West Mojave Peaks Part 2: Kelso Peak
Trip Inspiration

West Mojave Peaks Part 2: Kelso Peak

After a night at the great campsite we found between the two Cowhole Mountain ranges (and just off the Mojave Road), we backtracked to the paved Kelbaker Road and headed south to large pullout on the right side of the road. Our destination? Kelso Peak.

Kelso Peak, as seen from Cowhole Mountain (the point on the left)
Kelso Peak, as seen from Cowhole Mountain (the pointy peak in the middle-range on the left)

Why Kelso? For that matter, why the Cowhole ranges the day before? Here’s the thing: there are tons of peaks and ranges in the desert. Browsing around a topo map reveals all kinds of remote places and appealing peaks. But you have to start somewhere, and when it comes to the desert that somewhere (for me), was Andy Zdon’s Desert Summits book. I’ve gotten completely hooked on climbing desert peaks thanks to this book, and although I’ve also climbed plenty of summits not named in the book, I turn to it for inspiration and feel weirdly compelled to climb everything in it.

(more…)

Continue Reading West Mojave Peaks Part 2: Kelso Peak
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.

(more…)

Continue Reading West Mojave Peaks Part 1: Cowhole and Little Cowhole Mountains
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!
 
(more…)

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

End of content

No more pages to load

Newer Posts
Older Posts