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| Hiking | 0.83 Miles |
369 AEG |
| | Hiking | 0.83 Miles | 47 Mns | | 1.06 mph |
| 369 ft AEG | 49 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | My "assault" on the summits of the highest peaks of the NW Valley came to a screeching halt. This, along with Antelope Peak by Yarnell, was the roughest short hike I've done in years. All of it bushwhacking. With time running short in late afternoon, I turned back about 200' below the N peak. I'd gotten to a point below the northern ridgeline where I was making no progress fast, slipping and stumbling on the very loose rock and soil, lucky to avoid injury.
I had parked on Cavedale in a residential area, crossed busy Pyramid Peak Pkwy and sized up what I believe is the second highest peak in this area at 2,197'. Saw what I had read, that there were no established trails. A thick mat of brittlebush covers the lower part. It is mixed with rock, small boulders and ravines. It didn't look pretty.
I decided to shoot for the ridgeline on the N, follow it up to the N peak then S to Ludden. This was just N of BobP's official route, which appears to be a direct path up to the northern peak. Moving below and parallel to the ridgeline, I eyed a "gate" of two rock pillars ahead but never reached it. The footing was too poor and I was running into more of that nasty teddy bear cholla. So, at 1,765' by my GPS, I started down. Very steep in here and slow going at first until I reached the brittlebush field again. Passed an old three-strand barbwire fence. Some of it still stood but the upper section was on the ground. Me troding on somebody's old ranchland. Glad to get back to the car with only a minor wound from a stabbing teddy bear. This rugged mountain will have to wait for another day. I'll have to give Ludden more respect next time. Start earlier, try a different route. |
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Route Editor
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