Antsell Rock and Apache Peak

HPS Star Emblem Peak
Hiked: 7/20/2018
Distance: 7.2 miles round trip on trail and cross country
Summit Elevation: 7679' (Antsell), 7567' (Apache)
Prominence: 519' (Antsell), 687' (Apache)
Elevation Gain: 3156'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.52
Max Slope: 68%
Round trip time: 6 hours 50 minutes
Recommended water: 96 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Apple Canyon Road
Difficulty: Strenuous

Named after a local artist, Antsell Rock is the most difficult peak on the Desert Divide, a high and jagged ridge running south from San Jacinto Peak. Jerry Schad called it the jewel of the Divide. From his book, Afoot and Afield: Inland Empire:

...its stony buttresses make an impressive sight from most directions. It is also one of the few mountaineers’ peaks in Southern California that requires more than the usual plodding to reach the third class summit.

Sean and I drove up Highway 74 to the Zen Mountain Center visitor parking lot. The last mile of Apple Canyon Road is a good dirt road and the parking lot was on the left. We walked past the entrance gate and stayed left at two road splits. We continued up the dirt road past three water towers on the left, then continued straight past the first switchback to the start of the trail. The climb up the Zen trail is steep in parts, gaining about 1300' in a little over a mile. Vegetation is starting to encroach on parts of it, but cairns and orange ribbon kept us on track most of the way. There was still a lot of burn damage from multiple fires in the past. Near the top, it got a little confusing where deer trails competed with the eroded main trail. We managed to stay on track and emerged onto the PCT at the saddle between Antsell Rock and Apache. From there, it was a quick half mile to the east ascent gully, marked with its own rock cairn. There was no visible damage to the PCT.

Water tanks, trail starts directly ahead past road switchback

Looking down Apple Canyon

Start of ascent gully

The ascent gully was very steep, rising about 750' in a third of a mile. It was sandy, loose, and challenging. We both dislodged huge rocks on the way up and I often used vegetation to assist my climb. As the gully narrows at the top, some class 3 scrambling over boulders and trees was necessary. I was a sweat faucet when we reached the top of the gully, the base of the Antsell summit. The other popular route to reach the base is the north ridge. At the base, I instantly recognized the starting class 3 crack from Hikin' Jims 2013 report. I collapsed my trekking pole and placed it in my backpack, then started up. The pole got hung in part of the crack, so as soon I reached the first ledge, I removed it from my pack and threw it down to the base. It would have been a dangerous hazard the rest of the way. Sean waited until I reached the top of the crack before starting up. We continued over the top boulders to find the dead pine tree, a sign we were on the right track. We passed left of the tree, then ducked under some small pines on a down sloping slab. This got us into the "brushed up" gully. It appeared that someone had done some clipping, because we found a relatively clear path to the next class 3 section. I went first again and when Sean made it up, we angled left for easier terrain. We took different class 2 lines to the summit. Sean opted for a more direct, but more exposed track, and I switched back more to the right. On the summit was a pole marker and a small US flag. Standard HPS red cans held the register that went back to 1998 and was a little more than half full. I searched to find Hikin' Jims entry and noted the others climbers I knew. We didn't find a benchmark. The views were magnificent. We took a fairly long break to enjoy the summit and tried to capture photos that did it justice. I don't think we succeeded in the latter. After signing in, we reversed course. Going down the steep gully was as slow and difficult as going up. Once back on the PCT, we hiked past the Zen trail and headed for Apache Peak.

Narrowing gully

Sean above a scramble section

Sean climbing the first crack

Continue over these boulders

Dead tree section and brushy gully

Next class 3 section

Sean reaching the summit

North ridge, the ascent gully is on the right before the bump

West ridge

Apple Canyon

South ridge

The dual peaks of Apache were not far from the saddle, less than a mile. Although it is lower, the east summit looked higher to me most of the day. I misread the GPS and led us a short distance past the place we needed to leave the trail. We back tracked past a giant rock outcrop and Sean stashed his pack before the ascent. A patchy use trail led to Apache. It cut through shin level buckthorn that had grown over the trail in places. There was no register or benchmark among the boulder piles on the summit. Like Antsell, Apache had great views down into Apple Canyon. Since the east summit was so close, we paid it a quick visit, but found nothing of note. Dark clouds had boiled up as the afternoon approached, keeping us cool. It looked like it was raining on top of San Jacinto, but rain never felt imminent where we were. We cruised back down the Zen trail to wrap a memorable day.

On the way down, my trekking pole where I threw it

The desert side of the desert divide

Sean climbing up past the giant outcrop

Apache Peak summit

Antsell Rock from Apache

Sean on Apache East with Apache in the background

Other reports:
Hikin' Jim (north ridge approach)
Peaks for Freaks (east gully approach)