Avawatz CA (DPS Peak)

pics by Harlan W. S.
Jan. 06, 2009

This strange peak is one of the DPS (Desert Peak Section) summits.  The “climb” is really just a long hill walk; very long, if you start near the Mormon Springs, as I did (12 miles RT and 4700’ accumulated elevation gain).  I parked before a rough stretch at 2750’. The road is actually quite good past that rough stretch, to at least 4100’, and many people drive fairly standard, decent-clearance 4x4s all the way to at least 4350’.  My RT took just under 5 hrs car-to-car, with a healthy stay on top, but I was sore the next day.

The standard route descriptions in Zdon and elsewhere say one should go on rte 127 some 19.1 miles N of Baker (it isn’t clear if that mileage is from the intersection of 127 and Baker Blvd., in front of the Mad Greek Café, or from i-15).  I did find a rough road there at 19.1 miles. That road made for a rather long, tough ride in my 2003 Subaru Outback; there are many washouts, and the “pavement” often consists of grapefruit-sized rocks.  However, on the way back, I mistakenly took the spur road to Renoville for a short bit, and actually saw more tire tracks on that route.

The geology of this hike is quite complex, muddled by the proximity of the Garlock Fault.

100 map with GPS traces. Purple is road, red is hike	24k GPS indicating the solar-powered cell repeater (the last reasonable driving goal) and the place where one leaves the road to gain the ridge.	View west, after climbing up from the road. The whitish hill is the one place that requires a little care and minor hand use.
Go R of this lump.	View back east, above lump, showing route. Kingston in distance.
Final push toward lumpy summit… with one or two more false peaks.	A lot of the log entries seem to be from military personnel who flew in.
	View E. Clark Mt. is under my R foot. I’m trying to emulate Mike C… it’s cold, below 40F. My shirt dries at L. Arrogance!	Cave Mt to ~SSE.
Charleston to NE.	View ~S; Granite Mts. in distance at L.	View ~SE; Providence Mts. in middle distance.
View E on descent.