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The Highest Peak in Nevada
We took the rubberlegs, following in their vehicle, on the scenic route up into Trail Canyon at the north end of the White Mountains. The steep climb, shelf sections, and exposure are what make some mountain backroads extra special. Up in Trail Canyon, the high country, riparian areas, and meadows were all dressed up for Spring.
After getting camp set up, we went off to show Deb and Steve the five petroglyph boulders it had taken us several trips to find.
There are also bedrock mortars and work stations if you keep an eye out.
The petroglyphs have been deeply worked into the rhyolite.
We always find more each time we visit here. The cloud cover was gone in the morning. Our initial plan for the day was to hike a loop to Trail Pass Saddle and return to camp to spend another night.
Nevada’s highpoint, Boundary Peak, stands at the head of Trail Canyon.
We hiked the primitive road to the saddle above Queen Mine. From there we climbed the ridge on the use trail from Queen Mine, now the most popular route to the top of Boundary.
The elevation gain is impressive.
But it is more than worth the effort to get up here.
The vistas took our breath away.
We continued on to Trail Pass Saddle. We watched for a possible repeat of yesterday’s storms.
Here is Trail Pass Saddle and a view from the saddle to the Sierra Nevada Range in the east.
Plans changed at the saddle. The amount of snow on the route to the summit of Boundary was less than we anticipated. Although it was a bit past 1300, Deb and Steve decided to head for the summit, a long-time goal for Deb. The Lady and I have been to the summit of Boundary five times. We decided to climb the peak directly behind us – some informally call it Trail Pass Peak. We’d never been to its summit, something new for us.
The board summit gave nice views to the east.
And also, of the route up Boundary Peak.
The Lady pulled out her see mores and tracked our friend’s progress as they climbed.
We grew concerned as storm grew in the west.
The views to the northeast and east had much less clouds.
This limestone ridge is home to Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva).
We watched as Deb and Steve stood on the top of the highest peak in Nevada. The storm dissipated before coming over Boundary. We started down from our much easier summit, returned to Trail Pass Saddle, and dropped into Trail Canyon to intercept our friends. There is a new use trail that descends off of Boundary directly into Trail Canyon. We met our friends in Trail Canyon at 1800 and returned together to camp as the storm finally caught up to us. Congrats to Deb and Steve on their success summit!
Early the next morning, of course with our mugs of Peets Coffee, the Lady and I wandered in the dawn’s light.
Down canyon we visited the small impoundment on Trail Canyon Creek.
This was the source of water and the start of the Candelaria Pipeline.
We parted with our friends after breakfast in camp. Deb’s first talk in Reno was the next day, Saturday, and they headed there. The Lady and I headed home.
And then we all did something very different. Deb’s next talk (after Saturday’s) in Reno was Wednesday evening so we invited them to come to our home Saturday after the talk and stay for four nights. We could find fun things to do.
We had wood fired chicken alfredo pizza ready to go on the grill Saturday when they arrived. I made them swear to secrecy and tell no one that I can cook. So, if word gets around now, I’ll know they’re the source. Julie was up well before dawn Sunday morning and had fresh out of the oven sourdough buttermilk cinnamon rolls ready when our guests came in. They were happy. All of us were and that cast iron fry pan was soon empty.
Sunday, we took our friends – sorry, I took no photos – on a tour of our local area. We visited the site of a pony express station and many stops along the Carson Route of the California Trail – our home is right alongside the historic trail – including the Devil’s Ladder at Carson Pass. We also showed them the site of the 1864 Bullion Bend Stage Coach Robbery, a brazen attempt to procure funds for the confederate cause. There is a recent book that tells the amazing story of this event.
Monday morning, we visited the mother lode community of Georgetown. Georgetown is one of the places, during the California Gold Rush, where William Manly mined after reaching the gold fields. We went upcountry from Georgetown, visited Wrights Lake, and made a stop at the treehouse.
Many years ago, a USFS crew found this treehouse. Who built this? How was it built? How did the materials get up here? The Lady and I went along on a mission to climb up into it, cut off and replace the padlock on the trap door entrance with a USFS padlock, and I searched and photographed the structure for clues and evidence for USFS Law Enforcement. Now, these years later, it is falling apart. It originally had three levels. Standing on the top level was high pucker factor scary. Pieces blown off during winter storms litter the ground now. But we thought this would make an interesting stop for our friends.
Tuesday was a very special day. Many years ago, a USFS archeologist told me about petroglyphs in the high country. I worked with her on historic aviation crashsites. In fact, she appeared with Julie and me on an early History Channel program that featured a historic B-17 bomber crash I’ve researched. The archeologist told us she believed this petroglyph site to be 4000 years old. It is a cross-country chore to reach it. And this early in the season, the mosquitoes were waiting for fresh meat.
The blood the mosquitoes left in us was offered to the near impenetrable manzanita and tobacco brush. Steve and Deb are tough and we reached the bare slab of glacial polished granite.
The ‘glyphs are so old and faint, but they remain.
The signature art work here is two, near life sized, sandhill cranes.
We all made our way on Wednesday to Reno for Deb’s talk “On the Trail of Female Prospectors.”
And the adventures continue……………….. stay tuned for the upcoming Part Four.
