Great hike up the ridge, with the classic loose rock of Death Valley summits. No one had signed the register in three weeks, with only a few names in the months before that. I see that several fellow Summit Posters left some of those signatures. Ascended a loose, reddish gully to the low saddle of white quartzite, then up the southeast ridge. The descent included a bit of improvisation, particularly on the exposed upper ridge of black basaltic rock. Exciting!
MoapaPk - Oct 16, 2006 1:04 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2006
SE Ridge, sort of
First to sign register since April 15. I am surprised how few people climb this mountain in the summer. Why is that?
Snow (dusting) on Telescope; much snow on Charleston > 10800'; much-much on the SierraSSSS to the west.
Saw Wingding's and Dingus Milque Toast sigs on top... plus the Roachs', and Nevada Bob Greer's.
I'm not sure I took the correct route up. Instead of the rightmost saddle, I went directly up to the white-quartzite saddle at 4600'. I don't think this was so great a choice, as the rock was loose and steep.
Left Vegas ~7:30, at trailhead 9:15, at top 11:35.
PS. Didn't see Wingding's hat. My guess: look in Utah!
BranchWhitney - Feb 18, 2006 7:23 am Date Climbed: Feb 16, 2006
Route Climbed: SW Ridge
The SW ridge has a much shorter walk across the desert than the SE ridge. Great views from the summit.
Route Climbed: Southwest/West Ridge (ascent) / SE Ridge (descent) Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2005
Followed the ridge from Travertine Point along Hwy 190: Along the next ridge to the south of Pt 4420, north to Pt 6050, and then east to Pyramid. The west ridge was a little disappointing, mostly class 2 with only a short section of third class required. But it has excellent views to (somewhat) compensate--I think a good deal better than those seen on the SE Ridge. And if you don't go up there expecting a route that's "not for the squeamish" (as one register entry had curiously proclaimed), it might even be quite enjoyable.
The cloud layer began at about 6,500ft, so (like the day before on Nopah) I didn't have any summit views. I'll have to see if I can find a more interesting way up to the summit on a clear day to check them out. Seems like the south side might offer a class 3 route up...
Wanted to get this one for awhile, but that damn road closure kept me away. As soon as the weather cooled, I knocked it off. Death Valley never lets me down - and this experience was no exception.
alpspitze - May 4, 2010 11:14 am Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2010
Nice Death Vally PeakNice hike but real windy.
DougHemken - Jan 19, 2010 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jan 9, 2010
Brilliant winter dayGreat views
Kadee - Nov 10, 2008 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Mar 9, 2008
SE RidgeGreat hike - I was so excited to be in Death Valley. Very good summit views - amazing area!
Noondueler - Nov 7, 2008 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2002
Good weather, clear viewsGot some good shots all around.
Dennis Poulin - Mar 4, 2008 4:05 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2008
SE RidgeBeautiful day for a hike. I had the mountain to myself.
Vagabond Manifesto - Mar 13, 2007 3:30 am Date Climbed: Feb 12, 2007
Funeral MountainsGreat hike up the ridge, with the classic loose rock of Death Valley summits. No one had signed the register in three weeks, with only a few names in the months before that. I see that several fellow Summit Posters left some of those signatures. Ascended a loose, reddish gully to the low saddle of white quartzite, then up the southeast ridge. The descent included a bit of improvisation, particularly on the exposed upper ridge of black basaltic rock. Exciting!
MoapaPk - Oct 16, 2006 1:04 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2006
SE Ridge, sort ofFirst to sign register since April 15. I am surprised how few people climb this mountain in the summer. Why is that?
Snow (dusting) on Telescope; much snow on Charleston > 10800'; much-much on the SierraSSSS to the west.
Saw Wingding's and Dingus Milque Toast sigs on top... plus the Roachs', and Nevada Bob Greer's.
I'm not sure I took the correct route up. Instead of the rightmost saddle, I went directly up to the white-quartzite saddle at 4600'. I don't think this was so great a choice, as the rock was loose and steep.
Left Vegas ~7:30, at trailhead 9:15, at top 11:35.
PS. Didn't see Wingding's hat. My guess: look in Utah!
BranchWhitney - Feb 18, 2006 7:23 am Date Climbed: Feb 16, 2006
Route Climbed: SW RidgeThe SW ridge has a much shorter walk across the desert than the SE ridge. Great views from the summit.
Matthew Holliman - Dec 20, 2005 12:03 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest/West Ridge (ascent) / SE Ridge (descent) Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2005Followed the ridge from Travertine Point along Hwy 190: Along the next ridge to the south of Pt 4420, north to Pt 6050, and then east to Pyramid. The west ridge was a little disappointing, mostly class 2 with only a short section of third class required. But it has excellent views to (somewhat) compensate--I think a good deal better than those seen on the SE Ridge. And if you don't go up there expecting a route that's "not for the squeamish" (as one register entry had curiously proclaimed), it might even be quite enjoyable.
The cloud layer began at about 6,500ft, so (like the day before on Nopah) I didn't have any summit views. I'll have to see if I can find a more interesting way up to the summit on a clear day to check them out. Seems like the south side might offer a class 3 route up...
mdash - Nov 27, 2005 9:40 pm
Route Climbed: Somewhere near the SE ridge? Date Climbed: November 25, 2005Got up somehow--sure wasn't class 1-2! Spectacular scenery--Death Valley is a constant surprise. So beautiful!
cp0915 - Nov 8, 2005 6:08 pm
Route Climbed: SE Ridge Date Climbed: Oct05Wanted to get this one for awhile, but that damn road closure kept me away. As soon as the weather cooled, I knocked it off. Death Valley never lets me down - and this experience was no exception.