Distance: 14.9 miles round trip on trail and cross country
Summit Elevation: 8792' (Grey), 8720' (Red), 7840' (South)
Elevation Gain: 4704'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 3.7
Round trip time: 8 hours 50 minutes
Recommended water: 152 oz.
Parking/Fees: Adventure Pass as Humber Park
Difficulty: Strenuous
This was an effort to climb the unofficial Grey Tahquitz, Red Tahquitz (HPS #39), and South Peak (HPS #79) the final peak I needed to complete the Desert Divide. From the Hundred Peaks Guide: The HPS calls this peak Southwell Peak for Jesse M. Southwell who was the ranger at Tahquitz Peak Lookout from 1946 to 1967. When the Forest Service proposed this name, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names turned it down since Jesse was still alive. The name may formally remain South Peak.
I had planned to start on the South Ridge Trail, but the forest service web site said the last mile of the road was washed out. So, I started at Devils Slide, a nicer trail by any comparison. I arrived just after daybreak and there was ample parking available. The permit system was set go back into effect on September 1, giving me additional incentive to do this now. The hike to Saddle Junction got me warmed up. From there, I took the Caramba Trail to the next junction, then took the unmarked 3E41 connector trail to the PCT. 3E41 goes through the lush Tahquitz Meadow and Little Tahquitz Valley. I met a couple of curious mule deer in this idyllic wilderness. Not far after making the turn onto the PCT, I left the trail to angle for Grey Tahquitz.
Rock window on the Devils Slide trail
Trail 3E41 goes between the tree cut to connect to the PCT
Little Tahquitz Valley
Grey Tahquitz, walk around boulders to the left
The slopes were moderately steep, mostly open, and free of brush. I skirted below large boulders near the top and arrived at the summit with excellent views. The summit boulder was small and a register sat below it. When I first discovered Grey Tahquitz (aka Middle Tahquitz), it was a seldom visited place. Now, it seems to be more popular, and part of the standard trip to Red Tahquitz. After signing in, I continued along the ridge, staying as high as possible. There was a small dip to a saddle before I ran into the use trail to Red. The coloration of the rock around Red was true to the name. The summit boulders for Red were easy class 2 and the views more dramatic. I hunted around for a register without success. None of the peaks had benchmarks. Much of the summit area was burned from a fire a few years back. I took a break on Red and looked down on South Peak, only a mile away as the crow flies. The rugged ridge of the Desert Divide would not allow a direct approach.
Tahquitz from Grey
Red Tahquitz from Grey
Tahquitz and Grey from Red
Desert Divide
Close up of South Peak (top)
Instead of taking the use trail back down to the PCT, I decided to drop off the very steep east side of Red Tahquitz and pick up the PCT below. That drop was about 500' in a quarter mile. There were several varieties of ankle high ground cover that were more stable than the rocks. I tried to stay in the ground cover where possible, moving down slowly. I probably saved a mile or so of hiking, but not sure if I saved time. I reached the PCT and took another 30 minutes to reach the eastern base of South Peak. There was a faint use trail leaving the PCT and I followed it. Buckthorn was present on the use trail and a thorn in the ankle forced me to stop and remove it. I found red register cans on top of the summit boulder. The South Peak summit area was also in recovery from burn damage. The small trees on the summit all appeared dead. The view back toward the Tahquitz bowl was really something and I got a nice look at Antsell Rock from the north. It I ever return to the Desert Divide, it will be for to climb Antsell Rock again from the north. I ate lunch on South Peak and took a 5 minute nap in the sun. The weather was perfect and the days' effort was right in my sweet spot. On the way back, I stayed on the PCT all the way, picking up some new scenery. I met 4 people all day and was somewhat surprised to find open parking at Humber Park when I got back.
Dropping off Red
Antsell Rock from South Peak
Red Tahquitz from South Peak
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