Meeker Peak NV (In Worthington Range) 8768'

pics by Harlan W. S. & M. Ali H.
May 16, 2010

We originally planned to explore Leviathan Cave in the same trip, but an unintended detour and an injury caused us to adjust our plans. We had agreed to try a “safe” route east up the wash, but both of us were struck with a Las Vegas-style gambling attitude, and we tried a promising-looking ridge… that turned out to have a 100’-high gap. So we gained nearly 1000’ we had to lose to get back on the safe route. Then near 7700’, Ali wrenched his back badly. Incredibly, he chose to continue the climb, even though he was clearly in agony at times.

The letters on the map correspond, roughly, to the letters in photo captions.	View N from route 375 (the “Extraterrestrial Highway”). Meeker presents a sharp, imposing Profile.	Our campsite at 5750’ was pleasant but stark. Location A.
View SW from above campsite.	The peak was not visible from the campsite, but this view tempted us to try a direct route up the ridge, rather than the sane route up the gully at L.	Ali photographed the sunset (I was already asleep in my tent).
Evening primrose.	Next day, crazed with Las Vegas gambling spirit, we head toward point B.	A view back W from the ridge at B. I turned E, sure of success… then hit a big drop between sections of the ridge.
View WNW, near B; note me, the tiny figure at R. I had just been on top of the rock at L.	So we downclimbed back to the wash.	Now we’re near C, heading up the wash.
Near C.	Now near D, we see a notch through the cliffs on the S side of the wash.	Now we are at the notch (point E) visible in the last photo. View N.
Near F, Ali negotiates some mild Class 3.	View SW near F.	View SSE near G. The peak is at R. We began to see snow on N-facing slopes at ~7700’, and I used the snow to augment my water supply. The peak is rimmed by cliff bands, but there is one class2/3 chute on the SW side.
Near G.	I’m near H, the top of the peak. Ali (below) left his trekking poles near the base of the cliff band, and is getting back spasms.
	On top (H); view N to Grant Range and snow-covered Troy Peak.
	The return, side-hilling near I.	Out-of-order picture; Down-climbing E of point G.
Side-hilling, tough on Ali’s back.	MORE side-hilling.
Back above point E, view N. Worthington is the N-most peak in This range.	View W, descending the steep, unstable talus near point J.	View back up at notch (point E), from near point J.
Yellow cryptanths (forget-me-not).	At point K, we look back up to point B, and wonder what the heck we were thinking.	White-and-yellow cryptanths (forget-me-not).
A mini-vetch?	Fremont phacelia.	Globe mallows.
While driving back, we stop to photograph the summit ( from point L, not on map); this is a zoom, showing the break (class 2/3) on the SW side of the summit block.	…and this is the non-zoomed view of the mountain (E from point L).