Distance: 15 miles round trip on trail and cross country
Summit Elevation: Deadwood (9846')
Prominence: 1366'
Elevation Gain: 2750'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.2
Round trip time: 8 hours 45 minutes
Recommended water: 112 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at Incline Drive parking lot
Difficulty: Strenuous (route finding, snow)
Leisa and I drove to Kirkwood, about an hour south of Tahoe, to continue our Sierra adventures. We believed that the snow there would be more forgiving than the harsher, higher Sierra. While our assumption held true in general, the mountains had their own tales to tell. Our inaugural hike led us to the summit of Deadwood Peak, standing proud at 9,846 feet. A trail from Upper Blue Lake meandered close to the mountain, but the final ascent to the peak was pathless. As if to foreshadow the challenges that lay ahead, we found the way to Upper Blue Lake barred, and were compelled to leave our vehicle at Lower Blue Lake. This added an unexpected 3.5 miles to our trip, but we were not to be deterred. We crossed a bridge over a babbling stream, and a sign guided us to the end of a berm. We searched for the trail's beginning, but found no signs, no traces of a path. GPS assured us that the trail began here, but it lay hidden beneath piles of snow. We were not disheartened. We strapped on microspikes and plunged into what I fondly referred to as "the moguls." We navigated through the snow mounds, some standing three feet tall, others reaching up to seven, weaving our way between the trees. In a twist of irony, we stumbled upon a sign that read "Hiking Trail." We were on the right path, but the trail was nowhere to be seen. The moguls proved treacherous, with the threat of collapsing snow near the trees and rivulets of water where the snow had melted. After half a mile of this challenging terrain, we emerged from the dense forest, the snow receding into sheets. Yet, the snow was not our only adversary. The trail, when we could find it, was littered with fallen trees and branches, or transformed into running streams. We reached Granite Lake and the snow wrapped around it. Beyond the lake, the trail was a little easier to follow.
Conditions began to favor us, and we found ourselves donning and doffing our spikes as the terrain dictated. The landscape unfurled around us, revealing mountains partially veiled by snow. Deadwood Peak loomed in the distance, its highest point elusive. As we neared the mountain, we were faced with a choice: to ascend via the eastern ridge or to aim for a gully closer to the summit. Both paths were adorned with snow. The eastern ridge appeared more navigable. We navigated just above the snow field, crossing it only where a break allowed. The ridge grew steeper, and we carefully made our way upwards, only to discover that we had not yet reached the summit. The true peak now lay before us, a quarter mile away. We persevered along the ridge, conquering the final few hundred feet to the summit, where a small cairn and a register jar awaited us. The last signature dated back to June of 2021. We added our names to the list and reveled in the panoramic views. Our descent led us down a gully on the other side, down to the saddle between Deadwood and a western spur that seemed almost as high. The spur intrigued me. Leisa waited at the saddle as I left my pack behind and embarked on a quick round trip. I had anticipated a class 3 block at the spur, but found it to be a class 1 climb. Another register awaited me at the top, and I signed my name once again. As we continued our descent, we navigated around the snow in the gully, hopping from rock to rock to rejoin the trail. We retraced our steps, donning our spikes as needed. The hike had taken us several hours longer than anticipated, and we found ourselves stopping at one of the lakes to filter water, of which there was no shortage. Leisa led us back through the moguls, and we breathed a sigh of relief as we returned to the road. We made our way back to Lower Blue Lake, celebrating our triumph with burgers and nachos at the Kirkwood Inn. The journey to Deadwood under such conditions, was a test of physical endurance and mental fortitude. I was particularly struck by Leisa's grit. She truly is a force.
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