| DESERT PEAK BAGGING TRIP | June 17 to July 4, 1993 |  |
WAUCOBA @ 11,123' - After a nice trip over Tioga Pass and a soak in Pulky's Pool" I camped out east of Big Pine at the junction of the Saline Valley Road and the road to Death Valley. Next morning, I met Jim Pritchard and Jim Duemmel from Seattle. Jim Prichard is an old desert peak bagger and a fellow climber from our McKinley climb. We parked 124 miles from the junction: We left at 8 am at 7300'. Jim Duemmel dropped out at 10 am due to the heat. Jim Pritchard and I climbed the 4000' slowly through nice Limber Pines (avoiding the mtn mahogany). Toward the summit, we saw Bristlecones growing right along with the Limber Pines. A ducked way leads one across the summit plateau to the top. Waucoba is the highest peak in the Inyo Range, even higher than Telescope Peak at 11,049'! We were on top at 12 noon. We could see the top of the Eureka Dunes but not the whole structure. This was my third attempt on Waucoba, so I was real glad to get this peak. It got quite hot on the way down, but no bugs and plenty of shade under the Limbers, Pinon, and Bristlecones. After the climb, we enjoyed a nice soak in Keogh Hot Ditch near Big Pine.
WHITE MTN PEAK @ 14,246' - We had a great (cooler) camp at 8500' off the road to the Patriarch Grove. We got up early, 6/20/93, and drove all the way to the gate. Got to about 12,600' ft and a massive series of Thunder and Lightning storms moved in from the South. Soon the whole Owns Valley was in storm and six lightning bolts hit our summit. We retreated at 10 am. While visiting the giant patriarch tree (36' in circumference) we had hail and heavy rains. The next day (6/21/93) we were up at 5 am. Left the gate at 7 am. LAB by 8 am and I was on the summit at 11 am. There is now a nice stone hut on top but it's for research only. I almost missed the register since it was south of the hut about 20' away!! I signed in and the two Jima signed in 1/2 hour later. This was my second time on White Mtn Peak. Great view down to the Owens Valley. It was cold up there. I actually hiked with a wind parka, sweaters and poly underwear. It is 14 miles round trip and 2500' elevation gain. They were doing research on the marmot colony near the gate. They were using a stencil and spraying numbers on them.
BEATTY HOT SPRINGS - Jim and Jim wanted to climb Mt. Jefferson and Arc Dome to the north. I wanted to attend the Earth First RRR (Round River Rendezvous) on Mt. Graham to the south. We split up. Beatty hot springs is still $2.00 complete with live peacocks.
MT. CHARLESTON - FLETCHER CANYON - While visiting Gary Vespernian, and old PCS member in Lost Wages) I took his roommate (Leslie) up a nice Limestone Canyon with a very high flow rate spring. My car air conditioner went out on this trip and stayed out for the rest of my desert ramblings.
MT. HUALAPAI (8420') - I had a great camp spot at 6000' (3000' above Kingman, AZ) with real Arizona walnut trees and Ponderosa Pines! Mt. Hualapai is all granite with rocky pinachos protruding from the main intrusive massive. Hualapai mountain park Is developed (cabins, etc.) but with 2300 acres running from 4984' to 8420'. There is plenty of room for a wild feeling. Mt Hualapal is a biological island way above the barren desert.
The ranger gives a nice map showing the trails and scenic points of the mountain. I hiked from 6814' at the lot to Aspen Peak (Class 3) at 8239'. I could see the summit off south of Hayden Peak at 8390'. I took the Hayden Peak south trail thinking it would go to Hayden Peak and I could bushwack to the summit. Guess what? The Hayden Peak south trail doesn't go to Hayden Peak. It only goes to an overlook