Rumppah Point

Harlan W S
May 6, 2014

The official DPS "Pahrump Point" is just south of my humourously named "Rumppah." In 1986, it was determined that the point to the north -- indicated as higher on USGS maps -- was actually lower than the benchmarked Pahrump Point. When I climbed Pahrump Point in 2006, we looked north to this "other" peak and Luba suggested we call it "Rumppah." The northern peak sure looked interesting. I vowed I would climb it some day. I meant to traverse from Rumppah to the official DPS Pahrump Point... but alas, cold rain, snow, and thunder sent me scurrying back down. This peak is easier than the normal route to Pahrump Point; except for the last 50 vertical feet, which involve two unnerving serrated knife edges. There may be an easier route from directly west of Rumppah, but the rain kept me from investigating.

Rumppah had no obvious register, only a rough cairn.

Here's the map of my route. The last traverse to Pahrump Point may involve some rope work.	These are the peaks as seen from Stewart Point across the valley. PP is the DPS Pahrump Point.	...and here's a view of "Rumppah" from Pahrump Point, view N. It would likely be easier to traverse N.
First view of the pre-peaks-- actual summit is behond these lumps.	As I crested the ridge, two bighorns ran away.	More of the bighorns.
	View S over the normal route up Pahrump Point.	On the last class 1-2 section I found this cross welded out of square steel tube. Why didn't they carry it to the true top?
Well. it's not obvious in this photo (where all rock blends together) but there are two attention-getting knife-edges along the way to Rumppah.	I'm looking E over one downclimb (I later found a way around this). It's perhaps not obvious, but you could fall about 500' here.	View S across next knife.
View back N to the peak with the cross.	View S. I later climbed down from here, but ran into a cliff.	View back over N peak (where cross is located, out of view).
View S to DPS Pahrump Point.	A wider view.	View N, didn't have time to stretch.
I climbed down to west, ended up over a cliff. The cold rain kept me from more exploration.	Climb back up to N.	Over the edge again -- it all blends in for the photo.
The N-most peaklet.	View back to S (higher) peak.	The cross again.
Now I head N on the ridge, intending to try a canyon descent.	Penstemon.	The east side is an immense cliff.
	View back S.
	View back S.	Beavertail cactus flower.
Barrel cactus flower.	Sorry for the drops on lense-- rain is more intense.
After this easy dryfall. I hit a 30-50' dryfall with no easy downclimb, so I turned around.