Charleston Peak from Wallace Canyon

pics by Harlan W. S.
July 18, 2009

This route starts at ~7700’ off the Wallace Canyon Road, which is currently passable by a modest-clearance vehicle (Subaru Outback); there is a lot of loose gravel waiting to snare a 2wd vehicle. The Wallace Canyon Road branches off the Wheeler Pass Road, just as the latter descends a hill, about 10 miles from sr 160. The route requires about 60 miles of driving from Vegas, 20 miles on gravel roads.

There are pleasant dry campsites in the Ponderosa, starting near 7700’. The lower part of the route is often shaded all day.

This not an easy route; entirely trailless, and the elevation gain is fast. Accumulated gain is about 4300’, and total RT distance is just shy of 7 miles. The southern part of the route has some rough, serrated ridges to traverse, with a few class 3 sections. Moving at a moderate pace (for me), I took 3h 8m up, and 1h 15m down; the latter was possible because I jogged down through the soft talus on the northern part of the loop. Over all, there is very little brush Special thanks to Nick N for a map. Dr EF and Nevada Bob G took this route years ago; there is evidence the Pahrumpians went even before.

Google Earth view, looking E from above Clinton Peak (point 3097T on 24k topo map)	100k map with GPS trace. The Wheeler Pass road is signed, and turns N from sr 160, just east of Pahrump.	24k map of hike.
Gubmint weather station.	ATV access ends here. Go to the L to avoid yucky water.	Low down in the moister sections, the columbines are orange and yellow.
This is the L fork turnoff for Vache Pisse (don’t take).	View E and up across the serrated ridge.	Red penstemons.
View back on Clinton Peak. The Lewinsky arête is at R.	Much of the last mile is up steep, high-friction ramps, often avoidable by a crappy talus route.	In distance are McFarland (L) and Macks.
View up a bowl to the E of the ridge; Charleston appears as an inconspicuous bump. Contrast with photo below.	This cliff face has an old, braided nylon rope to aid descent; in reality, you can carefully walk (class 3+) down the diagonal crack on the S side of the rope (here looking back at the rope; McFarland in distance at R).	View back over ridge and Clinton.
A higher view of the bowl in the photo above. Hummingbirds liked my shirt.	Now we can see more of Charleston to NE; McFarland is to L	Purple penstemon, drawing shade from a piece of wood.
The SLT is visible over penstemons.	Columbines.
	Mummy’s head in back at R. At this point, the T-storm cells were over Sisters.	Good Luck Kid, and I sincerely wish you well.
Descending. I’ll cut L at the talus-tree transition.	What the heck is a mason jar doing way down here?	View back S over the steep cliffs.
Once more, Clinton comes into view; the Lewinsky Arete appears to kneel at R.	When you hit the sharp peaklet, turn L and descend down pleasant slopes.	The last road is popular with ATVs. These folks seem to be “good citizens”; I saw very little garbage, and they were polite and helpful.