Telescope Peak from Shorty's Well.

[Jim]

Late next summer/ early next fall, Telescope from Shorty's well near Badwater, in Death Valley NP. Hike only 15 miles from the starting point up to 11,049' with an AEG approaching 11,500'. A spring is located at about the 1/3 of the way point, and the rest of the way it's a carry your water hike. Summit same day, and either stay near or on the summit, but far more likely, descend a good way and overnight before exiting the next day. We'll have to carry a ton of water for part, and start early to avoid the heat below sea level.

Date TBD, maybe around the full moon on 9-30-2012?

I don't want to do 30 miles and that elevation up and down in 1 day, as I don't want to torture myself, but this looks like a good hard challenge for next year. I know overnighting adds weight, but not too much if done right. Anyone?

[azbackpackr]

It looks like a worthwhile endeavor. I'll be on the river at that time, so I can't sign on.

[johnlp]

I am interested depending on logistics and my schedule.

[Jim]

Good, I too, do not know the schedule for myself that far out, but I ought to be able to request time off. I think very late September or early October is the best time of year.

[RedRoxx44]

Wish I could do it physically; think my good off trail hiking days are coming to an end. If you do a car shuttle to Mahogany Flat sometimes that road gets bad right at the end so cars might have to park at the Kilns.

[uphill_junkie]

If you combine this with potential day hikers, like you mentioned in John's triplog, I'd do that.

[gummo]

I'd be up for it since Death Valley is on my bucket list. I won't know if I can do it until July or August tho.

[RedRoxx44]

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=107603


I believe pics 7 and 11 are the best I have of the terrain from the approach side, as you can see on top a pretty mellow trail.

[autumnstars]

Oh, me, me!!! Very interested!
I would have to practice up for the elevation gain involved, but would be worth it for such a sweet trip.
That's usually a pretty slow time of year at work for me, so shouldn't be a problem to get the time off.

[JuanJaimeiii]

In some way shape or form I will be up for this. More interested in doing a day hike but am sure we can figure out the details of all that later.

[Jim]

I'm wondering if anyone would be interested in doing this in June, maybe around the Solstice?

[JuanJaimeiii]

I'm interested in doing it whenever. Are you thinking of having the added daylight? I did GC R3 last year on June 25th and did it for that reason. Either way Jim count me in on the hike.

[johnlp]

It could hit 120+ degrees. But its a dry heat.

[autumnstars]

June could work - then it could be a birthday hike!!!
I'm lazy, so as long as the peak is free of serious snow, about any date could work.

[Jim]

Basically the longer days. Besides it will be hot down low either way. I also want to stay at the resort, too, but that is just me. When you live on the cold, barren plateau, sun, heat and true date palms by a pool are a rare treat. I expect we will be out of 100+ temps before they occur on hike days. Hopefully, I'll be on days by that time and use to getting up at 0530 MDT, so 0430 AZST, and will be fine for the hike to begin early. Carrying water will add weight, but I like the idea of relaxing for a while by the creek to filter. That is at 5K'. I still think I want to do a same day summit, next day descent, with a camp at a location in between.

[RedRoxx44]

I hiked the ridgeline trail over July 4th;and camped at Mahogony flat. It was comfortable. Well over 100 in the flats. Would make for a lighter pack.

[Jim]

If anyone is interested in putting together a shuttle, I would be interested in camping at Mahogany. I can't drive it, but would like to benefit from it. Probably camp up there and come down the next day. I would still need to train to hike up over 11,000', but what causes me the most concern for this is the descent, not the ascent. You still get 3,000' down to Mahogany. Plus, we might not need to carry much more than day hiking stuff.

[Jim]

http://www.summitpost.org/shorty-s-to-telescope/777062

Dry winter, and someone over at SP just hiked and posted a really good trip report for the hike. When you're getting over being sick and are out of shape after several months of low activity (as I am), doing 11,000'+ seems next to impossible. Still looks fun and I would like to do it.


No one is interested in the car swap/ camp at Mahogany Flats option?

The posted date of 6/15 is just a place holder.

[gummo]

I'm interested, but it depends if I land this new job that'll free up my weekends.

[Jim]

Could be a lot of things, from being sick for 2 weeks, to my work schedule, to overall reduced activity over the last 5 months since I moved out onto the reservation. Either way, I was really tired on my hike yesterday and am beginning to have doubts about my ability to do this hike. Not canceling, just asking if there is someone who would take this over for either the June or September hiking days, should I be unable to get into shape to do 11,000 feet? At this point, I still want to plan for it, I just question my hiking ability when 2000' is suddenly a lot for me. Sad, I know. If I have doubts later this spring, I may push it back to the original month of September, and hopefully get into shape in over the summer. Unless folks really want to go in June and decided to go then.

I still want to do this hike, but I do not want to be one of those people who hikes in their head and doesn't know their body. Unless there is an injury or some other unforeseen stroke of bad luck, I do not want to have a failure on a hike, or drag the entire time because I wasn't able to train properly. That wouldn't have been an issue a year ago, but that is life. I used to be able to set my watch to where I would be on a trail and pretty much always knew how my body would feel. Not so, recently. My current location will make it hard to train and be active until the snow is gone from the north face of BM, and while I do still feel lousy from the flu, my body is just not in the shape I was in September.

Just letting interested parties know and asking if someone else would want to lead, should I need to cancel? If I don't go this year, I can move and get back to Arizona hiking and maybe go in 2013, or 14, should I have to cancel due to sloth and living in a wasteland.