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Chemehuevi Peak & Stepladder Mtn.
January 23-24, 1993 Leaders: Larry Tidball & Barbee Hoffmann |
The hike across the desert brought comments on how green the desert was. On arriving at the base of the mountains. I was deceived by the flat lighting from the sun rising behind the peak, and distracted by the running water in the creek. In following the creek up the canyon it eventually became apparent that we were one canyon too far to the West. However, our false canyon had a running creek, a spring gushing a stream of water 2" in diameter horizontally out of the rock side wail of the canyon, and a 50' high running waterfall. Just above this waterfall, an easy saddle led us over the narrow ridge separating us from the correct canyon to our right A 100' loss from the saddle put us in the canyon which we followed up to the saddle at 3120'. From the saddle an easy scramble led to the summit where sheltered from the wind we ate lunch and looked out towards Havasu and the River.
After the climb we drove over to the Turtle Mountain Road to locate a campsite Five miles or so in on this road, it is crossed by a sandy wash. Concerned about the passenger cars going further, we chose to camp on the East side of the wash where trees gave some shelter from the wind. In fact we found a spot for the campfire in the wash that was completely out of the wind.
In the morning we consolidated into the one available 4WD and a 2WD pick up for the rest of the drive into the trailhead for Stepladder. If the road was in bad shape ahead, I didn't want to have more than one car to worry about pulling out. Barbee led us across the desert, up the wash and then the zig-zag ledges to the summit ridge. From the notch in the ridge, Barbee looked right to the northern most summit as indicated by the 3rd edition Peak Guide. Having been there before, I led the group south to the central summit confining the register. From this point, it seems that the northern summit is lower. The new Peak Guide reports that the USGS thinks that the northern summit is higher. Our newcomers were happy to reach a summit, the class 2-3 scrambling being new to them. Where is the correct high point?
Although the group turned out to be a small one, the weather held, and we all had a good time.
Ten hardy Desert Peakers met 7:30 at Death Valley Junction & after driving up not-quite-the-right-dirt road, were hiking towards Pyramid by 8:20. The day was consistently cool, "good for climbing"-except for the chill of wetness from exertion. Views were excellent of Telescope & Charleston, whose major snow cover was echoed in small patches near the summit of Pyramid. Despite our easy pace both up & down, we were back to cars by 3:50 pm (1550). Paula & Bruce Peterson needed to leave for home (enjoyed your company on the climb). The rest of us met later at Mud Flats, round a campfire-after the promised & pleasant visit to Tecopa Hot Springs.
Karen, Patty Kline, Alice Cahill (& Tom Moumblow?) liked their dinner and margaritas at the cafe in Shoshone. I was treated to Mirna & Greg Roach's hospitality, in the form of Mirna's delicious, totally fresh chili & fresh salsa (thanks, again?). Later, Dale Van D., Judy Ware & others from their group convivially joined us by the fire.
Sun morning, joined by David Hammond (from Tucson), eight of us set off for Pahrump (Alice had left to photograph in DV). On the trail at 8:30, topping out about 11:30 & getting the first raindrops just as we were starting down. Sporadically, drops turned to showers, which didn't dampen our enjoyment of the descent (speaking for myself). Back to cars by 2:30. John McCully, solo scouting the canyon descent just SW of ours, beat us down by 20 minutes--and did not recommend his route as an alternate.
Thanks to all for your contributions to a fine weekend, and especially to Karen for her excellent assistance. AW