Sunday, August 26, 2018

Pointless Peak

During my hike up Half Moon Pass a few couple of weeks ago I admired nearby Pointless Peak, so I studied the maps, did a little research and settled on an ascent of the ridge ENE of the summit.

Pointless Peak on the right over Serene Lake. There's no distinct high point hence - it's Pointless!

I roped my friend Ann and her intrepid dog Olive and off we went. I perhaps should have done a little more research on the approach as we wandered around for a bit to start.  We came across this amazing Juniper though. 

Alas our route came into view. We scrambled up above the cliffs along the tree/rock line.

A ways up the ridge we got to look straight down to Patricia Lake.

Ann peers over the edge.

The ridge proved to be a decent route. The lower section was more treed than we anticipated but with only a little bush whacking. The only difficulty arose near the skyline of the above pic. To continue directly on the ridge requires a section of class 3 with a couple of class 4 moves. We avoided that by down climbing a short pitch of steep class 3 into a broad chute that leads to the summit. Easy for us. Not so easy for Olive. We coaxed her down and she handled it like a champ!

Beautiful bouquet!

Big view of Little Lakes Valley.

Ann and Olive approach the summit cairn.

Looking back towards Mt Abbot and Mono Pass.

Rugged Red and White Mountain pokes up.

White Mountain rises over Wheeler Ridge.

Another view of Little Lakes Valley from the summit plateau.

Ann checks out a balanced rock near a big drop off.

One of the high Hilton Lakes

Hilton Lakes with Lake Crowley and Long Valley in the distance.

Olive and Ann enjoy the big blocks!

Half Moon Pass center. The class 3 route from the plateau to the pass looked good, but we decided not to chance it with Olive on board.

So we descended one of the chutes straight down toward Rock Creek Lake.

Happy Olive emerges from the chute in a purple halo.

Super fun day!

Thursday, August 23, 2018

White Mountains Bikepack/Patriarch Grove

Leaving my "home". 

I can't help but wonder about this structure. There are two rooms. The small one I camped in on the left and the larger one on the right. The center wall is well constructed with tight fitting, well placed rocks while the left wall is full of gaps and is a bit shaky. In the back of the small room is a fireplace with a chimney. There are a fair amount of rusty cans and a little broken glass here. Lot's of obsidian chips are found too. No doubt this spot has been inhabited off and on for quite a long time.

Rolling out on a quiet road in a spectacular setting is a great feeling!

I felt good, so I took a detour to the Patriarch Bristlecone Grove.


Surprisingly I had the place to myself. I ambled about for a good while just soaking it all in!


Riding back out to the truck was blissful too.

Wonderful trip!

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Piute Mountain Hike

After a tough ride the day before I decided to go on a relatively easy hike up neighboring Piute Mountain.

At my camp site there are several rock foundations indicating a prior structure. I imagine some were Piute, some were built by sheepherders, and some perhaps by miners.

An early view towards Mammoth and the Ritter Range.

Loved the wide open vistas!

Piute Mountain, my destination, back left.

I came across these concentric rock circles.

Perhaps a Piute religious site?

A small rock shelter.

A view over towards the Bishop skyline.

Piute Mountain

The Palisades out beyond the Owens Valley.

The broad valley between Piute and Sheep Mountains.

The hazy view to the east and the Silver Peak Range.

The high altitude flora is amazing!

Bishop is the green patch center. Taken from the summit.

Sheep Mountain.

Looking back toward White Mountain. 



Magical!

White Mountain Bikepack

I recently bought a fat bike, a Surly Pugsley, and some bikepacking gear with an eye toward adventure. First on the "to do" list was a trip into the White Mountains.

I started the trip where the pavement ends near Schulman Grove. After a few miles I got a good view of the terrain ahead for the day. 

Just north of the head of Silver Canyon the road twists along the ridgeline.

The next section climbs moderately toward head of Crooked Creek.

Beyond Crooked Creek. Campito Mountain (center). The road tilts up dramatically although it is paved up to the Patriarch Grove turn off.

Starting to get into the stark, beautiful high country.

A lone Bristlecone colonizer!

After the Patriarch Grove turnoff the road continues to climb steeply.

None too quickly I found myself in this vast terrain north of Sheep Mountain.

White Mountain looming in the distance.

Amazing scenery.

I stopped to check out Lamb Camp.
 
The first view of my home for the next two nights.

I had "found" this little pond on Google Earth but wasn't certain it always held water. I was quite elated to find it brimming full.

A nearby rock shelter protected me from the wind.

And the sun!

 After dinner I went for an evening stroll.

 


Magnificent!