West Mojave Peaks Part 1: Cowhole and Little Cowhole Mountains

West Mojave Peaks Part 1: Cowhole and Little Cowhole Mountains

For New Years weekend we headed down to Mojave National Preserve for some peak bagging. Over three days we climbed four peaks and I’ll be profiling them over the next few days. This first post details the climbs of Cowhole and Little Cowhole Mountains (hee), the most and least challenging of the four peaks.

Little Cowhole and Cowhole mountains are small ranges that stand by themselves on the northwestern boundary of Mojave National Preserve, bordering the east side of the mostly dry Soda Lake. On the map they look pretty puny but together these two peaks make a full day of desert peak bagging.

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Hiking the new Jim Donnelly Trail in Henry Coe State Park

Hiking the new Jim Donnelly Trail in Henry Coe State Park

The Jim Donnelly trail was just like every other trail in Henry Coe, climbing steeply to Wilson Ridge. Trails like this are strenuous on the way up and rough on the knees on the way down. Whoever built the trails in Coe had never heard the word “switchback”. Several trails climb the steep hillsides to Wilson Ridge (Steer Ridge, Middle Steer Ridge, Spike Jones), and none of them are easy. Someone finally managed to apply some common sense to one of the trails, and it has been rebuilt and rerouted with well graded switchbacks. It took about 2 years, but last summer the new Jim Donnelly Trail was opened much to the appreciation of mountain bikers, equestrians, and hikers alike.

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Uvas Canyon Waterfalls are Running!

Uvas Canyon Waterfalls are Running!

I always love to visit Uvas Canyon after the first few rains of the winter season. The waterfalls start running, and the damp air brings out the greens, reds, and oranges in the foliage. The forest feels primitive, like I’m lost in some kind of fairy tale forest (and near the bad queen’s castle).
After last year’s dry spell I was eager to see some running water and Uvas didn’t disappoint. This is a gem of a park that’s a short drive from San Jose.
Here is how the park looks right now…
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Mount Morgan (13,748′) and a few Fall Colors

Mount Morgan (13,748′) and a few Fall Colors

Hiking towards Mt Morgan (high point)
Hiking towards Mt Morgan (high point)

Two weeks ago we headed out to the east side for a casual, relaxing fall colors weekend. Of course, at the last minute, Sooz and I decided to climb Mt Morgan, a really fun and easy nearly-14k peak. It wasn’t necessarily so easy for us since we weren’t prepared or acclimated, but the terrain and route finding was straightforward enough that the acclimation was really our only enemy. I explain the route in the captions in my images in my Smugmug album, so if you’re interested head over there for a peek. Here are a few shots of the climb – definitely a worthwhile summit!
 
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