And -- speaking of eastern Nevada, I'd also urge people to consider Currant Mountain, for list inclusion; this was another of our July 4 trip climbs. This is the high point of the jagged White Pine Range--a rough limestone summit with no trivial approach. An excellent challenge, even more so if you include its climb as part of a traverse of the difficult ridge between Currant and the more northern Duckwater peak. Most of our group ducked out of the traverse when they stood on Currant and looked north toward Duckwater, but several of us persevered. Take a look next time you're around the White Pine Range Vicky Hooverand see if you don't agree it should be considered for our current list.

RE: Mt. Moriah (l2,050')

Dear Ron,

I wholeheartedly support the addition of Mt. Moriah in eastern Nevada's Snake Range to the list at' DPS peaks. I enjoyed a climb of the peak July 3-4 with a group led by Vicky Hoover. The Snake Range is best known for Wheeler Peak. However, writes John Hart in Hiking the Great Basin, "if Wheeler Peak were leveled tomorrow, the rest of the range would still be compelling, with great cliffs, lofty peaks, timberline forest, and precipitous canyons by the dozen. The separate northern section (with the Mt. Moriah Wilderness) is scarcely Less remarkable than the southern; it contains The Table, an 11,000' plateau covering more than 3 square miles."
Bristlecone Pine may be found at as low as 7,000'. There are various 4WD approaches to Mt. Moriah. The easiest, standard vehicle route (20 miles round trip) is via the Hendrys Creek trail, surely one of the lushest aras in the Great Basin, rich in riparian species. Higher up above the aspen stands are Douglas Fir, Juniper, and Limber and Bristlecone Pines. The summit views of the nearby high Table plateau, the desert far below, and in the distance of Wheeler Peak and the Schell Creek and Deep Creek Ranges are grand indeed.
I can find no reason for not adding Mt. Moriah to the DPS list and find numerous ones for doing so.
I also believe the Currant Mountain (11,513') in the White Pine Range near Ely also deserves designation as a DPS peak. This is a rugged, imposing, precipitous limestone crest, but presents no climbing problems (only minor route finding ones). Another fine example of a Great Basin desert/alpine peak.

Best regards,
Fred
Fred Johnson
 
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