Nopah Peak & Highpoint, CA

pics by Harlan W.S. + Matt R.
Dec 10, 2011

This is not the “traditional” way to Nopah; this longer, but less-elevation-gain way is accessible by a passenger car, and is more suitable for those traveling from Vegas, than the DPS routes on the west side of the peak. In addition, this route comes to the ridge between the two peaks (the sharper Nopah Peak, and the Nopah Range Highpoint), and both can be tagged from one common route, for a long day (16 miles RT). I took a variation of this route in 2006, c.f. for more directions.

The end of the route. The descent route is probably better, and is class 2. The ascent has some class 3 stretches.	The first part of the trip is over a featureless bajada, with relatively sparse brush; at the point shown, the route starts to hit small dryfalls and boulder-hopping is required.
	On the ascent route.
View SE as we hit the ridgeline between the 2 summits.	Now we start up Nopah Peak, the northern summit; the cliffs on the NE side are pretty impressive.	Matt follows, Charleston in back.
View N from Peak. Pahrump Point in distance.		View S to HIGHpoint, our next goal.
Panorama, from WNW to NNE.		Toward Telescope, over Death Valley.
		View back on Peak… now we head over to Highpoint…
And arrive magically! We view the Peak over Joel’s head.	View S over Anji, to Kingston.
Panorama.	Peak again!	Anjii asked me if I was cold.
	Ready to start down! This route requires that you deviate from the ridgeline L (N) a few places, to avoid cliffs.
		Back to bajada, Kingston in distance.
Maybe 30 minutes before sunset, almost at the car.