Star, Granite and Desatoya Peaks in Nevada (LVMC)

pics by Harlan W.S.
May 26-28, 2012

 

The weather and conditions turned these three county highpoints into more challenging jaunts.  The high predicted for the day we climbed Star, at 8800’

(well below the summit), was 27F; I’m sure we had colder temps, and my beard froze up. We had gusts to 40mph, and a steady wind of ~30mph for the descent.

The gpx file is here.  DO NOT open this file in your browser; save it to your desktop as gpx.  Use the gpx FILE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

 

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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.

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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.

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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…

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…But the view to E was a bit grimmer.

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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.

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View SSW from summit.

 

 

 

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Panorama mainly N

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Pano mainly S

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Paul G

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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 Paradise Valley,

and Joel unerringly guided us to a hotspring.

 

 

 

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We then drove N from Paradise Valley,

to a point S of Granite – which is covered

in clouds in the picture!  I set up and

took down my tent in rain.

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Here’s the 100k map showing our road

to the hot spring on Saturday, and our

approach to Granite on Sunday.

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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.

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Coming over our 1st rocky lump.

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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.

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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.)

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24k topo. The mountain is called

“Desatoya Twins” as there is a N and a

S summit, with the latter about 7’ higher.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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View to the Toiyabes.

 

 

 

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View SSE across the Shoshone Mountains.

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View SW to a peak in CA.

 

 

 

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Paul, with the Toiyabes and Shoshones behind.

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Luba comes up, with snowy Mt Augusta

in back.

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View to the Shoshones.

 

 

 

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Joel celebrates.  Eric had carried this

heavy bottle!

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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.