TELESCOPE PEAK

[Girl Hiker]

On my last day in Death Valley, I led a group to Telescope Peak. Driving on the road to Mahoganny campground requires a high clearance vehicle, but I saw a few sedans parked off the road half-way towards the campground. The weather forecast was a high of 50-degrees with wind gusts up to 45-50 mph. We were prepared. Or so I thought.

It was a beautiful, maintained trail with spectacular views. Prior to hiking we had talked with some guys who informed us that there would be strong winds on certain parts of the trail. They also told us how cold it was at the summit. Every bit of their information was true. For the most part the wind was calm but it was very windy at the saddle and after the switchbacks toward the summit. The last two miles were the toughest.

This was a training hike for Whitney. (I got my permit and am looking forward to a successful summit in September.) So I was so proud of myself for not getting elevation sickness. This was my highest hike of the year.

Anyways, the summit views were breathtaking. I found two benchmarks and there was a register. We sat behind a rock wall and ate lunch. In my opinion, the wind chill was tolerable.

We hung out for almost an hour but later regretted it. As we descended the peak, the winds really hit us hard. I was freezing. The wind was so strong, and I felt like it might knock me down. Even though I was prepared for the cold weather, it wasn't enough. We tried our best to hurry back but it was a long way to our cars. The winds never stopped.

Our plans to bag Bennet or Rogers peak on the return quickly came to a halt. I really enjoyed hiking to Telescope but next time I'll wait for better weather conditions.

Stats: 16 miles, 3300' gain

[Sean]

Good job! Now race up Baldy from the Village about two dozen times until you turn into a mountain climbing robot.

Beep boop. I am a robot. I climb Whitney.
One step. Two step. Three step.
Beep boop.
Up. Up. Up. Summit.
Beep boop.
Now I go down 11 miles.
One step. Two step. Three step.

[Girl Hiker]

I'll keep that in mind as I climb Whitney.
Beep Boop

[Uncle Rico]

I had the same experience atop Telescope when I climbed it. High winds and frigid temps. Only stayed on the summit a few minutes, then back-tracked to the switch-backs to shelter from the freezing wind for a celebratory beer. Camped a Mahogany which was very pleasant in contrast to Telescope itself.

[dima]

Did yall bring the scopes? One of them is in an ammo box; does it live there?

[Girl Hiker]

DIma-some kids ran ahead of us and brought the yellow scope in the amno box and left it there. So yes it now lives there.
The black one has been there for awhile.

[tekewin]

Great hike. I would've guessed more snow up top. Been on my list a long time. Some day.

[tekewin]

Five years after my comment that Telescope was on my list, I climbed it.

I drove in the day before and the road was blocked by wild burros. They were completely unimpressed with my truck, horn blaring, so I had to get out and shoo them off the road. Love the wild burros. Did was warm up hike to WIldrose Peak from the Charcoal Kilns. Then drove up to Mahogany Flat to spend the night. The roads were in great shape up to Thorndike Camp, about a mile below Mahogany. The last half mile had some deep ruts where high clearance helped. There was only one other party camping at Mahogany.


Fish rocks on highway 178






Telescope from Wildrose

I hit the sub-peaks on the way up. I took the service road to Rogers Peak, then down to the trail, off trail to Bennett Peak. Off trail means easy open country with ankle level scrub. The trail was in great shape all the way to the summit. I couldn't really see the true summit until I was on the plateau, a quarter mile away. The National Park Service placed the register book. There were some binoculars in another ammo box, but NO telescopes. I could see the snow dappled eastern Sierra and make out the biggest peaks 80 miles away. Nice views into Death Valley. Early June is probably the sweet spot for weather on Telescope, unless you prefer to go when it has snow. It's a DPS emblem peak and only my 11th Ultra. It took a long time, but I finally checked it off the list.




Rogers Peak




Bennett Peak






Looking south along the Panamints


Sierra (2x zoom)

[Edward]

Thanks for the post and the photos, Tekewin. Back in the 1970's, Telescope Peak was one of my favorites. I hiked it from Mahogany Flats, from Shorty's Well, and from Mahogany Flats when it was covered with snow. Could not get enough of it. Was always thrilled by the wild burros, the Charcoal Kilns, and the views from the ridge. Slept in the kilns one windy night, making a much-appreciated shelter.

[tekewin]

Thanks for the post and the photos, Tekewin. Back in the 1970's, Telescope Peak was one of my favorites. I hiked it from Mahogany Flats, from Shorty's Well, and from Mahogany Flats when it was covered with snow. Could not get enough of it. Was always thrilled by the wild burros, the Charcoal Kilns, and the views from the ridge. Slept in the kilns one windy night, making a much-appreciated shelter.

It's a cool place. I can see how the kilns would be a great shelter from wind. I thought about trying the Shorty's Well route, but it would have been hard to arrange a shuttle. I wouldn't want to go back down that way. The wild burros were a treat. There must be 50+ around there. I'm guessing the snow route goes more directly up instead of following the switchbacks. It would be a long slide down any of those slopes.

[dima]

The trick to climbing up from Shorty's well is to mtb up to the mine and spring. It's a looong climb up an old mining road. Taking the bike makes it straightforward to do this without the shuttle.