White Rock Hills & Tunnel Vision Pks, "Interesting" Route

Harlan WS
Jan 14, 2018

Thanks to Richard N for leading this "hike." I would not have found the down route on my own!  A GPX, which you use at your own risk, is here.
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I've been up White Rock Hills Peak (WRHP) many times, but this was my first time up the complete "Diamond Ridge" route. The route down over Tunnel Vision Peak (that summit has less than 100' prominence) was far more "interesting." On the way, down it was mentioned that the route had a few 1/8" cables... but I had no gloves, which gave rise to some novel brake methods. I picked a bad day to break in new shoes, which happened to be quite sloppy; even with the laces pulled completely tight, my feet were wobbling around inside the shoes.  I would recommend that if you take this descent, wear broken-in shoes and take abrasion-resistant gloves.

0map
Overview map.
1map
Google Earth synthetic,
view NW. The
underlying DEM
is inaccurate and
doesn't sync with
the satellite images
near Tunnel Vision.
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Early on, heading
WNW. We will
cut N (R) near the tower
at back of this valley.
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The tunnel. My
foot slipped and
Jim grabbed it.
Usually this section
poses no problem,
but I seemed too fat
today.
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Then I helped Jim
when his pack
got stuck!
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One ledge too low
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This looks more
like it
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Bridge from
WRHP
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NE to Madre and
Padre from WRHP
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Tunnel Vision
~E from WRHP
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WRHP behind
to W, from top
of Tunnel V
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From this point
on, I captured
few hairy views
because I found
pulling out and
focussing the
camera was
disorienting
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This was one
of the milder
downclimbs.
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This looked like
we were walking
off the edge, but
we cut L
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No way to
convey the sense
of exposure. We
went down an
arete in front of
Jim...
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The arete is
behind Barb.
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View back up (~WNW)
to peaks.
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How do you slow
yourself on a 1/8"
cable, with no
gloves? Well,
NOT by wrapping
the cable on your
arms.