W Monument from Lovell Canyon

(Near Vegas in NV).

pics by Harlan W. S.
April 11, 2010

 

First, thanks to all my compadres, who encouraged me to “keep looking” once I had given up on the chute.   Route is from Branch Whitney and Ed Forkos. Narrative at the bottom (eventually!). Other trips to Monument here and here.

 

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We actually drove to the west side

 of the limestone ridge from  Mountain

Springs; but you can approach this

from a better road off Lovell Canyon.

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This is a close-up of the previous map,

 showing a “mistake” that we made.  On the

way back, Len wondered aloud how

 we could possibly have missed the exposed

 traverse; answer: we mistakenly went below it!

aerial-crux

This google earth map shows the

chute one must take to reach the final

summit plateau. The blue shows the dead end.

The red shows the correct fork of the chute

(climber’s L); the magenta shows another way

I took over to the correct chute. The

 pink-and-blue dot shows the critical point

where one must cut L. The green asterisks show

the correct broken-top ponderosa pine (L)

and a ponderosa with a dead top (R).

 

 

 

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View W as we descend the limestone ridge.

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Suddenly, we are on the N end

of Monument, look at Bonnie Springs.

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The correct fork of the chute.

View NE and down.

 

 

 

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View SE.  Len is about to climb up

the wall.

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View SE, taken from near the 6252’ elevation

checkpoint (see map).  Peter B is atop

the highest peak; in front is a large tinaja.

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Doyle, Len, Teri and Lori head to the top.

 

 

 

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View roughly N. The dominant

sandstone peak is Wilson, but Far and

Indecision Peaks blend into the same mass

in this photo. Calico Hills and La Madre are

visible at R of Wilson.

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Susan comes up, after the

grand tour of the top.

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Group summit shot.

 

 

 

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Arrogance.

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Charleston (snowiest peak) and

Griffith.

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Spring Mt Ranch.

 

 

 

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Coming down from true summit (in back).

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View SE, after group has dropped down

wall by pinyon pine.

 

 

 

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View down chute, to NW.

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This is the critical point where one must jog

L on way down OR way up. View NW.

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Now the improbable traverse back on NE

side of peak; view NW

 

 

 

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More improbable traverse.

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…and magically, we are once again back at

the limestone ridge, with a view of Monument

(L) and Hidden Peaks (R, blends in) to E.

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View E over Sandstone Peak and

Rhodes Ridge.

 

 

 

 

OK, I’ll put some commentary here eventually!