GlassMountains Trip Reports

Pusch Peak, Arizona, November 2024

December 5, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday, November 30, I climbed Pusch Peak on the western edge of the Santa Catalina Mountains of Southern Arizona. This peak is closed for bighorn sheep lambing season from January 1 through April 30. I needed to visit it soon if at all this winter season.

Morning view of Pusch Peak from the Linda Vista Trail

That morning I drove to the Linda Vista Trailhead. I was fortunate to find a parking spot. From the trailhead I followed the Linda Vista Trail east, then turned to follow the unmaintained Pusch Peak Trail higher towards the peak’s summit.

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Elkhorn Crest Summit Point, Oregon, October 2024

October 26, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Tuesday, October 8, I returned to Western Union Basin deep in the Elkhorn Mountains of Oregon. My goal was to climb “Summit Point” a peak rising to the west of Chloride Ridge along the Elkhorn Crest. Three days earlier I had driven in to this remote location and climbed Chloride Ridge West Peak. Summit Point appeared to be quite accessible using the same approach.

Summit Point on the right from Chloride Ridge West Peak

This would be the last of four high priority Elkhorn peaks I wanted to summit this season. In early August I had tried to visit Summit Point from the North Powder River. But road debris blocked my drive in several miles short of my intended parking spot. I hiked from there, anyway, but ran out of time far from the peak. I was much more hopeful today.

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Chloride Ridge West Peak, Oregon, October 2024

October 19, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday, October 5, I left our home in the Baker Valley to attempt the West Peak of Chloride Ridge. The previous month I had climbed Chloride Ridge East Peak, and I decided then that my best chance to reach the West Peak of Chloride Ridge was from Western Union Basin and Mayflower Meadow, above the North Fork of Rock Creek.

Chloride Ridge West Peak in the center of this view from Chloride Ridge East Peak.

I followed Forest Road 5520 as it climbed beside the North Fork of Rock Creek. It was at times eroded and often steep, requiring high clearance and 4WD Low from my Jeep. The road forked, climbed more steeply, and became rockier. But I was delighted to find it was quite passable high into the basin.

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Chloride Ridge East Peak, Oregon, September 2024

September 30, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday, September 13, I left our home in the Baker Valley and drove into the Elkhorn Mountains along Rock Creek. I parked at the Killamacue Trailhead, and began my attempt to climb the East Peak of Chloride Ridge. From the east, Chloride Ridge leads south, then turns west above the North Fork of Rock Creek. Chloride Ridge has several little summits. Two of them have at least 300 feet of prominence, qualifying them as peaks in their own right according to those who keep track of such things.

An afternoon view of Chloride Ridge East Peak from Killamacue Lake.

The eastern-most summit of Chloride Ridge (Chloride Ridge East Peak) lies above to the southeast of Killamacue Lake, a reservoir used to provide irrigation water to the Baker Valley. The Killamacue Lake Trail provides access to the lake, and I hoped it would get me close enough to the East Peak for a feasible ascent.

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