Summit
Location: 37.846102, -118.351306
06-OCT-09 4:57:30PM
Park here
Location: 37.889351, -118.31769
Park here - mine entrance
Big Picture
Location: 37.921993, -118.396397
on the drive in to TH just off main hwy
Peak shot
Location: 37.874311, -118.319492
shot looking West, once on the ridge
Saddle Shot
Location: 37.863267, -118.346014
looking to the West
unamed peak
Location: 37.855982, -118.347774
looking NE at long ridge where trail runs.
Gully Shot
Location: 37.852187, -118.347044
view to the West
Boundary Pk
Location: 37.852899, -118.347087
looks easy, but far from it w/ the snow and huge rocks. snow up to my knees in places. glad i had on some gaiters!
Sign in container
Location: 37.846155, -118.350434
summit shot
Location: 37.846054, -118.350477
looking NE over trail
Hero Shot
Location: 37.846426, -118.35155
Montgomery Pk in background. no light left to git er done.
Left Lone Pine, CA, on 6 Oct 09, from most recent hike up Mt Whitney day prior. Super clear day and planned on arriving around 1000. Made my way up hwy 365 and onto hwy 6 which took me into Nevada and on the West side of Boundary Peak. Finally made it to the parking area near the old mine from a dirt road across from some abandoned buildings. Had to make my way slow in the mini Kia rental car. Last thing I wanted was to change a tire out in the middle of no where. Weather was still looking bueno besides some mountain generated clouds coming off of Boundary and Montgomery Peaks due to the recent snowfall couple days prior. I was a little apprehensive in hiking up the mountain solo with snow, but decided to press since I had my newly purchased “SPOT” GPS Messenger with me in case I ran into problems. I did have one guy pull up to me right before I started hiking looking for some guys picking up “cones” he said. I passed him up on the 1st long ridge as he was yelling at some guys that were just below him doing what, I don’t know. I guess they finally found each other. I was making some good time and made it to the saddle in about 2 hrs. the snow looked to thicken a bit as I looked up the scree slope for the 1st run. Took a panorama shot and took off up the scree/snow laden hill. once up to the 1st saddle just below the 1st unnamed peak, I began to look at my GPS and just previously, thought that unnamed peak was actually Boundary. I guess my route study prior to coming out suffered due to focusing on the Mt Whitney climb. As I looked to the south, I saw a moderately intimidating peak full of more snow big scree (boulders), steeper, far away, and really thought that was Montgomery. All I remember reading was that there was a higher peak to the SW that was in California and you could get that one in with an additional mile to the hike. I was instantly shocked and didn’t know if I should continue or not being the only sole for miles (summiting) and knowing it was going to take some time in the snow finding the so called trail. It was 1400 and I decided to go for it. Thank goodness I was wearing my knee high gaiters! Started up the trail and hit the big rocks – had a hard time finding good routes or trail and ended up doing some constructive routing with all the snow. Finally made it to the top and it was 20 degrees F and light winds. This was my quickest summit pause ever for I knew the sun would be setting and I needed all the time I could get just in case I had some hang ups on the way down. Only up there 10 minutes – enough time to snap a panorama shot, video, and sign the log book buried in the snow. Initially I was going to decide once up there if I wanted to get in Montgomery, but it was an easy decision. Pushed down the Peak at 1606 and actually made some good time. took me about 50 minutes to reach the unnamed peak where I first discovered I had to climb the next peak to the south if I was going to conquer Boundary. From there It was like skiing in some spots due to the snow and I think was actually faster than if there was no snow. Hauled across the ridge and before I hit the east end, the sun finally set. Made it to the car with no headlamp, so a successful decision at 1400 to continue up Boundary. When I started driving out, it was definitely dark and made my way slowly in the rental as to not pop a tire on rocks. Super day and another “highest peak/state” down!!!
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