Wheeler Peak, NV

[Jim]

I have a random date in the middle of August chosen simply because it seems like a time I might be able to do this. It's not hard and fast. Is there interest in hiking (its only a walk up) Telescope Peak in Death Valley NP? The views, if the air is clear, are supposed to be phenomenal. You can see the High Sierra including Whitney, Lone Pine Peak, Russell, Williamson, Langley, plus others, and then the Spring Mountains west of Vegas. According to SP, Telescope offers more relief than any peak in North America except except Denali and Rainier. Basically, from the 11,049' summit you look down on Badwater at -282', so you have over 11,300' of relief. Even Whitney only has 10,500' or so. Most other peaks have less. It's an interesting fact, but not the only reason to do this. I thought it might be interest anyway.
Anyone interested?

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Feb 2010 view of Telesccope Peak from Badwater http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=122380

I'm "interested" but not "committed". There's a significant time commitment just getting to and from DVNP and typical August temps may limit the potential "wrap-around" activites. Maybe, just enter the Death Valley Ultramarathon and get all the "wussy stuff" out of the way? http://www.badwater.com/

[Jim]

I thought it might be nice to have some heat in the summer ;) , you know, since it's always so cool in Flagstaff. Actually, I figure if I'm gonna visit a place named for death, it might be at it's worst. Lots of water and electrolyte replacements is all I need to keep from dying. I thought I'd be in the park for at least 3 or 4 days. Maybe do some other things there. Golf in 130 degrees anyone?

[hippiepunkpirate]

Very interested, but not likely. I'll have to see how my summer plays out.

[Jim]

DVNP isn't as far as people think. It's closer than Rocky Mountain NP. You've always got time for Death!

[hippiepunkpirate]

I'm going to Death Valley here the first week of April for a Geography fieldtrip

[FreespiritAZ]

August is known as meteor month. If you go around the 12th or 13th then you will get to see the annual Perseid's meteor shower. If you bring a telescope it will make it that much better, but you can see plenty of "shooting stars" without one around that time.

[Jim]

http://matt.tracz.org/2010/04_14/index.html

A TR from a fellow who did Telescope on the 14th. Aside from getting into some dry air in monsoon season, the view from Telescope is incredible. Scroll down about 4/10 of the way and see some photos taken from Telescope that have both Whitney, Russell, and the southern high Sierra, as well as Bad Water. I know these were probably taken under ideal conditions, and the haze may block most views past 50 miles in summer, but you can appreciate what can be seen from the summit on a good to excellent day. There are some good shots at the start of the report, as well.

[azbackpackr]

Awesome, thanks for posting. And now I know what that big peak was I saw when I climbed Whitney!

[Jim]

So, I took one of the pictures from the TR and added numbers to certain features to ID them. I am 99% sure they are correct.
1. Langley Peak
2. Cirque peak
3. Cottonwood Lakes RD (the one that goes from the Portal Rd to Cottonwood Lakes and the New Army Pass area.
4.Le Conte Peak
5. Mallory
6. Irvine
7. Whitney
8. Lone Pine Peak
9. Russell
10. Carrillon

[hippiepunkpirate]

Man, after going to Death Valley in April, I really want to do this one. We'll see if I can make it when the time gets closer .

the haze may block most views past 50 miles in summer

Is this the haze you were talking about: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=130221

[Jim]

Man, after going to Death Valley in April, I really want to do this one. We'll see if I can make it when the time gets closer .

the haze may block most views past 50 miles in summer

Is this the haze you were talking about: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=130221

Yeah, thats it. Though moisture might be a bigger part of it in summer than in April. I wonder how visibility will be in summer?

[azbackpackr]

Cool pic of the Sierras, too!

[Jim]

I've been all over the place when planning for some sort of a trip in August. I'll have the time (I think) but money and low desire to travel vast distances is making me think of different things. Telescope was becoming part of a California trip that I no longer believe I will do. For a while, I was thinking of Glacier, but that is a longer drive than I want to do. Now, I'm thinking of Great Basin NP. I've been looking more at a location that isn't more than, or much more than, a days drive, and offers itself or the area as a destination so I am not driving thousands of miles as I had done over the last 3 years trips. So, if you think Wheeler Peak, or some of the back country trip ideas there interest you, let's chat.

[RedRoxx44]

Went up Telescope by the standard route in July. Wildrose early the previous day. Good camping, was free, near the TH.
Here are my pics from 2006---http://www.hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=8985

[Jim]

Might go to Glacier, Canceled.