Crescent & Hart Peaks, NV & CA

Harlan W. S.
January 7, 2007

This was supposed to be a quick, late trip to explore the gravel road in this area. The mountains were sidelights – I spent 55 minutes climbing each – intended to provide better views. The day was cold and VERY windy; I was repeatedly thrown off-balance while attempting my signature self-portaits.

There are faster ways up each peak; but on Crescent, the fastest routes probably involve trespassing, and on Hart, the route is so short, why would you want a faster path? Crescent had surprisingly pleasant views, and the last visitor came 3 years before.

Route 164 is known as the “Joshua Tree Highway”, an apt name.

This 1:250k map shows the general area. Route 164 was straightened after the map was made.	1:24k map with GPS trace to Crescent Peak.	View east to Crescent Peak, near where I parked.
Clark Mt. to W.	Castle Peak, NV to NE.	Castle Peaks, CA to S.
	View S to New York Mts.	The descent. View back N on easy Class1-2.
Ice; a bit colder than I realized for my log entry.	Next, a view of Hart to S, as I drive down Walking Box Rd.	A GPS trace of the Hart trip. The descent route, with blue dots, Is probably navigable in a 4x4 to 4700’.
View V from the pass at 4700’.	View back SW.	View SE.
Castle Peaks, CA to W.
New York Mts. To SW.	Flow-banded rhyolite near summit.
One of many windows.