Background Information:
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Altitude: 13,140
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Tidbits: Highest point in Nevada
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Summitted, DID NOT SUMMIT
Time Zone: GMT -8 hours
When to go:
Best to go in summer when roads are trails are not snow covered.
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Route Selection:
I took the "Trail Canyon" trail to the "Trail Canyon Saddle" and then made the final push up the steep section of the mountain. I had come from sea level the day before and did not give myself enough time to acclimatize, so I was not able to make it to the summit during this trip.
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Hotel and Climb Reservation:
No guide, permit, or trail reservations are required. The trailhead is down a long (15 mile) dirt access road. There are tress and scrub that extend into the road so my truck got fairly scratched up. SPECIAL NOTE: It is imperative that you alert friends/family where you will be...it is easy to get lost or disoriented on the trail and if your car breaks down there is no cell service and a 15 mile hike to exit the access road onto the main road.
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Packing List:
Warm weather gear plus extra supplies and clothing in case you get stuck on the mountain or a storm comes in.
Getting There:
From Interstate 395 in Bishop California, turn onto highway 6 for 58 miles until you come to Nevada Route 264. Turn right onto 264 for 8.2 miles to a dirt road on the right opposite an abandoned building (brothel?). Stay on the road for 14.7 miles to the Trail Canyon trailhead. You will pass several abandoned buildings and mines along the way. do NOT proceed down the road if a rainstorm is coming, as the road can floodout/washout and you can be stranded with no cell reception.
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Trip Description:
At 4:00am I left my hotel not far from Bishop California for the trailhead, having been at sea-level immediately before my trip. The ride takes you to incredibly remote spots and when you are on the trail access road, there are many fascinating ruins of the silver mining operation that existed in this area 100 years earlier, including large mines and wood buildings. Although the mine entrances are clearly marked not to enter (for obvious safety reasons), I did take a peek into the largest of the mines and saw that there was a cave-in when the huge wooden beams split in half due to the weight of the rock...you would not want to be on the other side of the cave-in or you'd be in a world of trouble. The last section of the access road is so steep that my Chevy Avalanche truck could not make it up the road! I parked a few hundred yards from the trailhead where I was able to maneuver the truck without difficulty.
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As you start on the trail, you want to head west. YOU SHOULD MARK YOUR STARTING POINT WITH YOUR GPS. It is easy to get disoriented, since the trail fade away and there are wild horses in the area which make false trails, and you can easily miss the turnoff point upon your return to get to the trailhead...I know this first-hand because that is what happened to me...NOT FUN!
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As you travel west, the trail eventually fades to nothing over the rock and scrub. You will eventually come to a trail saddle and head south and up the STEEP mountain path to the summit. For this trip I had no given myself enough time to acclimatize and ended up turning back about 1 mile from the summit.
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