Central Toiyabe LVMC Trip, NV

Bunker Hill, Mount Jefferson, and other places.

Harlan W. S.
May 26-27, 2007

The views were nice, but the sky was hazy all day – possibly from natural dust convection, and dust kicked up by the multitudinous cars, ATVs, and dirt bikes on this crowded Memorial Day weekend. Apart from Rtes 6, 376 and the lower part of Rte 82, roads are dirt and currently very dry and dusty.

Though the pictures make it seem that I was alone, there were 11 people on the trip (OK, three were little people).

100k map for orientation. From the SE, one can drive to Bunker Hill via Kingston. The blue FR002 continues over the pass to Austin, and is drivable by most cars (but too narrow for trailers) – call the Austin ranger’s office for conditions. The red “trail” Is the one I took to Bunker Hill.	GPS trace on 24k map. P1 is a parking spot by a stream on FR 402. When I walked up to P2, I realized that a modest -clearance car/truck (e.g. my Subaru Outback AWD) could make it that far, saving nearly 500’ elevation gain and at least 1.2 miles RT. The switchbacks N of P2, as shown on the USGS map, have been obliterated by landslides.	The first night, I camped alone at ~7750’, on the NW end of the red trace in the previous map. (When I finished my hike at 10:50 AM the next day, I met Joel, Josh and Howard at the road, and they then started the hike.)
This is the P2 parking spot on the 24k map above; the road ends in a grove of trees, where there is enough room to turn the car around. I walked here, but could have driven.	The N summit of Bunker Hill comes into view. After reaching the ridge N of P2, there are some vague use trails through low sage.	Prepare for 8 pages in the registry. Recognize anyone?
	I did find the alluded-to beer.
View S.	View N. There are some transmitter towers on the next lump N, and I had Verizon cell service.	Zoom view S; Arc Dome is on the horizon.
SE to Jefferson.	Descending, looking back at the trail.	Forget-me-not.
Mountain bluebells.	Our campsite at Peavine Campground. The sites up by Bunker Hill (Kingston through Big Creek) were packed, so we drove way S to a nearly empty, but very pleasant Peavine.	The next day I headed through Manhattan on a very good dirt road to Rte 82 and then through Belmont. The road is dirt N of Belmont, and is quite rough for the last few miles.
I parked my Subaru at ~9300’.	Why you should keep attentive on Rte 82…	A buckwheat?
Flax.	The trail becomes more distinct as one heads N.	Sky Pilot (Polemonium).
	View SW from top of Jefferson. Higher than Mt. Charleston! (Whoopee!)	View ~NE.
There was also Verizon service on this peak, and I jumped for joy.	A hazy view of Arc Dome to W.	SE off top.
View SE on descent.	View S, showing the trail. Lower down, the trail in very indistinct.	View S, where I parked.
Next morn at Peavine…		I would have taken more pictures of the happy people at the campsite, but it was always near dusk when I remembered…