Providence Peak (BM) and Sharp Peaklet

pics by Harlan W.S.
Mar 13, 2011

This hike was about 9.5 miles RT, ~3000' accumulated elevation gain. We pretty much did the trip as described by Zdon; if I did it again, I would just go up the dotted line marked on the second map, to avoid the densest brush. Lots and lots of prickly plants, the way we went! I've been in this area 3 times before ([1], [2], [3]) and the prickly plants are characteristic.

This trip would be deathly hot in the late spring, summer, and early fall. There is no dependable water, though the stream we crossed is probably flowing much of the year. We did drop a handline in a few places, but most could be avoided; the trek to the main peak need not be worse than class 2. However, the sharp peaklet has class 3 with shaky rock and some big exposure on the last knife edge.

Relief map with shading.	A clearer topo with an alternate route.	This view W was taken from a point just W of the "prospects" marked on the map.
Water in the Mojave! Eric receives instructions from the Supreme Being.		Kay approaches one climb.
		Now we're ~ 1850 m, just E of the "U" (in "mountains") on the map.
	Amazingly enough, someone had been on this little-traveled peak the day before-- we saw his prints.
	Mitchell and Edgar in back. Arrogance!	Mitchell and Edgar again.

Now I'm looking down from the top of the sharp peaklet ("Decaying Molar" Peak) at Kevin, who tries an alternate chute.	View W at Matt as he comes over edge. Note Kelso Dunes to R. He found a large teetering rock on the very edge.
Now I head down across the edge and get a view back at (L to R) Matt, Eric and Kevin.		A better idea of the exposure.

HTMM is on R with the full "Decaying Molar" peak to N.		Jeff pauses to wonder if it would be faster to jump off the cliffs on the W side.
Matt imitating Don B.		View up a dryfall we ascended in the morn (we avoided it on descent, as it was slippery). I realized it was a basaltic dike eroded down between two granitic slabs.
More water in the desert!	Eric pumps water for Kevin.	Turpentine bush.
Granite in back; we're close to the cars.