Willow Peak over 9 Years

Pics by Harlan W S & Nick N
June 24, 2012; June 2009 and April 2003

The blue-framed pics are from the 2012 LVMC trip, which started in Cold Creek; the orange-framed pics are from a snow trip that Nick and I took in April 2003; and the green-framed pics are from a very quick trip in 2009. The 2003 and 2009 trips started from Wheeler Pass at the opposite end of the ridge (from Cold Creek). I also went part of the way in 2004, just to “complete” the ridge traverse that Nick and I had started in 2003.

A Willow hike from Cold Creek is described in the1997 book “Hiking Las Vegas,” by Branch Whitney. However, the 1997 description differed substantially from the LVMC route. The latter stays on the top of the rocky ridge where possible, requiring some spirited class 3 climbing in near-vertical (but very frictional) chutes, and minimizes side-hilling on unstable, steep talus. The LVMC route requires 11.2 miles RT, and 4000’ of accumulated elevation gain. No peak on the route has more than 150’ of prominence, but there are many, many up-and-down sections.

The map shows the hike from Cold Creek in red, and the hike in from Wheeler Pass in magenta. The Wheeler Pass road is in blue.	We saw lots of horses, but unfortunately no one got pictures of the 4 elk that we saw..	Now we’re at the top of the ridge, where the trail cuts SE to Bonanza Peak. We are about to leave the trail and head NW.
Same area, view SW to Horse Mountain and other obscurities.	We dropped on the NE side of the ridge to avoid wind. View NW.	The arch! Joel and Corin went on top. View looking up.
		This is perhaps the trickiest class 3; take your time and watch for loose rock. It’s just a bit NW of the arch.
		One descends off the N side of peak 3022 down this steep chute.
Willow is the peak to L in this view NW.
A sad reminder of Tom G.	Wheeler (Toiyabe!) from theW summit.	Now we head back SE to true summit.
	Coming back up the chute on N end of peak 3022.	Approaching top of 3022.
Folks head SE to the tricky downclimb just NW of the arch.	Joel downclimbs.	Then Corin.
Back by the arch.		I downclimbed this block in 2004. I was younger and stupider then.
	Macks to ESE.	Suddenly, it’s April 2003 again! Nick starts up E from Wheeler Pass.
	Wheeler Pass is below.	…and after we hit the ridge, lots of snow; 8’ drifts on top.
Panorama SE to Bonanza, with Mummy on L, Charleston on R.	The vague shape in the distance is Telescope Peak; in the foreground is Peak 8749.
I went up to this peak, which is 3022. We had spent a long time slogging through snow to find the arch; little did we know it was just a short distance away.	But we turned back, our boots totally soaked by now.	I was often able to walk on top of the drifts, but Nick would post-hole.
		Nick, the sun-worhipper.
Now it’s June 2009! I did a quick solo trip to check the road for an LVMC trip to Wheeler Peak (Toiyabe!).	I climbed up Willow from Wheeler Pass in ferocious winds and cold. This view is of Wheeler Peak.
Cold Creek is down there.	Macks and Mummy in distance.
	Ali et al. from a 2002 LVMC trip.	Nick and I were here!
	More dramatic view to Macks and Mummy…	…and Charleston.
	It was hard to jump without being blown off the peak. Use my shadow to judge altitude. ;^)
	Heading back down to Wheeler Pass.	We went to Wheeler Peak the next week, and it was much, much warmer.