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USGS Topographic Maps
The rubberlegs found us with our camp set up at the “big flat spot” on schedule. We, as usual, were up early the next morning to take in first light across the landscape, the glory of the coming day.
After packing up camp, our destination was across the Sarcobatus Flat and into the Nevada Triangle section of Death Valley National Park. Although the name Sarcobatus sounds mysterious and Egyptian, the flat is named for the common greasewood - Sarcobatus vermiculatus.
We made a side trip into a spring, possible only after we pulled out the shovels and filled in some serious erosion from the large storms at the end of 2025. We visited a shelter site that was later used by prospectors. The rock face held simple pictographs, and a large rock alignment was on the bench above the shelter.
DStretch Applied
Wind was whipping up dust across the Bonnie Claire Playa to the northeast.
We also found an old, right-handed Acme frying pan.
Our way up Phinney Canyon Road was blocked by another washout that we repaired. A short way past was a larger debris flow that destroyed the road. We were going no further and, with some work, were able to level the trucks to make this a comfortable camp for two nights.
Wahguyhe Peak is the second highest peak in the Grapevine Mountains. It was our target for the next day.
We do not travel without a USGS topo map.
Our campsite - and starting point for the hike - is to the northeast of the peak. We started up the road and then turned into the major drainage north of Wahguyhe.
The route is simple, straight up through the pinyon and juniper.
As the steep slope opened up, here is a great view to the northwest. Grapevine Peak is visible just right of center. The Inyo Mountains with the high Sierra Nevada crest beyond are to the left of Grapevine Peak. The White Mountains and White Mountain Peak are to the right of Grapevine Peak.
We made the final climb to the ridge top to the east of the summit and looked west at Wahguyhe’s summit pyramid.
But we had an important search to do before going for the summit. Refer back back to the topo map and look just northeast of the summit on what is marked as the Von Schmidt Line. In June of 2025 the four of us located two intact boundary monuments placed in 1873 by the Allexey W. Von Schmidt survey of the border between California and Nevada. The two monuments we found last June were at miles 294 and 295 from the survey start at the Oregon border. On the topo map is a tiny box marked “420” that designated a monument placed at the spot along the Von Schmidt line 420 miles from the border with Oregon. Did anything remain? What would we find?
The year 1873 and CAL still visible on the California side of the post.
And NEV readable on the Nevada side of the post.
We could not make out what was inscribed on the north facing side of the post.
We believe this was the tree where the post was cut from in 1873.
Here’s a panorama view south down the Grapevine Mountains. Just right of center is Death Valley and Badwater Basin. To the right is the Mesquite Dunes/Stovepipe Wells area. Wind was stirring up dust.
Thrilled to find yet another intact monument along the Von Schmidt Line, it was time to tag the summit of Wahguyhe.
Anderson's Buttercup (Ranunculus andersonii) in the summit rocks.
And the final climb to the summit.
View southwest into Fall Canyon with Death Valley beyond. In the upper left is Tucki Mountain with snow-capped Telescope Peak behind.
View to the northwest at Grapevine Peak. We would stand on the top tomorrow.
Wahguyhe Peak, 8628 feet. Sarcobatus Flat with Bonnie Claire playa is in the distance.
The Lady loves summit registers.
Deb signed for the rubberlegs.
We began our descent.
The quiet and solitude were exquisite at our end of the road camp.
As I mentioned previously, the top of Grapevine Peak was the goal for the following day.
We climbed the trace of the road up to the saddle in the Grapevine Mountains between Phinney Canyon on the east and Moonlight Canyon on the west.
View from the saddle down into Moonlight Canyon.
The route to the summit of Grapevine is an up and down affair following the timbered rocky ridgeline.
We reached the final ramp to the top.
Steve and Deb following us up.
The last talus slope.
And we were on the top. There’s a radio repeater on the summit. This view is to the south with Death Valley in the center. Wahguyhe is on the far left and Telescope Peak is in the upper right.
A panorama from north to east and more evidence the Lady loves summit registers.
The ski3pinners on the summit - Grapevine Peak, 8738 feet and the highpoint of the Grapevine Mountains. The Lady, again, seized the high ground.
The descent was retracing our route up.
In many places the ridge was a rocky tangled chore to move along. Wahguyhe Peak now above to the south.
Dawn the following morning at camp was delightful. It was time to move to another area of the Grapevine Mountains.
Our adventure continues in the upcoming Part Two.
