DESTINATION East End Peak - MSP 21 Photosets
2012-01-13 | |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 3.60 Miles |
1,358 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.60 Miles | 3 Hrs 26 Mns | | 2.04 mph |
| 1,358 ft AEG | 1 Hour 40 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I have been up to East End Peak twice before, and both hikes included bushwhacking to the top. This time, I took the easy way and used the known trails.
The main reason for this 3rd trip was to take photos of and document the USGS EAST Triangulation benchmark & its two reference marks. The EAST benchmark was monumented (put in place) in 1963. Strangely, no USGS surveyor's datasheet was available for me to reference before this hike.
More on that later.
Prior to you doing this hike, I recommend you read up on the Marcus Landslide. You'll have an excellent view from above, of the results of the landslide that happened 500,000 years ago. It's quite impressive. Here's one place for information.
http://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2011/01/look-at-marcus-landslide-in-mcdowell.html
I took Tom's Thumb Trail to an unofficial trail (I'll call it East End Peak Trail).
The first portion of East End Peak trail goes east, straight up through a boulder field, from Tom's Thumb trail, and terminates at a small saddle. You'll then see a trail to your right, (a 90 degree turn to south), and you'll start up another boulder field. Once done with those 2 portions of trail, you're atop East End Pk, looking at what appears to be a fenced in (remote ?) old weather station.
The peak area is quite large and very conducive to wandering and exploring in both directions, while enjoying the views. Don't forget to find and view the Marcus Landslide.
I logged in to the summit log (again), and took photos of the USGS EAST Triangulation benchmark, and it's two Reference marks. I also made some distance & true course measurements pertaining to the disks.
After the hike, I did receive a copy of the EAST datasheet from the USGS.
This was a special deal as I was told that the USGS datasheets are still kept only in filing cabinets. (There are some exceptions). They were kind enough to scan a copy & send it to me.
I mention all this only to include here, the elevation on the surveyor's EAST datasheet. It's 4,067 Feet for the benchmark.
Some TOPO maps show 4,057 feet for the peak elevation and some show 4,067 Ft.
(My GPS read 4,061 Ft so it was close to both official numbers.)
By using either peak elevation number, East End Peak is still the highest point in the McDowells, and that alone should be an excellent incentive for you to hike up there. |
| _____________________
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
