Star,
Granite and
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100k map for the area around Star. One can take the Rye Patch exit and head N on good gravel roads, or head S from the next (more northern) exit. |
We camped at the end of the blue road track. We were able to drive ~ 900’ higher the next morn; the road was still good, but snow-covered and slippery at that point. |
The campsite was pretty, but a bit tough for pitching tents. Clouds began to build in the eve, and the rain started about midnight. Joel, Paul and Eric met us here the next morn. |
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The next morn (Saturday), we waited till after 9AM for a break in the clouds. It was clear to the W above Rye Patch Reservoir… |
…But the view to E was a bit grimmer. |
While the mountain is a mainly a big hill, the canyons can be quite rocky and wild. |
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We changed our plans a little because of the snow, and went a bit to the N to gain a grassy (now snow-covered) ridge, then traveled SE and SSE to summit. |
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View SSE. |
View SSW from summit. |
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Panorama mainly N |
Pano mainly S |
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Paul G |
Joel, Ed and Luba went a bit E of the summit to get out of the wind. |
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Then we drove up to
and Joel unerringly guided us to a hotspring. |
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We then drove N
from to a point S of Granite – which is covered in clouds in the picture! I set up and took down my tent in rain. |
Here’s the 100k map showing our road to the hot spring on Saturday, and our approach to Granite on Sunday. |
Here’s a 24k map for Sunday’s climb. We had snow at the pass W of Hinkey Summit |
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View back SE to the pass. |
Coming over our 1st rocky lump. |
The snow was a bit deeper as we went higher. Most of the time we were in a whiteout, but occasionally the sky would open a little for a hint of grand views. |
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This was an “Oh Sh*t” moment. This view is UP, W to the summit. Until the clouds parted more to the L, it appeared that our only option was to go up the steep, snow-covered chute at R. Joel found a class 2 bypass on the L, which was tricky with snow coating the rock. |
Folks come over the top. There are substantial drops to L and R. |
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View W along summit. There are big drops to L. |
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View N. |
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Let’s get outta Dodge! I wanted to get down before the snow softened too much. Once again, my beard was iced-over. |
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In about 5 minutes. we’ll be off the rocks! |
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The next day we started up Desatoya. from near Basque Summit. (100k topo; once again, blue is the road and red is the hike.) |
24k topo. The mountain is called “Desatoya Twins” as there is a N and a S summit, with the latter about 7’ higher. |
The snow varied greatly in depth. By ~8900’, I began to post-hole to my waist, so we headed off the “normal” route to an exposed ridge. Mercifully, we later found tracks from a climber who made the ascent 2 days before. |
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Marmot. |
The high Toiyabes are to the E. There was a bit of water in the normally-dry Smith Playa, and you could see the distant mountains reflected on that surface. |
Wild horses were on the ridge above 9300’. |
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Now we head SW up the N twin. Initially we went over the N twin, since the “shortcut” was covered with deep snow. |
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Paul comes up the S twin. I’m looking toward the N (slightly lower) peak. You can see the rest of our party on the N peak. |
View to the Toiyabes. |
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View SSE across the
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View SW to a peak in CA. |
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Paul, with the Toiyabes and Shoshones behind. |
Luba comes up, with snowy Mt Augusta in back. |
View to the Shoshones. |
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Joel celebrates. Eric had carried this heavy bottle! |
View back to S twin as we descend. |
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Luba comes over the SE shoulder of the N twin. By now the snow had softened. |
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View back to N twin. |
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This snow drift was quite deep. |
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My boot suffered a fairly catastrophic toe-tread detachment. Luckily I had 3mm neoprene socks. |
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