Last Chance Highpoint 4985' (NV, W of Pahrump)

From the east, this range looks very impressive, with rugged cliff bands near the peak tops.

The 4985’ peak is the highpoint of the range. To the south, there is a checked spot elevation of 4862’, labeled “Chance” on the USGS map; this label is the index into the US elevation database.

I took the western approach (red line on map). I think the hypothetical purple route would also go; there seems to be a ramp up from the saddle (see photo below); this ramp is hidden from view when one looks up from highway 160.

pics by Harlan W. S.
Jan. 09, 2008

100K topo with GPS trace in red, hypothetical route in purple.	24k topo.	View of route, looking ESE; from near road.
Though the route looks simple, there are many cliff bands to be crossed.	Maclurites, Ordovician snail.	View up the ridge after 1^st cliff band. The tan band is Eureka quartzite.
W to Telescope Peak.	View ENE to western Spring Mts.	View N.
The top ridge is slightly castleated, so one must climb up and down over cliffs several times. View of Stirling Peak.	View to Charleston Peak.	View ESE across Pahrump Valley. Low clouds were in the valley most of the day.
View to Telescope, across Death Valley.	Who else?	Peripatetic and ubiquitous  Don Palmer. Last signature was over 3 years ago.
		This is a view from ~4985’ point on map, down the purple route on map. I couldn’t see any obvious cliff bands before saddle. This gulley/ramp is hidden from view, when one looks up from the highway.
Charleston.	View W on descent.	View S on descent.