7/28/2024 Route: Southwest Ridge Ascent, Northwest Ridge Descent Posted On: 7/29/2024, By: supranihilest Info: The hardest part about this peak is how much bushwhacking there is. I parked at the bottom of FS-317.2B (Rustler Gulch Road) and walked the road for about one mile before heading east and dropping 80 feet into the creek bed draining Rustler Gulch, crossing on a large tree over the creek. From the second I left the road until 11,400 feet on the southwest ridge it was a bushwhack with thick, lush plants about shoulder height on me (5' 3"). There were minimal downed trees in the forested sections but the plants were slow going. At about 11,400 or so on the southwest ridge things transition abruptly to talus which doesn't relent until the summit. I was hoping for some scrambling along this ridge but only got teensy bits of pretty crummy Class 2+. You could squeeze out more but it'd be pretty contrived. Otherwise it's just steep Class 2 talus the whole way up. I descended the northwest ridge which was a lot easier, purely Class 2 scree or grass, and not as steep. I didn't descend the full ridge, instead dropping west at a low saddle where the rock transitioned from white to orange. The rest of the hike back to the road was pretty unpleasant - steep dirt obscured by the same plants I encountered on the ascent. I couldn't see the ground for a lot of it due to how thick the plants were which made for slow progress. Not difficult or anything, just tedious. The creek crossing was more difficult higher up in the gulch since I couldn't find a good crossing and got one foot wet. The trail had some downed trees on it. |
