Chopper Tom Peak (3136m)

Pics by Harlan W S
June 19, 2022

"Chopper Tom" Hawley was a favorite Las Vegas newsman, who died of pancreatic cancer in Oct., 2021. He was an avid hiker (he had done his best time up Mummy just 4 months before his death). The significance of this little peak (except that is was apparently unclimbed) is that it sits on the divide between Trout and Carpenter Canyons. Tom was the only local newsman to realize that the 2013 "Carpenter Fire" really ravaged Trout Canyon, and barely touched Carpenter Canyon.

This obscure peak has just 230' prominence, but is surprisingly hard to reach. The Carpenter Canyon Road is the main access, and is a bumpy, ball-joint-wearing 12 miles (hope you don't encounter another vehicle going the opposite direct in the narrow parts). The closest to "trail" is a faint fisherman's herd path on the S side of the canyon, but most of the route shown in red on the maps is steep trailess talus. Descent of this route is a controlled fall, and the hiker is advised to wear boot with lugs and some ankle support. Next time I may attempt to take the blue dotted route.

Google Earth synthetic view of the route I took (red) and a route I might try (blue)	USGS map. Route was a stairmaster on way up, and could be just class 2.	A zoom out for context.
Palmer Penstemon.	View of Lower Carpenter Canyon to W. Early on in gully	View of Charlston Peak, 11,916'
Peaklet to S.		Disturbing picture of animal behavior.
Charleston Peak to N, from near summit 3136m.	Potosi (left of center) to SE.	Kingston to SSW
I saw just two Bristlecone stumps on ridge. Smoke jumpers likely cut big dry trees to keep the fire from crossing ridge.	View W on ridge before descent.	Kingston Range in back
		Scarlet Columbine.