Keynot in CA Inyos (1.95x) and Corkscrew in Death Valley (4x)

Exactly 4 years before, I was part of a large, friendly group attempting to climb Keynot and Inyo Peaks,  We were turned back on Keynot, just shy of the top, by 1' of powder snow on steeply-sloped ice and frozen dirt.

So 4 years later, I tried a quick solo to Keynot.  There was much less snow, though there was frozen ground. I made the 6000' of gain to the summit in 4h 20m, in much safer conditions. Yet I wouldn't trade the 2010 experience for the world; I met great people and learned how to deal with dicey conditions, and most of all, learned to make an important decision: to live and keep others alive.

I met a nice wildlife biologist Mike on the 2014 trip, and he later helped me change a flat.

I was a bit more cautious wth my new car after the flat, so I stayed in Lone Pine and had dinner with my kind friend Laura. Next day I drove to Death Valley, camped at Furnace Creek, and got to join another friend, Paul, for a DPS list-finish trip to Corkscrew.

Harlan W S
Oct 30 and Nov 2, 2014

0keyn
On Oct 29, I drove up to about 5200'
on Keynot, to familiarize myself with
the route I would drive (in the dark)
the next morn.		 DSCN7602
I parked at the same place I had stopped
in 2010, travelling then in my 2003
Subaru Wagon; but the road had
since deterorated, so even though I
now had a Jeep Trailhawk, I decided I
was not yet familiar enough with the
new car to risk the last 1/4 mile...		 DSCN7604
...which was pretty crappy!  The next
morn I parked the same place, but
pulled farther off the road to allow
another fellow to park... and ran
over a cactus that punctured a
sidewall!
DSCN7606_stitch
I came up the ridge S of Union Wash;
this view is from ~8000', W to the Sierra.
4 years before, the Sierra were
 much snowier.
 DSCN7608 DSCN7612
Now I'm on the ridge between
Keynot and Inyo, headng S. I cached
20 oz water between the peaks.
DSCN7614
A view S to Keynot.  There is a rough,
 rocky section of the ridge, where one
normally raverses on the E side to
avoid technial climbs.		 DSCN7617_stitch
View N from the summit.		 DSCN7620_stitch
View S to NY Butte.
DSCN7622 DSCN7625
View SW over possible highest
point. I looked all around for a register,
but it seems to have gon missing.		 DSCN7626
DSCN7627
Selfie, while I try to hold onto my
hat in the wind.		 DSCN7629_stitch DSCN7634
DSCN7638_stitch DSCN7639 DSCN7642
DSCN7643
The snow was mainly inconvenient,
 but my occasional slips made me
 realize how wise we were to turn
back 4 years before.		 DSCN7646
Down below 9300'.		 DSCN7647
DSCN7649
Over to the S is a scree ridge one can
"ski" down; unfortunately, it didn't
lead back to my car!		 DSCN7652
Next day I had a leisurely drive to
DV (Death Valley); I might have
climbed Manly Beacon, except it
was 93F!		 DSCN7656
I had a good spot at Furnace Creek,
except there were very noisy people
nearby at 2AM! This has happened
on 4 nights at that camground,
but earplugs have saved he night!
DSCN7657cork1
The group was large, maybe 40, so we
split into 2 subgroups. My group went
up the pleasant, eastern use tail.		 DSCN7658 DSCN7661
Corkscrew in sight!
DSCN7663
Jen tests the rules for SC 'S" rating.		 DSCN7665_stitch
On top!		 DSCN7666
View toward Thimble. Mark and Craig
bent over in a split second, so I
got this ambiguous shot.
DSCN7667 DSCN7668 DSCN7669
View S.
DSCN7670 DSCN7671 DSCN7674
DSCN7675 DSCN7677 DSCN7678
DSCN7681
Bighorn sheep near the road.		 DSCN7685
It snowed on higher ridges the night
 of Nov 1-2, and Telescope Peak
was coated in white by morn.