Boundary Peak
| Nevada |
Elevation: 13,143'
Vertical Gain: 4,226'
Vertical Gain: 4,226'
Date: August 12, 2007
Time: 10:35 PM
Time: 10:35 PM
Weather: Clear, cool, with
intermittent wind
Party: Bob, Kevin
intermittent wind
Party: Bob, Kevin
The day prior to summit day was a travel day from Flagstaff to the remote Boundary Peak
trailhead. We decided to take the longer route across the Extraterrestrial Highway. We didn't
see any aliens and Area 51 was nothing to look at so we had to settle for our picture next to the
alien sign - probably not worth an extra hour of driving! The remoteness of south-central
Nevada was interesting though. Kevin drove for two hours including the 100 miles of the ET
Highway where we saw only eight other cars which passed in the other direction. It was a
good thing we turned around to drive back five miles to get gas at what would be the last
station for 150 miles.
We easily found the dirt road turnoff that would lead 15 miles to the trailhead, however,
following it would not be as easy. We took a wrong turn that quickly became narrow and
rough. We almost got stuck trying to turn the car around after about a mile. At that point we
were glad Hertz substituted the Jeep Commander for the Highlander I had asked for.
(Fortunately, they also never noticed the scratches from the sagebrush in the sides!)
We set up the tent right next to the car between the cow patties. There was enough daylight
left to go for an explore and to go check out some animals in the distance which turned out to
be free range cattle. There was nobody around for miles and the stars were awesome!
We were surprised to wake up to 42 degrees in the desert terrain when it was over 100 degrees
down in the valley. It took a few prods to get Kevin going. We set off at 6:10 alongside a narrow
wooded section of the valley, managing to stay mostly on the main trail among the cattle trails
while proceeding up the drainage. We passed the cattle herd in the sagebrush and stayed left
on the main trail towards the scree field, missing an optional route further up the drainage to
the summit ridge. It was very difficult climbing the long scree slope to the North Ridge due to
the altitude, steepness, and the half a step backwards slide for every forward step. The views
were beautiful along the ridge up to the peak where we were feeling pretty tired.
Our descent was even more direct and we made good time by "scree skiing" down. We finally
saw some other people near the bottom of the scree field where I dumped a sizeable pile of
gravel out of my shoes and shortly after that came upon a herd of wild horses. We were back
at the car by 1:30 PM which was quite a bit faster round trip than most of the people in the log
book. This was an 8.57 mile route with 4:20 of actual moving time.
We were able to drive around the north side of the mountain into California, then south
through Bishop to Lone Pine by 4:45 to pick up our Whitney permits even with a quick stop to
wash our very dusty car. After a dinner at a Carl J's we headed up the road to Whitney Portal.
The temperature there was very comfortable compared to over 100 degrees in Lone Pine. We
had no problem getting a camp site despite lots of parked cars and only about 9 small tent
sites. This is in a very pretty little valley surrounded by imposing granite cliffs with a stream fed
by waterfalls. Sort of like a mini-Yosemite on the other side of the Sierras. There is not much
more than a camp store, some picnic areas, and some campgrounds just down the road.
trailhead. We decided to take the longer route across the Extraterrestrial Highway. We didn't
see any aliens and Area 51 was nothing to look at so we had to settle for our picture next to the
alien sign - probably not worth an extra hour of driving! The remoteness of south-central
Nevada was interesting though. Kevin drove for two hours including the 100 miles of the ET
Highway where we saw only eight other cars which passed in the other direction. It was a
good thing we turned around to drive back five miles to get gas at what would be the last
station for 150 miles.
We easily found the dirt road turnoff that would lead 15 miles to the trailhead, however,
following it would not be as easy. We took a wrong turn that quickly became narrow and
rough. We almost got stuck trying to turn the car around after about a mile. At that point we
were glad Hertz substituted the Jeep Commander for the Highlander I had asked for.
(Fortunately, they also never noticed the scratches from the sagebrush in the sides!)
We set up the tent right next to the car between the cow patties. There was enough daylight
left to go for an explore and to go check out some animals in the distance which turned out to
be free range cattle. There was nobody around for miles and the stars were awesome!
We were surprised to wake up to 42 degrees in the desert terrain when it was over 100 degrees
down in the valley. It took a few prods to get Kevin going. We set off at 6:10 alongside a narrow
wooded section of the valley, managing to stay mostly on the main trail among the cattle trails
while proceeding up the drainage. We passed the cattle herd in the sagebrush and stayed left
on the main trail towards the scree field, missing an optional route further up the drainage to
the summit ridge. It was very difficult climbing the long scree slope to the North Ridge due to
the altitude, steepness, and the half a step backwards slide for every forward step. The views
were beautiful along the ridge up to the peak where we were feeling pretty tired.
Our descent was even more direct and we made good time by "scree skiing" down. We finally
saw some other people near the bottom of the scree field where I dumped a sizeable pile of
gravel out of my shoes and shortly after that came upon a herd of wild horses. We were back
at the car by 1:30 PM which was quite a bit faster round trip than most of the people in the log
book. This was an 8.57 mile route with 4:20 of actual moving time.
We were able to drive around the north side of the mountain into California, then south
through Bishop to Lone Pine by 4:45 to pick up our Whitney permits even with a quick stop to
wash our very dusty car. After a dinner at a Carl J's we headed up the road to Whitney Portal.
The temperature there was very comfortable compared to over 100 degrees in Lone Pine. We
had no problem getting a camp site despite lots of parked cars and only about 9 small tent
sites. This is in a very pretty little valley surrounded by imposing granite cliffs with a stream fed
by waterfalls. Sort of like a mini-Yosemite on the other side of the Sierras. There is not much
more than a camp store, some picnic areas, and some campgrounds just down the road.
The lonely ET Highway. You can
see about 10 miles down the road.
see about 10 miles down the road.
The dirt approach road looking
west. The peak on the right is
Boundary, the one on the left is
in California.
west. The peak on the right is
Boundary, the one on the left is
in California.
We set up the tent right behind
the car amongst the cow patties.
the car amongst the cow patties.
Looking up the valley we would
hike the next morning.
hike the next morning.
Kevin wins the standoff with
a bull roaming the valley.
a bull roaming the valley.
Further up the valley. We were
warned not to bear too far to the
left or it will be tough.
warned not to bear too far to the
left or it will be tough.
Starting to get steep. Think we
went too far left?
went too far left?
We did get too far left! Kevin
navigates the loose scree field
navigates the loose scree field
Kevin navigating the north ridge...
and Bob at the top.
and Bob at the top.
This looks like a good nap spot!