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This is a summit I have wanted to bag for a while now. I have been up on the southern half of this thing 3 times now and each time wishing I could have dragged someone up there with me. I think the "plank" between the two halves has just intimidated me a bit in the past, but if I have someone with me that goes first my confidence levels usually soar. I've actually seen some people say the climb to get on the lower half is the hardest climb of this mountain and I can get up it so easily now (getting down is rather fun though.....especially with full backpacking gear on......hurray for ropes).

I'm thinking I want to take Boulder Canyon all the way this time though so I can get the awesome views of the bow of the ship coming from the north. If you have experience with this particular hike, it would be awesome if you would sign-up but anybody who has experience with bouldering (on really sharp igneous rock), exposure, offtrailing up 45° loose scree through catclaw and cacti and keeping up a strenuous pace is welcome to come. This definitely isn't for the faint of heart but the views even from the lower half are breathtaking (some of the best I've seen yet in the Supes).

hey, an 0176!

i assume this is a dayhike, que no?

rushthezeppelin wrote:hurray for ropes

Huh? What route did you take to get up there (or down) where ropes would be necessary?

It sounds as if the slopes have grown in a bit; the off trail portion from the Boulder trail to the ridge was the most brush-free off trail hiking I have ever done. I don't recall contending with any catclaw at all. Yeah, there's a little exposure on the ridge in places, but only for a couple of steps. It's no big deal.

Wish I was still back there; I'd do this hike again in a heartbeat. I think it is one of the most awesome in the Supes.

Hoffmaster wrote:

rushthezeppelin wrote:hurray for ropes

Huh? What route did you take to get up there (or down) where ropes would be necessary?

It sounds as if the slopes have grown in a bit; the off trail portion from the Boulder trail to the ridge was the most brush-free off trail hiking I have ever done. I don't recall contending with any catclaw at all. Yeah, there's a little exposure on the ridge in places, but only for a couple of steps. It's no big deal.

Wish I was still back there; I'd do this hike again in a heartbeat. I think it is one of the most awesome in the Supes.

I had a heavy pack because I brought lots of water up on top with me (ended up having almost 3/4s a gallon left when I got back to the TH). Its just the last little step to get off the southern half of the formation, you know where you have to jump about 4 or 5 feet down to a boulder. I just didn't want to kill my knees making that jump so I lowered my pack down with a bit of rope.

Where did you ascend the actual base because every time I've done it I just went up the one of the drainages on the west side of the mountain and it was some nasty bushwhacking in spots (although not as bad as the bushwhack me and tewa took to get out of Peter's Canyon). Last time I was there though I ran into some people who had a printed map that showed a route that kinda started at the southern tip more towards the La Barge side of the mountain. Is this the route you are talking about?.

Ooo and yes Mike I do plan on doing this as a dayhike.....not sure I want to actually camp up there again as there was nowhere I could really anchor my stakes (all the dirt up on the flat spots southern half seemed to be only a few inches deep before you hit the actual rock). I was lucky it wasn't windy or rainy the night I did it.

Follow my GPS track for a catclaw minimal route to the ridge!

When I went it wasnt that bad catclaw wise. Its a good hike though so I might be in for it. Depends though, I'll know as it gets closer.

nonot wrote:Follow my GPS track for a catclaw minimal route to the ridge!

I don't have a gps : /

rushthezeppelin wrote:Where did you ascend the actual base because every time I've done it I just went up the one of the drainages on the west side of the mountain and it was some nasty bushwhacking in spots (although not as bad as the bushwhack me and tewa took to get out of Peter's Canyon). Last time I was there though I ran into some people who had a printed map that showed a route that kinda started at the southern tip more towards the La Barge side of the mountain. Is this the route you are talking about?.

I followed Fritski's hike description from this site to a "T" and it never steered me wrong.

rushthezeppelin wrote:I had a heavy pack because I brought lots of water up on top with me. Its just the last little step to get off the southern half of the formation, you know where you have to jump about 4 or 5 feet down to a boulder. I just didn't want to kill my knees making that jump so I lowered my pack down with a bit of rope.

Oh. That makes sense.

rushthezeppelin wrote:I don't have a gps

Don't worry. You're not missing anything.

To me, the most interesting way to approach the Battleship is from the LaBarge side, starting at Canyon Lake.
After 1/2 mi. from the T/H, drop off-trail into Boulder Canyon and then take LaBarge to the lower box. As you approach the box, but before the canyon turns hard left, there is a well-worn, cairned, catclaw-less route up to the south end of the Battleship - from there it's a piece-o-cake all the way to the north end. Remember to look for and sign the (orange ammo can) summit log. If you want, when you're through, head off the west side picking up the Boulder Canyon Trail northbound. I have found it more expeditious to use LaBarge and Boulder CANYONS vs. the Boulder Canyon Trail. (of course with the caveat that if LaBarge and/or Boulder are RUNNING I'd suggest the trail). Yes, I have omitted the Second Water Trail - too crowded and too much lava rock for me. An added benefit to the LaBarge approach is that water is available at the box as well as at intervals (this time of year) before you reach the box.
If you want to shoot me a PM with your email addy, I'll reply with a map with notations for ya.

Okay after re-reading the hike description I see about where Fritz says to go up....It just seems awfully steep in that part. I always went up earlier because the slope seemed much more mellow on my map towards the mid of battleship. Regardless its still a pain to get up the scree slope (but totally worth it).

Anybody else interested in this one?

Well in order to accommodate Rally's schedule, this trip is now going to be this Friday. Probably just going to meet up at the Canyon Lake Marina around 7:30ish I would guess...if you want to come on this let me know.

Rush we can meet somewhere and carpool if you like, no reason everyone has to drive down to the Marina.

Dshillis, don't you have fridays off as well, want to do another time on Battleship?

Well part of the reason I said that is because I'll probably be dropping down to Tortilla Flats for a burger and a few brews after the hike

I would be down for a friday hike, where abouts are we meeting and what time?

Well hmm. We could maybe use the Lowes on HIghley as a meetup spot. Got a friend from school possibly coming on this one too. If I actually would stop being lazy today I could clean my car out and take 4 of us.

I wouldnt mind getting a burger at Tortilla Flat afterward. We can all meet at Lowe's and head out from there. My car fits four so I could drive, but whoever gets stuck in the back would have their knees in their face the whole time.

Sounds good to me. Lets say 7 am then at Lowes on HIghley and 60

Ok that sounds good to me. See you then.

Hopefully well pull really good time on this and I can get back in town so I can hopefully snag some wool leggings for cheap at REI