Muddy High Point (MHP) and Peak 5354, plus 2 nubs (1598T (m) and Gale Hills Highpoint); then
Luxor and Uriah

Pics by Harlan W S
Jan 21,29 2023

I intended to surprise some freinds on MHP, but got the wrong day. On the way in, I wondered what Gale Hills might be like, so started a sharp left turn deviation from my plans; I was glad to go over that peak, but it has just ~200' prominence, which is good news if you then want to go up 5354. The most interesting part was the traverse between the 2 higher peaks; there are a few complications which most people will figure out, but I'll mention them to save you some time. Ended up with almost 4800' accummulated and 13.3 miles.

This is all part of dispelling the demons from the 2018 accident on Muddy. I had returned to Muddy with the DSA group near the end of 2022. Crystal D gave me the first confirmation of something like this route to 5354, which I forwarded to Paula R in 2019. I dug up my e-mails with Paula from 2019, and her trip gpx, to plan this trip. I crossed 10 washes at the start of this route; I advise staying closer to the old dirt road until ready to ascend to the Gale Hills. And "Gale" was apropos; it was below freezing with winds gusting to over 30 mph.

0map0
Overview of the route.
Parking is the same as
southern approach to
Muddy. A sturdy 7"
clearance vehicle can
make it with CAREFUL
DRIVING.
 0nap0a
Close-up of traverse,
with some features
mentioned below.
The traverse can be
made largely class 2.
 1map0
Zoom out for context.
20230121_075326
View N toward Gale
Hills, with fine-grained
Tertiary sandstone.
 20230121_091344
South Gate as
seen through
sandstone bluffs
 20230121_092456
Bluff is a bit lower
than Gale Hills
high point.
20230121_093533
View N to 5354; I'll
go up right ridge. From
Gale Hills high point
(GHHP). The gray
consists of Paleozoic
dolostones.
 20230121_094050
View of Harris (L) to
Mummy (R) from GHHP
 20230121_111906
On the ridge E of 5354.
20230121_112505
Muddy Peak as viewed
from Peak 5354.
 20230121_112514
"Luxor Peak" as viewed
from 5254.
 20230121_112517
Bowl of Fire as
viewed from 5354.
20230121_113557
As you head NW off
5354, you may be
tempted to take a N-
trending gully. If so,
head left near this cave,
across the ridgeline;
else you will come to
cliffs at the base of
the gully.
 20230121_114416
Peak 1598T (5243')
is the lump at left; it
has ~75' prominence
relative to the N side,
but sticks up ~250'
above the S ridgeline.
Muddy Peak in back
at right, across a deep
wash.
 20230121_114942
1598T. The highest
point is the light gray
in center; one can pass
between the high point
and the darker gray
to left and in front,
without climbing it. The
highest lump is sketchy
class 4 on R side, but
looks like class 3 on side
facing viewer (SW).
20230121_120412
View of 5354 and Lovell
Canyon from 1598T.
 20230121_122041
If one stays on the ridge,
~250m past 1598T one
hits a serious cliff, but a
sharp L (SSW) gets to a
cut. I had a 30 mph N
wind at this point, which
ceased as soon as I dropped.
 20230121_122103
View back ~SE to
1598T (L) and
5354 (R)
20230121_124919
Benchmark on
MHP.
 20230121_125018
View E to Muddy Peak
 20230121_125026b
Sports bra drawn
in for modesty. It
was below freezing,
with a stiff wind.
20230121_125035 20230121_125100
Harris (L) through
Mummy (R) from
top of MHP.
 20230121_131720
View E as I descend
SW off top of MHP.
Labels on full-size
image.
20230121_144106
View back at MHP,
with mistletoe on
catclaw.
 20230121_145751
I found several cairns
near the southern
part of the descent.
 20230121_151224
Lots of water in
potholes; it
rained recently.
20230121_153104
erosion
 20230121_153924
leaving S end of cliffs.
 20230121_154109
Layers of colluvium.
20230121_154640
view S, almost back.
 20230121_154835
Endless Ridge.
I went there in 2007.