VABM Warm (Dry Mountain Quadrangle, CA, 15-min.) is an outstanding mountain because of its central setting in awesome Saline Valley, remoteness, and fine summit views. It is similar in these respects to Saline Peak, its 7063-ft. neighbor which is on, but unnamed on, the same quadrangle map. However, VABN Warm is much more challenging than Saline Peak because it requires a significantly longer climbing route and greater elevation gain than Saline Peak. The toad head for climbing VABM Warm is Lower Warm Springs in Saline Valley which makes four-wheel drive unnecessary.
A one-day solo climb revealed washes in colorful alluvial fans, black lava ridges, red and black cinder areas, deep precipitous canyons, and a high plateau which is a base for the summit. Summit views included the Panamint Range, Dry Mountain, Tin Mountain, VABM Blacktop, Saline Peak, entire Inyo Mountains, Ubehebe Peaks, Hunter Mountain massif, snowy White Mountains, and snowy Sierra Nevada peaks.
The climbing route taken to VABM Warm is traced on the accompanying topographic map which is a composite of the Dry Mountain and Waucoba Wash Quadrangle maps. The one-way distance from vehicle to summit is nine miles, the elevation difference is 4866-ft., and the route is a strenuous Class 2. A register was left. On brief winter days be prepared to start at dawn and return after dark; I started at. 0615 and returned at 2000 hrs. A radiant moon would be helpful since a moonless night on the black, rough, steep lava ridges can be like the inside of a darkened coal bin with its door shut. In pitch darkness it is difficult to locate Lower Warm Spring or Palm Spring on the way back.
The views from VABM Warm and Saline Peak compliment one another. I think that both are list quality mountains from the standpoint of setting and beauty.
| North Castle Butte, Dove Peak, and ? | Jan 30/78 (Private trip) |
After leaving the Avawatz-Kingston North DPS trip led by Gene Gail on Jan 28-29, Y's Hikers Max Tucker and Jack Gibbons and I drove to the Castle Peaks area near the Calif.-Nevada border (15' topo Crescent Peak, Calif-Nev). We camped near Indian Spring (no water) at the end of a labeled jeep road that most high-clearance, low-geared or auto-trans vehicles could negotiate, with care. We climbed an easy 3rd class route on the W side of North Castle Butte and found the first ascent of record on the peak to be that of Arkel Erb, Ed Lane, and others on 18 April 1964 during a DPS Mummy Peak trip. Most recent was Feb 12, 1971, by Abe and Helen Siemens. After going over and bagging the point on the SE we hiked over to and then climbed an easy class 4 route on Dove Peak (5829'). First ascent of record on the peak was a Y's Hikers trip (!!!) led by Wally Henry on April 1, 1969. Most recent was Jon Pettijean's on Nov 25, 1977. We were fascinated by a small green-moss lined fumarole near the summit. We skirted the next high point to the SW and continued to the southern butte, which appeared to be the most difficult to climb. Circling it's base, it looked like it would have to go 5th class. It's climb was not completed due to the late hour, but a ledge sloping up from right to left on the NE face was explored to the arete connecting a point on the SE with the main structure - a possible route. Climbing was hazardous on the loose volcanic breccia. Rain ended climbing in that area before we had a chance to, explore Hart Peak (5543'), a prominence only a few miles to the SE of the Castle Peaks. None of these appear on Gordon MacLeod's list of interesting unlisted peaks, but it seems to me that they qualify for that category. Maybe we should start a list of unlisted peaks that are not on a list. Dick Banner.