Lincoln and Granite Peaks, Snake Range, NV

Harlan W. S.
Aug. 18-19, 2007

These two mountains are on the LVMC “Classic Peaks” list.

Initially, we planned to dayhike from Lincoln to Granite and back, along the ridge. Alas, the weather turned rather nasty, with cold rain and thunder on the day of the ridge hike, so we retreated quickly from Lincoln, and drove around to the east side, to climb Granite the next day.

33 years ago, I was chased off Lincoln Peak, NH in a thunderstorm; at the time, I was backpacking on the AT with my friend Tom. By uncanny coincidence, there was a Mount Washington and a Mount Moriah north of that Lincoln, as well.

For Lincoln: If you have a fairly normal vehicle, you’d best park at the Wheeler mine site, ~7750’, and walk up the road to Lincoln, for a long day. If you have a short-wheelbase 4WD, you can drive up the road (taking care not to overheat on the sharp switchbacks), to camp at 10750’.

For Granite: You should be able to drive a modest-clearance vehicle to 7750’ on the east side, via the Lexington Creek Road (see notes below).

This 100k map shows the approach to Lincoln on W, and Granite on E.	24k map with Lincoln GPS traces. We were able to get to a campsite at ~10750’ via AN’s Pathfinder.	View S to Lincoln in morning, ~7AM.
N toward Wheeler; hmmmm, clouds are thickening	Fireweed	View N after crossing timberline at ~11k
Buckwheat.	View S to Lincoln; AN at right.	View N, as clouds thicken, obscuring Wheeler.
AN come up the ridge at L.	AN and MAH come up the last ridge. Alien crop circles in valley to W.	Clouds are getting really dark.
	Descent: run for your lives! Thunderclaps are heard.	OK, so that day we drove around to the E side. We took the road on the S side of Preuss Reservoir, went west on the road to lexington Arch; then when the fork indicates a left turn to the Arch, we continued right (up Lexington Cr. NOT to the arch). There was a bad washout in the last few years, and one now must park at ~7750’.
The remnants of the Lexington Mill cabin, with a political statement.	The next day, we start up the ridge (N route in GPS track above).
	W to the actual summit of Granite (which is actually composed of sedimentary dolostone).
	View of Central Peak (R) and Wheeler-Jeff Davis to far N.	For the descent, we came directly down the easy talus and avalanche-cleared meadow (S GPS trace above).
Notch Mt Utah is in distance.