the road and Waikoloa Marriot. The black lava was soft but broken and sharp. I hopped over the field easily, not the slightest challenge compared to the boulder scrambling I typically do in the mountains. I got across the lava in minutes to a 2' dirt barrier between the field and the Marriot parking lot. Feeling energetic, I jumped on top of the barrier with my left foot and landed on my right.
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When I landed, my right foot must have been turned slightly inward. The running shoes I wore had zero lateral support. My ankle rolled under my foot and I <i><b>heard a pop</b></i>. A <i><b>bolt of pain</b></i> shot from the right side of my ankle about 4 inches up the side of my leg. I muttered explitives I can't even remember, then started limping from the parking lot back to the road. With each step, I tried to access how bad the injury was. Every step was painful and after a dozen or so steps, I realized this was more than a simple ankle roll. I limped a half mile back to the cabin and immediately iced it. Swelling had already begun. When Leisa got back, I showed her the damage. We found an urgent care in the afternoon, but it was closed since it was New Years Day. We were half way through our vacation, but our activities were going to be limited the next few days. A double drag.
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On January 2, we went back to urgent care and they sent me to the ER of Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital. After x-rays, I was diagnosed with a <b><i>closed avulsion fracture of the lateral malleolus of the right fibula</i></b>. They put me in a boot and sent me on my way. The fibula is the smaller of two bones that runs between your knee and ankle. The tibia is the larger bone and a break in the tibia would have been much more serious. The fracture was at the bottom of the bone, so the ankle was stable. After a second set of x-rays, and a second review by my doctor at home, no surgery was needed. Rehab would consist of 4 weeks wearing a boot, and 2-4 weeks of physical therapy (overlapping the last week in the boot). When I wrote this, I was wearing the boot, two weeks and two days after the accident. Physical therpary starts tomorrow.
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This was my first ever broken bone. I plan to rehab the hell out of it and be back in the mountains in the second half of February.
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<center><i>Aloha</i></center>
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<b><i>Update 1/30/2024</i></b>
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I abandoned the boot for a flexible brace. I am in week 2 of physical therapy and it hurts so good. I do PT at home every day and I'm working in hip and ham machines at the gym to keep my legs from withering completely. Yesterday, I bought a pair of Saloman Ultra X 4 Mids with better ankle support than my Merrells. The ankle brace fits into the boot without fuss and I took them to an easy local trail for a two mile break in. I was feeling some minor pain on the way back, but consider it a success. I have another month or so of physical therapy, followed by a few more weeks to fully heal. Beyond that, I have to overcome the psych issue of trusting the ankle again. I am planning an off trail hike with my San Gabe friends at the end of February, but might have to take the road and meet them on top if I'm not feeling it. That will be a true test in multiple dimensions.
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Hiked: 12/31/2023<br />
Distance: 0.5 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 0'<br />
Elevation Gain: 25'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0<br />
Round trip time: 15 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 0 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on South Point Road<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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This was a travel day, going from super wet Hilo to sunny Kona. We wanted to take the southern route to see a different part of the island. The first stop was Punalu'u black sand beach. I expected the sand to be hotter than regular sand but it wasn't. There were a few turtles sunning on the beach in an enclosed area and we saw a few heads pop up in the water. There were no restrooms at the beach, but there was one a short walk away at the camp site. It was a super nice beach and a draw for a lot of tourists, even through it was pretty far out of the way.
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<center><i>Beach with camp site in the distance</i></center>
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Next, we drove to South Point. The last ten miles or so are on a very narrow road, one lane at points. There were more people headed there and coming back than I would have guessed. We parked at the end of the road and walked a quarter mile on dirt and sand to reach the southernmost point in the United States. The point is well south of the Florida Keys. The shore was filled with shells, the rocks jagged, and the sea rough. Local fishermen were lined up along several sections. There was a jump off point on the western side where the sea was calm, but neither of us wanted to make the 40' leap, even with a ladder to get back up. We spotted a couple of snorklers on the western side bobbing in the swell.
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<br>tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-9565645673622454422024-01-03T15:56:00.000-08:002024-01-03T15:56:26.493-08:00Pu'u Huluhulu, HI<b>
Hiked: 12/30/2023<br />
Distance: 2.5 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 3440'<br />
Elevation Gain: 161'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.1<br />
Round trip time: 1 hours 10 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 16 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $30 National Parks Fee<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Our second hike in Volcanoes National Park was Pu'u Huluhulu. It was the first summit on a very long trail where the floor is lava every step. The lava here came from an eruption of Mauna Ulu in 1969. There were places were the lava was broken or had collapsed into air pockets. It was genrally solid and 8-16" thick, though it occurred to me that it could collapse into other unseen pockets. Of course, it didn't and we enjoyed a mostly flat walk up to the summit. Like Kilauea-Iki, the trail was marked with large cairns of black lava rock. The trail continued for at least another dozen miles, but we were content to bag the nearest peak and turn around. A metal disc was on the summit with arrows to visible volcanoes. The smaller volcanoes did make me appreciate the size of Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa had been closed since it erupted in 2022. If we ever make it back, I'd really like to bag Mauna Loa.
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Hiked: 12/30/2023<br />
Distance: 3.9 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 3498' (crater rim)<br />
Elevation Gain: 600'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.5<br />
Round trip time: 1 hours 50 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 24 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $30 National Parks Fee<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Leisa and I were back on the Big Island to ring in the new year. This was our second trip to the Big Island. We didn't make it to Volcanoes National Park the first time, so we dedicated a day to it. Our first hike was the Kilauea Iki trail. It started on the crater rim of a dormant caldera, not the active one. The trail dropped gently into the caldera, then followed large cairns of black lava rock through the center. It was unique terrain. There were a couple of steam vents along the way and I stopped to peer into one, but there wasn't much to see. At the other end, we climbed out. Back on the rim, we walked a short distance over to the Thurston Lava Tube. Dim lighting along the wall was enough that we didn't need headlamps. The lava tube was short and kind of disappointing. This was a very popular loop hike and I recommend starting early. When we finished, the parking lot was full and rangers were waving people away.
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<center><i>Steam vent</i></center>
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<center><i>Exiting</i></center>
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<center><i>Lava tube</i></center>
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<center><i>Looking down the caldera, Mauna Loa in the background</i></center>
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<center><i>Kilauea Hale Ma'uma'u crater</i></center>
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Hiked: 12/1/2023<br />
Distance: 2.8 miles round trip cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 2270'<br />
Elevation Gain: 1091'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.9<br />
Round trip time: 2 hours 15 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 20 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on Zzyzx Road<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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This was a bonus peak on the way home from Old Dad. I exited on Zzyzx Road southbound from I-15, crossed over the freeway and parked in a dirt turnaround. With about two hours of daylight left, I thought I could get up and down before dark. I was somewhat concerned about leaving my truck alone for two hours, but geared up and got moving. According to Wikipedia, "Curtis Howe Springer made up the name <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zzyzx,_California">Zzyzx </a>and gave it to the area in 1944, claiming it to be the last word in the English language. He established the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa in 1944 at the spot, which was federal land."
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The terrain was open with little vegetation. I crossed two small drainages before heading up the boulder filled gully toward a saddle in the first line of foothills. From the map, it looked like I could follow this gully to the ridge just south of the summit. However, after passing the foothills, the ridge looked like easier going. I took a sharp turn east to gain the ridge, then followed it in a semi-circle to the summit. The summit was only a mile from road as the crow flies, but 1.4 miles on my route. On top, I found a wooden post and wire that had fallen, but no marks, and no register. I had great views of the local mountains and the long, thin line of concrete that was I-15. I tagged the summit and immediately started down, racing the sun. As soon as I was back in the gully, I was in shadow, but there was still plenty of ambient light. I got back to the truck at dusk.
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<center><i>Credit to Tallywa for sign photo</i></center>
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<center><i>Heading for the saddle</i></center>
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<center><i>Moving up the gully</i></center>
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<center><i>On the ridge, following it around to the summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Summit with fallen post</i></center>
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<center><i>Looking south down I-15</i></center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghczGYqgwf36UIpXpalQ35MLvbj5r0RLAauwDmJ503X6O26kzXhzOUD4airTM6FcOIDnsoc5UaUGN7zNhKGVlSufCjgs4OI0yLzT22u77oD-bNTLvqqo3WzcH650rJZECe7Bx1GJaL3bmK1FVOOxfV15M3YPL1YdB5W5Edhj1pRenEnX2FVqaBYCoNdg/s1252/zzyzx-earth.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghczGYqgwf36UIpXpalQ35MLvbj5r0RLAauwDmJ503X6O26kzXhzOUD4airTM6FcOIDnsoc5UaUGN7zNhKGVlSufCjgs4OI0yLzT22u77oD-bNTLvqqo3WzcH650rJZECe7Bx1GJaL3bmK1FVOOxfV15M3YPL1YdB5W5Edhj1pRenEnX2FVqaBYCoNdg/s600/zzyzx-earth.jpg"/></a></div>tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-64293653697973259062023-12-02T10:53:00.000-08:002023-12-02T10:53:20.177-08:00Old Dad Mountain<b>
Hiked: 12/1/2023<br />
Distance: 5.3 miles round trip cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 4252'<br />
Prominence: 1218'<br>
Elevation Gain: 2088'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.6<br />
Round trip time: 5 hours 30 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 72 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on South Powerline Road<br />
Difficulty: Moderate<br /></b>
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I decided to endure the long drive to the Mohave for an attempt on Old Dad (DPS #79). I wanted to get it the same year I bagged <a href="https://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2023/11/old-woman-mountain.html">Old Woman Mountain</a>. I left the house around 3:15 AM with a planned start around 7:30 AM. I followed the driving directions from the Desert Peaks guide from Kelbaker Road. I timed my arrival to drive the dirt road section in daylight so I could assess any danger of deep sand. The road turned out to be in good shape with only a little deep sand the last mile, easily devoured by the Tacoma 4x4.
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I parked at the entrance to the wash running along the eastern side of the mountain. I followed the flat, open desert hugging the base of the mountain. Staying close made for some unnecessary ups and downs over minor gullies. I continued until I found the main ascent gully, though climbing the east face looked improbable. Once I started up, I spotted cairns that did a fine job of marking the route. The rock on Old Dad was weathered limestone. Mostly solid, though some bore sharp edges. Sharp rock ended the career of my gloves and also punctured my puffy jacket. The main route followed a series of ledges, with bits of scrambling to reach the next ledge, Chutes and Ladders style. I couldn't always spot the next ledge and got off route a few times. Off route usually meant cliffing out or making exposed class 3 course corrections. Half way up, there was a long traverse north to skirt under cliff bands, all marked with cairns. When I reached the ridge, it was an easy walk over to the summit that jutted out slightly from the mountain side like a small pyramid. I got a glimpse of either a deer or a bighorn on the west side of the summit. It ran over the edge before I could identify it. Views were impressive in all directions. The benchmark was in great shape and several registers were found in an ammo box. The oldest one went back to 1975 and was falling apart. The newest one was placed in 1994. I hung out on top for a while to absorb the desert goodness. Descent was uneventful. I highly recommend taking a GPS track as a route finding aid. Old Dad was an immensely satisfying hike, engaging with expansive views as a payoff.
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<center><i>Old Dad from Powerline Road</i></center>
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<center><i>Main ascent gully, takes a hard right</i></center>
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<center><i>Main route</i></center>
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<center><i>Benchmark 1934</i></center>
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<center><i>Summit</i></center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcnneFNNABiGkzS19D7FhPT8uGf4ja5x6fxH2-6NoePXQpLxCVLvcdlU7_zeHa36bupLlkLGH5H16f6x74f5wrD_jndQQBT_SvofqG44xuJNOloWNZNFMMnnzJqspxFYNTtJ5v2QVPC0zgi7FcCE_U1o2BGbaY329i9IxnrQr2lFyftlQJwn9V4d4Jg/s4000/20231201_101706.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcnneFNNABiGkzS19D7FhPT8uGf4ja5x6fxH2-6NoePXQpLxCVLvcdlU7_zeHa36bupLlkLGH5H16f6x74f5wrD_jndQQBT_SvofqG44xuJNOloWNZNFMMnnzJqspxFYNTtJ5v2QVPC0zgi7FcCE_U1o2BGbaY329i9IxnrQr2lFyftlQJwn9V4d4Jg/s600/20231201_101706.jpg"/></a></div>
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<center><i>Keyholes off-route</i></center>
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<center><i>Almost down</i></center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHamr06PCBQ_K_ez9ndIm5fvNXtTEgBJB7x4xPCweB0pRRGM6E7n9PYqTpF8kEl1ChuHwEFOtOz-sR3TrVO9EZx2is2RtJ6WENz5IJtroQ9XSuqrHklRZiE0M06bgE3UTVzghq5SZhMSNTKtoIQNs1tEYemqee-J4NQt-a-1hVQhkvzgILitvnB4dS-A/s843/old-dad-elevation.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="843" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHamr06PCBQ_K_ez9ndIm5fvNXtTEgBJB7x4xPCweB0pRRGM6E7n9PYqTpF8kEl1ChuHwEFOtOz-sR3TrVO9EZx2is2RtJ6WENz5IJtroQ9XSuqrHklRZiE0M06bgE3UTVzghq5SZhMSNTKtoIQNs1tEYemqee-J4NQt-a-1hVQhkvzgILitvnB4dS-A/s600/old-dad-elevation.png"/></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinucqaDhAqqkGsw2lnURJyHACBUD9F9DBVJQl0H18TvcpDr3hkL1H6MRQX_-ni8sUoyywSuOaw1UbBcwdq5YQj-MCmx-6Nb1KGDqc_6O94cxPze6xceXHm2HbwndIHTf3oXFkGIUZmcgsPTCnV7H1uNLdKqGYLq_uCdnBOQ5FOq56PnlBiRarIbwH75g/s1252/old-dad-earth.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinucqaDhAqqkGsw2lnURJyHACBUD9F9DBVJQl0H18TvcpDr3hkL1H6MRQX_-ni8sUoyywSuOaw1UbBcwdq5YQj-MCmx-6Nb1KGDqc_6O94cxPze6xceXHm2HbwndIHTf3oXFkGIUZmcgsPTCnV7H1uNLdKqGYLq_uCdnBOQ5FOq56PnlBiRarIbwH75g/s600/old-dad-earth.jpg"/></a></div>tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-33372345147689397782023-11-26T10:10:00.000-08:002023-11-26T11:22:10.218-08:00Odell Benchmark<b>
Hiked: 11/25/2023<br />
Distance: 5.3 miles round trip on dirt road<br />
Summit Elevation: 5220'<br />
Prominence: 1822'<br>
Elevation Gain: 1060'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.9<br />
Round trip time: 1 hour 30 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 20 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on Telephone Road<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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My plan was to mountian bike to Magic Mountain in the western San Gabriels. I wanted to start at a road junction several miles up Indian Canyon Road. I did not know the status of the gate and found it to be closed right at the trailhead. That meant the round trip would have been around 18 miles, a much bigger affair for which I was not prepared. I drove back to highway 14 to get cell service, then looked at Peakbagger to find something easier and nearby. I settled on Odell Benchmark, only 7 miles away.
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I parked at a turnout and unloaded the bike. It was 43F but I was blasted by a 25mph wind sinking the wind chill to around freezing. I expected the wind and cold weather, but it was still a shock to the system. While I was getting ready, a dirt motorbike zoomed up the road, the only other person I saw all day. I started climbing the first hill, steep but paved. I made it about half way up the hill before switching to hike-a-bike push mode. Near the top of the first hill, I got back on and pedaled past the Hauser benchmark, surrounded by barbed wire and warning signs. The road turned to dirt but was in good shape. It would have been possible to drive all the way to Odell. I enjoyed the dirt road section and got minor breaks from the wind. By then, my face and hands were fairly frozen. When I arrived at Odell, the views were decent. I found a small mark but no register. I rode the brakes hard on the way down but was nearly blown over by the wind. This was hardly a dream outing, but at least I salvaged a prominent point and worked up a lather on the bike.
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<center><i>Hauser Benchmark</i></center>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZmPLH8hNRkaIC28Xgp4H7qXuyYQTVR4660t2pe7PN7wvFxFROIGOwzn6WR8SE3ChcTzRcW5CZBhSvbSQSu3bVh5PPvSq3fMFYaE2qKRm6FevqXpG4gPa7u3n1HaRLQGnz7_PKhYbXN2j7k5Bleqrtd46P6XLOHKfukLUzgRX5BY6pySFF6qWriBxzg/s4000/20231125_091750.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZmPLH8hNRkaIC28Xgp4H7qXuyYQTVR4660t2pe7PN7wvFxFROIGOwzn6WR8SE3ChcTzRcW5CZBhSvbSQSu3bVh5PPvSq3fMFYaE2qKRm6FevqXpG4gPa7u3n1HaRLQGnz7_PKhYbXN2j7k5Bleqrtd46P6XLOHKfukLUzgRX5BY6pySFF6qWriBxzg/s600/20231125_091750.jpg"/></a></div>
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<center><i>Odell ahead</i></center>
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<center><i>Small USGS mark</i></center>
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Hiked: 11/11/2023<br />
Distance: 6 miles round trip on trail and cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 900' (trailhead)<br />
Elevation Gain: 960'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.7<br />
Round trip time: 3 hours<br />
Recommended water: 32 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $10 State Parks Fee<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Leisa and I spent our second day hiking "The Slot" loop. The slot is a semi-famous family friendly slot canyon in AB. There are other slot canyons at the base of Travelers Peak, and dangerous canyons around the Arroyo Tapiado mud caves. My last visit here was ten years ago. At the time, parking was just a turnaround on a dirt road. Now, there was a parking lot, overflow parking, and a bathroom. Also new was a $10 day hike fee. We got started around 8 AM and passed a couple of large parties on our way through. We continued out the back and followed dirt roads toward Borrego Mountain. We left the road to get a close look at some interesting wind caves and formations. Leisa had a GPS track that looped just under Borrego then back to the parking area. However, we missed the cairns where we were supposed to climb out of the canyon and continued in the general direction of our starting point. We hit some short scrambles and narrows but I thought we could get back to the main slot. Unfortunately, we hit a 50' wall only a couple of hundred feet from the main canyon. I crawled to the top of a ridge to look over and saw no safe way forward. We had to return to where we left our track and spotted the cairns. Another short scramble and we were out of the canyons and onto a trail leading to Borrego Mountain. The summit was another half mile but we opted to return on trail to the parking area, having managed to add an extra two miles to the loop. We returned to a zoo of 40 vehicles and dozens of people milling around. Rangers were also set up to collect the day use fee as people drove up. The crowds were a drag.
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<center><i>Cool chock stone</i></center>
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tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-78432331913208869362023-11-13T14:19:00.000-08:002023-11-16T13:38:05.924-08:00Maidenhair Falls<b>
Hiked: 11/10/2023<br />
Distance: 5.4 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 1883' (at the falls)<br />
Elevation Gain: 1140'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.9<br />
Round trip time: 2 hours 30 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 32 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $10 State Parks Fee<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Leisa and I camped at Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego State Park for the weekend. Our first hike was to Maidenhair Falls. The trailhead is off S22 just outside Borrego Springs and had signs requesting a $10 day hike fee. There was a restroom there and well maintained parking area, but the fee was a surprise. I'd done several hikes from there in the past and didn't remember a fee.
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The trail started from the lot and was smooth. A couple of joke graves were set up on the side of the trail to remind people to take enough water. The first couple of miles were easy going with minimal gain. All the native desert plants and cacti were on display. Shortly, we reached a palm grove and palms dotted the canyon the rest of the way. In the last half mile, the trail braided, boulders got larger, and some light scrambling was required to continue. Both of us picked up some scratches from rough rocks and pokey plants. We reached the waterfall and were disappointed with the lack of flow. There was barely a trickle from the falls and a stagnant pool of dark water sat at the base. I heard a loud buzzing around the water that at first sounded like flies, but was instead a swarm of bees. Because of the bees, we didn't linger or take a break, just turned around and started back down. There were quite a few tarantula hawks along the trail. Cool insects that pack a serious sting. It was easier going down and we made it back to the truck quickly.
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<center><i>First palm grove</i></center>
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<center><i>Barely a trickle at Maidenhair Falls</i></center>
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<center><i>At camp</i></center>
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tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-56623959460741734442023-11-04T15:17:00.004-07:002023-12-04T13:52:40.846-08:00Old Woman Mountain<b>
Hiked: 11/3/2023<br />
Distance: 6.7 miles round trip on dirt road and cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 5325'<br />
Prominence: 2733'<br>
Elevation Gain: 2950'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.3<br />
Round trip time: 6 hours 35 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 116 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free on Danby Road<br />
Difficulty: Strenuous (route finding)<br /></b>
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Old Woman Mountain (DPS #64) is the high point of a small remote range in the southern Mojave. The drive was over 4 hours from home, requiring a 1:30 AM alarm for a 2:30 AM departure. The trailhead was at the end of Danby Road, a dirt road typically reached from a closed section of Route 66. The road is closed because of multiple bridge failures. From I-40, I took Kelbaker road south to Route 66 and drove around the close road barriers. I crossed several open bridges, then took a dirt bypass around one that had collapsed. Google Maps suggested I follow Skeleton Pass Road, a dirt road that runs south of and parallel to the train tracks. That road had pockets of deep sand that required 4x4 mode. I reached Danby, then turned south for another 7 miles of good dirt road, stopping at an open gate.
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The weather was clear and cool. The high point of the Old Woman Mountains was not visible from the start. I hiked south on the road to the first of two very steep gullies. The standard route follows along the left shoulder of the gully. I kept moving further left around a giant outcrop since it seemed easiest. I kept closer to the gully on the way back, but thought my ascent route was better. The slopes of Old Woman were lush with vegetation, junipers, knee high grass and cactus. Also an occassional cat claw. The crux of the hike was the steep side hill traverse into the second gully. Fortunately, there was a line of cairns marking the traverse. A fall on the sidehill section would lead to a long, unpleasant tumble over very sharp things. I drifted wide right in the second gully, then it was about a half mile on the ridge to the summit.
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<center><i>Drove around the barriers</i></center>
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<center><i>On the ridge, summit ahoy</i></center>
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Multiple registers lived in the metal ammo box. There was a good reference mark but I didn't find the benchmark. It might have been hidden under a pile of rocks. Views were dramatic toward the western peak that was only 12' lower. I unpacked my Flame Broiler bowl for lunch and sent the drone up for a few minutes. I intended to fly it in one of the ascent gullies, but felt the terrain demanded too much attention. After a 20 minute stay, I started down. I found some cairns marking the standard route down the second gully and followed. I did the same in the first gully. Although most of the route was class 2, I did get into some short class 3 sections. In between some boulders, I found the skeletal remains of either a bighorn or a deer. Out of the gullies, I detoured to the Florence mine ruins. The main shaft looked like it went back a good distance, but I didn't explore it.
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<center><i>Abandoned shack, busted solar panels on the ground</i></center>
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<center><i>The spiky peak is only 12' lower than the summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Following cairns back through the sidehill traverse</i></center>
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<center><i>Descending the first gully</i></center>
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<center><i>Bones</i></center>
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<center><i>Florence mine</i></center>
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<span style="color:orange">HPS Star Emblem Peak</span><br>
Hiked: 10/14/2023<br />
Distance: 17 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 5106' (Caliente), 4425' (Ridge)<br />
Prominence: 2206' (Caliente)<br>
Elevation Gain: 2200'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.7<br />
Round trip time: 6 hours 20 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 80 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free at Caliente Ridge Trailhed (unnamed road)<br />
Difficulty: Moderate (distance)<br /></b>
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Adam Walker contacted me about an upcoming trip he had near the Central Coast. We identified a P2K new to both of us and I met him the night before in Solvang. Caliente rises above the Carrizo Plains, famous for spring superblooms. There was no bloom in the fall, but the weather was great for a long ridge walk. Adam set a brisk pace just before 8 AM along Caliente Mountain Road. From the ridge, we had great views on both sides, including the giant white blob of Soda Lake. From Wikipedia, Soda Lake is an alkali lake with a salt crust up to 20 cm thick. After 2.5 miles, we passed the lesser Caliente Ridge Peak with a small metal tower enclosed in barbed wire. We continued on the gently rolling ridge until we saw Caliente at the end. A few sandstone formations burst from the plains, and farmlands dotted the valley to the south. The final ridge revealed some sandstone uncovered by erosion. The summit lookout tower had collapsed into a pile of wood. There were multiple registers in a plastic container and a geocache. We signed in a took a 20 minute lunch break. The only mark we found was strange. It it wasn't a traditional USGS mark but had an LGO stamp. We kept the brisk pace on the way back and finished faster than expected. With only a few sections of deep sand, it probably would have been more fun as a mountain bike trip. Without the bloom, it wasn't very interesting.
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<center><i>Fossilized shell on the trail</i></center>
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<center><i>Caliente Ridge tower</i></center>
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<center><i>Caliente Mountain</i></center>
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<center><i>Collapsed lookout</i></center>
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<center><i>Mark of unknown origin "LGO 1977"</i></center>
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<center><i>Soda Lake in the distance</i></center>
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Hiked: 10/7/2023<br />
Distance: 6.2 miles round trip on trail and cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 10850'<br />
Prominence: 2290'<br>
Elevation Gain: 2000'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.6<br />
Round trip time: 5 hours<br />
Recommended water: 80 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $35 National Parks Fee (good for one week)<br />
Difficulty: Moderate<br /></b>
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At the end of our first full day in Yosemite, I was feeling bad enough to punt on Hoffmann. However, the next morning, I felt well enough for the attempt. It took a little over an hour to drive out of the Valley to the May Lake Trailhead. Nice weather was holding up. We arrived at May Lake in less than an hour and got some mirror shots in the still water of Hoffmann's battlements. The summit is about a half mile behind the battlements so is not visible from the lake. I was expecting to go cross country from the lake, but there was a good trail leading around the lake, up a ramp to get past the lower cliffs. The trail made a hard right toward the cliff on a slab and was easy to lose. We marched right by it, then scrambled 100' up the end of the ramp and bumped into the trail again. The second part of the hike was up rocky class 1 terrain to the left (west) of the battlements. There were multiple braided use trails but it doesn't make much difference how you tackle this part.
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<center><i>Battlements from May Lake</i></center>
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The last section of the hike was across an upward sloping plateau where the trail was defined and easy. The trail ended below the summit rocks consisting of pancaked slabs. We arrived at the base of the summit the same time as another couple. They both wore tennis shoes and didn't look like regular hikers. When we started up, the male decided to wait at the bottom while the female followed us up the slabs. That is, until the final 20' of class 3, just below the summit. The female looked at our route, didn't like it, hunted around for a another way for 10 minutes, then gave up. So close. The views from the top were stellar and there was a shear drop on the north side, something not obvious from the topo. The benchmark was intact and I found a reference mark nearby. Some kind of antennae or relay sprang from the summit, but it had no markings that gave away its purpose. We looked down the south ridge to Hoffmann's Thumb, but it clearly required rope protection and was not in the cards today. The fancy aluminum register box that used to be on Hoffmann was moved to the Thumb. No other register was found. The view of Clouds Rest and Half Dome were notable. We ate lunch on the summit and I could have been happy there a long time. Eventually, we packed up and returned, able to follow the trail all the way back. Hoffmann was delightful and definitely worth the half day investment.
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<center><i>Summit on the right, Hoffman's Thumb on the left</i></center>
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<center><i>Leisa near the top</i></center>
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<center><i>Looking down south ridge at Thumb, Clouds Rest and Half Dome in the distance</i></center>
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<center><i>Looking north from Hoffmann</i></center>
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<center><i>High Sierra Camp at Map Lake was in disrepair</i></center>
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tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-51532039398515042442023-10-10T08:04:00.008-07:002023-10-10T08:13:09.475-07:00Union Point and Glacier Point<b>
Hiked: 10/6/2023<br />
Distance: 10.3 miles round trip on trail<br />
Summit Elevation: 6314' (Union), 7222' (Glacier)<br />
Elevation Gain: 3250'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.6<br />
Round trip time: 5 hours 45 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 100 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: $35 National Parks Fee (good for one week)<br />
Difficulty: Moderate<br /></b>
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Leisa and I were back in Yosemite, camping in the shadow of Half Dome at Lower Pines Campground. We got the same spot we had in 2022 when we toured a half dozen waterfalls. Our first excursion this year was the Four Mile Trail from the valley floor to Union Point, then Glacier Point. Legend has it the original trail to Glacier Point was four miles long, but extra switchbacks were added over time to reduce the gradient making the current trail 4.6 miles one way. Parking at the trailhead was full when we arrived so we had to hike from hear swinging bridge adding additional distance. Since Glacier Point can be accessed by road and shuttles, I was surprised how many people were on the steep, Four Mile Trail. No section was more difficult than another, it's just a steady climb up the south valley wall. It was shaded all day. Union Point was a little more than half way up and a short diversion from the trail. Views were great but got better the higher we went. There was a vandalized mark of some kind on the highest boulder at Union Point, unreadable.
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<center><i>El Cap</i></center>
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<center><i>Destroyed mark at Union Point</i></center>
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The last half mile before Glacier Point was mostly flat and you could see it jutting out from the wall on approach. Glacier Point is known for it's iconic Half Dome view and it was swarming with people as expected. We did a bit of wandering around the area on top. The hike seemed more taxing to me than the stats suggested and I wasn't feeling well. I found out three days later I was in the middle of my third bout with Covid-19. The worst thing about it was that I passed it on to Leisa, whose suffering started when we got back home. Descending the trail was much easier but the lower switchbacks seemed never ending. The GPS track had extra noise from proximity to the south wall. We stopped for snacks at the general store and returned to camp for fire rituals.
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Hiked: 9/22/2023<br />
Distance: 6.3 miles round trip on dirt road<br />
Summit Elevation: 5790'<br />
Elevation Gain: 1470'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.1<br />
Round trip time: 2 hours 45 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 48 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Free at Indian Vista overlook<br />
Difficulty: Easy<br /></b>
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Indian Mountain (HPS #204) is in the San Bernardino National Forest south of highway 243. I looked for something easy since I was still nursing a minor heel injury that won't go away. I arrived at the Indian Vista overlook around 8 AM and was the only car in the lot. Past the overlook is a use trail that connects to Indian Mountain road about 100' below. The road goes very near the top of Indian Mountain. At first, the road drops about 500' to a saddle. As soon as I started down, I was in the middle of a gnat swarm and had to put on the bug net. I swiped at them now and then, and ended up squashing at least a dozen before the day was over. The road had very deep ruts and would have taken a skilled driver. Near the top, I found a use trail through the brush to the summit. The class 3 summit boulders were about 15'. The top boulder had a nice flake that proved useful as a foot hold to reach the top. The register was under the boulder pile in a black plastic jar. I found a US Army reference mark named Ann about 25' away from the summit under a bush. I never found the benchmark. On the way back, I followed the road to the lower summit and found a fire pit. The gnats continued to be a problem on the way back.
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<center><i>Indian Mountain from the overlook</i></center>
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<center><i>Summit block</i></center>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-XWosz2uek?si=z4jh52W8dVpBkH2f" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<center><i>Ann reference mark, didn't find the benchmark</i></center>
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<center><i>Firepit and turnaround on the lower summit</i></center>
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tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-14967446441593300212023-09-10T06:25:00.010-07:002023-09-18T17:22:00.318-07:00Sam Fink Peak<b>
<span style="color:orange">HPS Star Emblem Peak</span><br>
Hiked: 9/8/2023<br />
Distance: 15.1 miles round trip on trail and cross country<br />
Summit Elevation: 7339'<br />
Elevation Gain: 4382'<br />
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 3.5<br />
Round trip time: 9 hours 30 minutes<br />
Recommended water: 132 oz.<br />
Parking/Fees: Adventure Pass at Humber Park trailhead<br />
Difficulty: Strenuous (route finding)<br /></b>
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Sam Fink Peak (HPS #104) sits on the desert side of the Desert Divide. It is remote and the only trail that goes near it, the Caramba Trail, is not maintained. Abandoned is a better description since much of it was covered in dead fall, pine cones, and needles. I made it more challenging my overtraining for the second time in two months. Too many laps at the track just before Whitney resulted in a compressed nerve in my right foot. Only painful in a certain position that I avoided with mindful steps. Two days before Sam Fink, I did too many heavy reps with the trap bar at the gym. My back was sore, but short of strained. I was able to ice it the next day and get by. The body just isn't what it used to be.
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I started at dawn from Humber Park. It took an hour to get to Saddle Junction where I followed the Willow Trail. The trail goes through a field of ferns before an unsigned junction with a trail going directly south. I passed that and went another half mile where the was another unsigned trail split. A high road and a low road. I took the high road, which was not the best way. I could have stayed on the lower trail longer on a direct path toward Sam Fink. Instead, I left the Willow trail not far past the junction. Initially, it was mostly open country, but soon, I got bogged down in whitethorn and waist high soft plants. I crossed Willow Creek and continued side hilling and dipping in an out of gullies. I found remnants of the Caramba Trail and vaguely followed it with the help of scattered cairns. I ended up doing three creek crossings. The last one was Tahquitz Creek and it was flowing strongly. I'm not sure the others would be flowing in a drought year. There were many route finding problems. I climbed up a very steep slope north of an unnamed bump before I finally got a clear view of Sam Fink, a quarter mile away. It was visible a couple miles back, but I wasn't able to identify it.
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<center><i>Willow Trail continues up to the left, but the lower trail is a better way to Sam Fink</i></center>
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<center><i>Willow Creek</i></center>
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<center><i>Following a cairn through some whitethorn</i></center>
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<center><i>Sam Fink distant left, though I didn't recognize it at the time</i></center>
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<center><i>Following remnants of the Caramba Trail</i></center>
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<center><i>Tahquitz Creek crossing</i></center>
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I followed a use trail the rest of the way to the summit. A short boulder was the high point and the register cans were just below. There were no marks or other signs of civilization. I was surpised at the great view back to the Desert Divide and the desert communities below. I was prepared to be disappointed with Sam Fink, thinking it might have been added to the emblem list as a navigation test. But it was a fine perch to take in not only the Divide, but the higher peaks around San Jacinto. Having sky blue weather helped. The register was active, with the prior entry from July. I spent about 20 minutes on the summit reading the register and being lazy. When I started back, it seemed like I hit more gain than on the way out. This wasn't true, but I didn't realize at the time how much gain I had given up after Saddle Junction. The split was about 2500' on the way out, 1800' on the way back. I filtered some water at Tahquitz Creek on the return, but ended up not needing it. Coming down the Devils Slide, I met a baby rattlesnake crossing the trail. Not only was it the first rattler I'd ever seen in the San Jacinto wilderness, I think it was the first snake of any kind. Much better that I met it on the trail than earlier when tromping through the brush. I got back to the truck just before 4 PM, <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/angeles/leadership-outings/i-rating">renewing my unofficial Sierra Club "I" rating</a>. Fourty-six down and four HPS emblem peaks remaining.
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<center><i>Sam Fink</i></center>
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<center><i>Summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Red Tahquitz</i></center>
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<center><i>Divide</i></center>
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<center><i>San Jacinto</i></center>
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<center><i>Rabbit, Toro, Martinez</i></center>
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<center><i>Bushwhack back</i></center>
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<span style="color:orange">State High Point<br>
Sierra Peaks Section Emblem Peak</span><br>
Hiked: 8/27/2023 to 8/28/2023<br>
Distance: 24.7 miles round trip on trail and cross country<br>
Summit Elevation: 14505' (Whitney), 12730' (Wotans)<br>
Prominence: <span style="color:green">10078' (Whitney)</span>, 328' (Wotans)<br>
Elevation Gain: 6930' (combined)<br>
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 5.5<br>
Round trip time: 18 hours<br>
Recommended water: 332 oz.<br>
Parking/Fees: $70 Whitney camping permit 2 days<br>
Difficulty: Very Strenuous<br>
</b>
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Leisa and I did a two-day hike to Mount Whitney and Wotans Throne. This was my first official overnight hike where I wasn't at a developed camp site. Leisa didn't want to rush it as a day hike. Our improbable trip came after a record winter washed out Whitney Portal Road and dumped record snow on the Sierras. A week before our permit date, Tropical Storm Hilary brought record rainfall to SoCal, swelling the streams and closing Whitney campgrounds. The Portal re-opened the day before our start, but we had to take a detour from Lubken Canyon Road to reach it.
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We started up the Old Whitney Trail at 9 AM to bypass the first stream crossing. It is shorter than the main trail and only slightly steeper, by my lights, worth it even in normal conditions. In 0.4 miles, we intersected the main trail. The scenery was great from the jump. The other streams we crossed were full, but not overflowing as I had feared. Bits of snow lined some parts of the lower trail and we met a care free doe in the one of the meadows. We passed Lone Pine Lake, Outpost Camp, and Mirror Lake on cruise control. At Trailside Meadows, a large snow field was melting and calving. We had originally planned to camp at Consultation Lake, but decided to get as close as we could to the switchbacks. We set up our tent at Trail Camp (12,000'). Neither of us had slept at this elevation before. Our first order of business was to filter water for the night and load our day packs for the next day. We finished prep at 3 PM with a lot of daylight left. I thought I had time to climb Wotans Throne, rising directly above the lake at Trail Camp. Leisa was not interested so I set off solo.
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<center><i>Start of Old Whitney Trail, it goes around the left side and behind the big boulder</i></center>
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<center><i>Lone Pine Lake below</i></center>
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<center><i>Consultation Lake</i></center>
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<center><i>Trail Camp</i></center>
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I did no prep for Wotans but thought I could handle what looked like class 3 on the west ridge. I didn't expect to see anyone else and I didn't. I scrambled above the lake and worked around a snow filled basin and a swampy area. I discovered cairns that helped me navigate around minor obstacles. I lost the cairns at the ridge and started up. It was class 2 at first on solid rock. I tried to follow a couple of ramps, but stay generally along the ridge. About half way up, I got great views of two azure blue lakes. They were half frozen and unnamed according to the maps I checked. The upper ridge moved into class 3 terrain, but there were several good options. I had to down climb 10' into chute, then out the other side, leaving only a short hop to the summit. A small pile of rocks was my reward, and fantastic views of the Whitney ridge. I continued to the end of the summit ridge to make sure the other end wasn't higher. I tried to find the marked route on the way down, but I don't think it was much different than way I ascended. The total trip from camp was about two miles and took two hours. We settled in for dinner, then relaxed until nightfall.
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<center><i>Wotans Throne</i></center>
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<center><i>Starting up, the cairned route was a little further west</i></center>
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<center><i>Unnamed blue lakes</i></center>
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<center><i>On the summit, I visited the far point but it was lower</i></center>
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<center><i>I think Whitney is on the far right</i></center>
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I barely slept a wink at night, tossing every 10-15 minutes, unable to get comfortable. Leisa slept better, but not well. For me, it was a combination of the altitude and the inflatable pillow that didn't offer enough neck support. I was lying awake for hours trying to psychically will the sun up to end my misery. The night seemed endless. It didn't get cold until just before sunrise, and even then probably not below 40F. I need to research better pillows. Finally, the first rays of sun broke and the camp began to stir. In the dawn, I could already see a line of headlamps on the 99 switchbacks, and day hikers that had started at midnight slowly ambled through. We got up and ate breakfast, then set out for the summit around 7 AM. We had been warned to be careful on the switchbacks by a friendly ranger. We had to scramble up a 12' section of rock where snow had covered a turn. We also scrambled up loose scree in three places where the trail was washed out. There were also two snow crossings, a short one we just walked over, and a longer one where microspikes gave us traction and confidence. We took a longer break at Trail Crest.
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<center><i>Night moves</i></center>
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<center><i>Morning has broken</i></center>
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<center><i>Wotans Throne left, from the lower switchbacks</i></center>
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<center><i>We used spikes for this crossing, upper switchbacks</i></center>
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Despite the restless night, I was not feeling any AMS. Leisa felt a little spacey, but worked through it. The final 1.9 miles went slowly along the cliff lined and rocky trail. Between the needles, Leisa said she wasn't feeling well. We had just stopped to eat another snack and decided a 10 minute break was in order. Leisa rallied after this final break and we paused at the snow field covering the last switchback below the summit. No one was using the trail through the snow. Instead, everyone was scrambling up next to the snow field. It was the same situation we had faced on Gorgonio. We proceeded to scramble up, with only a couple class 2 moves to make it back to the trail. There were about 15 people on the summit engaged in photos and celebrations. We signed the register at the hut and took our own photos and video. Unlike my first summit, I didn't have a headache or any other AMS symptoms. I found the benchmark I had missed before. There were at least four different marks, but three of them had been vandalized and were unreadable. Iceberg Lake was a frozen blue-white ice cube. We were on the summit about 15 minutes. It took us 3 hours to get back to Trail Camp, another hour to pack up and refill water, then three more hours to the car. We finished the night at the Pizza Factory with a large special and a pitcher of Blue Moon.
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<center><i>Whitney side boob</i></center>
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<center><i>Needles</i></center>
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<center><i>Bypassing the snow field</i></center>
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<center><i>Iceberg Lake</i></center>
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<center><i>Lone Pine Peak left, Langley in the distance</i></center>
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<center>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zXVo6eBEacY?si=rtycgJBJJ3j6I8XC" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</center>
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Stats for Day 1: Portal to Trail Camp and Wotans Throne: <b>8.7 miles, 4430' gain, 800' loss, 7 hours</b><br>
Stats for Day 2: Whitney summit, exit at Portal: <b>16 miles, 2500' gain, 6200' loss, 11 hours</b><br>
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<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/ecSGfNzx8EztRFDp9"><b>Would you like to know more...?</b></a>
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<b>See Also:</b>
<br>
<a href="https://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2013/07/mount-whitney-day-hike.html">Mount Whitney Day Hike</a>
<br>tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-74895020281182954232023-08-14T13:51:00.000-07:002023-08-14T13:51:09.852-07:00Horseshoe Bend and Secret Antelope Canyon, AZ<b>
Hiked: 8/5/2023<br>
Distance: 1 mile round trip on trail<br>
Summit Elevation: 4200'<br>
Elevation Gain: 0'<br>
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0<br>
Round trip time: 30 minutes<br>
Recommended water: 0 oz.<br>
Parking/Fees: $159 private tour per person<br>
Difficulty: Easy<br>
</b>
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Leisa and I took a break from mountains to explore a slot canyon and Horseshoe Bend, AZ on a private tour. Horseshoe Bend is near Page and is very popular. There was a packed public parking area with a $10 entrance fee that leads to an overlook. However, we went with a private tour from <a href="https://horseshoebendtours.com/">Horseshoe Bend Tours</a>. Our group was half international (families from France and Italy) and we noticed a lot of tourists in Page were from Europe or Asia. The tour was led by a Navajo who grew up in the area and offered colorful commentary. We started at Secret Antelope Canyon, a beautiful slot canyon. The slot was less than half a mile long but the round trip from where we parked was about a mile. After taking too many photos in the canyon, we drove to a private viewing area for Horseshoe Bend. It was so wide, we had a hard time getting it all in one frame. The Colorado River far below was busy with kayakers and boats. The tour was a little pricey, but worth it to avoid the crowds.
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<center><i>Falling grains of sand</i></center>
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tekewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230830520110635922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797598074793378196.post-52424972232036229732023-08-06T06:41:00.004-07:002023-08-08T17:13:05.681-07:00Elden Mountain, AZ<b>
Hiked: 8/4/2023<br>
Distance: 5.4 miles round trip on trail<br>
Summit Elevation: 9299'<br>
Prominence: 1219'<br>
Elevation Gain: 2453'<br>
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.0<br>
Round trip time: 4 hours<br>
Recommended water: 72 oz.<br>
Parking/Fees: Free at Elden Trailhead parking lot<br>
Difficulty: Moderate<br>
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The schedule had us in Flagstaff for a couple of days, setting our sights on a quick trip through a slot canyon before challenging another mountain. However, upon diving into the details of our proposed slot canyon, we found the water depths far exceeded the capabilities of our gear. With that, we rescheduled our Elden Mountain adventure the day after Humphreys. The ripple effect of this decision had us starting later than anticipated, and we braced ourselves for a scorching trek. We rolled into the Elden trailhead parking lot around 9 AM, where there was little space to spare, with the mercury already closing in on 80F. We crossed paths with numerous early-birds making their return journey.
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Initially, the trail treated us kindly, lulling us into a rhythm before surprising us with the harsh, east-facing incline. From there, the trail took a challenging turn, serving up a sequence of tight switchbacks, each presenting significant gain. Though challenging, the combination of occasional shade and a soothing breeze made it bearable. Our journey was punctuated by the sight of a dozen trail maintenance workers, busily improving the trail for future adventurers. Despite the hurdles, we gradually reached the summit, welcomed by a collection of radio towers and a fire lookout, each vying for space and somewhat marring the scenic view. We stumbled upon two reference marks and a benchmark, though no register was to be found. Our attempts to capture views of Flagstaff were mostly foiled by the clustered towers. I had high hopes of taking in the grandeur of Humphreys, yet all we could see were Fremont and Agassiz.
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We found two trucks parked at the peak, the drivers mysteriously absent. We took a brief pause, just enough to gather our breath before setting off on the descent. Despite our delayed start, a handful of hikers were still powering their way up in the searing heat. On reaching the truck, we were greeted by a now half-empty parking lot. Elden Peak proved to be a workout on a day that was initially intended to be a light one.
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<center><i>Towers in sight</i></center>
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<center><i>Agassiz left, Fremont right</i></center>
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<span style="color:orange">State High Point</span><br>
Hiked: 8/3/2023<br>
Distance: 10.3 miles round trip on trail<br>
Summit Elevation: 12633'<br>
Prominence: <span style="color:green">6039'</span><br>
Elevation Gain: 3353'<br>
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.7<br>
Round trip time: 7 hours<br>
Recommended water: 108 oz.<br>
Parking/Fees: Free at Humphreys Peak Trailhead parking lot<br>
Difficulty: Strenuous<br>
</b>
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Humphreys Peak is the Arizona high point. Leisa and I drove to the Humphreys Peak trail parking lot at 7 AM. It's a huge lot that could hold at least 100 cars and there were already about 20. Some hikers were just starting out like us, others had started early. There were four portable toilets at the trailhead. Take advantage of them as privacy was an issue on this hike. The start of the trail goes through dense, shaded forest with tall deciduous and coniferous trees. The trail was damp but not wet. The first mile had a lot of medium sized rocks and exposed roots: trip traps. Long zig zag switchbacks define the trail below the saddle. At 10,500', the deciduous trees faded. The tree line ended at the saddle where the Weatherford trail joins the Humphreys trail. Beyond the saddle, the trail was harder to follow. It immediately dropped below the ridge line and was marked with wooden poles. There were rocky, uneven strips where large 18-24" steps were necessary. We were one of a few parties that kept leap frogging each other as we took turns resting at different spots along the trail. We also met some early risers on their way down. We not expecting the number of dogs on the trail. I counted six of various breeds, including a German Shepherd mix that looked very much like our own dog, Ripley. The dogs didn't seem bothered by the elevation, but I was more worried about their paws on the volcanic rock that made up the mountain after the saddle. While the going was not overly steep, I was feeling the elevation. It wasn't altitude sickness, just a touch of that space cadet glow.
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<center><i>Humphreys from the road</i></center>
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<center><i>Looking up from the saddle</i></center>
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We traversed over three false summits at a steady pace, arriving on the summit just before 11 AM. Counting us, there were ten people and two dogs on the summit. Views were stellar in all directions. I had packed the drone and launched it, after a warning from the controller that it was too high and it might fall out of the sky. After I acknowledged the warning, I ran it through a couple of basic maneuvers before bringing it back. I've gotten quite adept at hand launches and catches. While the footage was not great, it was something, and set a personal altitude record for piloting unmanned aircraft. There were two ammo register boxes with lots of notebooks. I signed us in with the masses of other climbers. The wind started blowing enough to make things cold and we started down. With so many people on the trail and a sparse forest, it's a problem finding a place to relieve yourself. We discovered a hidden spot just above the saddle, fifty feet off trail, surrounded on three sides by pines and the other side by a bump in the ridge. It was the only place we found for a moment of privacy. The descent was uneventful and we were back at the truck by 1 PM. Humphreys had been on my wish list for six years so it was sweet to check that box. It is one of only five ultra prominent peaks in AZ. It was a surprise to learn that it was only the second most prominent in AZ. That honor belonged to Mount Graham with 6320' of prom.
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<center><i>The German Shepherd mix</i></center>
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<center><i>Leisa on the summit</i></center>
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<center><i>Agassiz</i></center>
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<center><i>Ski runs down Agassiz to the Snobowl</i></center>
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<center><i>Humphreys from 50 miles away on highway 89</i></center>
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<center>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pDq8xQRag2U" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</center>
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