Labor Day Weekend White Mountain Peak, Ancient Bristle Cone Pines, Beer

Over Labor Day Weekend I'm heading to White Mountain Peak east of Bishop CA. White Mountain Peak is the 3rd highest moutain in CA (14,246 feet) and you can ride a mountain bike to the top. Or more likely ride and push a mountain bike to the top and ride it back down.

The plan is leave the Bay Area Friday afteroon, drive across 120 through Yosemite, turn south on 395 toward Bishop and drive up Silver Canyon Road to White Mountain Road and camp between the top of Silver Canyon and Wyman Canyon. Saturday THEED and nDub will catch up at Camp.

I will wait for Saturday arrivals at the intersection of Silver Canyon Road and Wyman.

37.440312, -118.186560

https://goo.gl/maps/48MjfUehPXD2

It sounds like most of you will get there by 3pm. Does that sound good?
If you are unable to make it by 3pm meat us at the locked gate. Or come down Wyman, but you'll be on your own.
The locked gate is here -

37.557683, -118.235679

https://goo.gl/maps/X4yZCJ2SADR2


After that we're gonna take a drive down Wyman Canyon and check out the sites and return to White Mountain Road and camp at the trail head.

The gate to Barcroft Station will be open on Sunday we hike/Ride White Mountain Peak. The gate is open from 6:30-7:30. 11 hours should be plenty but we should camp at the gate and be ready to motor early.

White Mountain Peak is one of the "Easier" 14ers, however it is still a 14er. Being that we're going from sea level to 14K feet altitude sickness will probably set it. Personally, I'm not prone to altitude sickness so I'm not too worried.

I have a ham radio and will monitor 146.46 starting Friday night.

Oh yeah, there is no wood up there so bring some firewood if you'd like a fire.


More info can be found here http://www.summitpost.org/white-mountain-peak/150221

more good info here:https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/best-la-hikes/hike-white-mountain-peak-california/


If anyone is interested let me know.

 

This sounds like a nice trip!!

 

Yeah, the only thing is currently the road isn't open to Barcroft Gate. I'm hoping by September the snow will be gone. Plan B is to drive around the White Mountains and explore and drink beer.

 

Subbed.

 

There was an article in the LA Times (of all things) talking about the affect this winter has had on the Eastern Sierra high country. Sounds like there are a lot of places that won't open until late in the season pushing people out into dispersed camping areas.

The area around Yosemite for example, got 241% of it's annual snowfall according to the article. Holy Schmoly!

edit: is closed for the season.

 

I'm interested, but if you want the "easy" hike we should go Sunday the 3rd, since the gate is open and you can drive all the way to Bancroft Station. http://wmrc.edu/community/default.html

 

Done!

 

Mountain biking would be like a little old lady taking a walk on pavement. Try a wheel chair like Four Wheel Bob did a few years back. He is well known in the bay area for baggimg a number of peaks in his wheelchair. Has to drag it sometimes. He failed a few times due to the elevation and getting sick, I was there on one of his attempts, but he finally made it from the research building you can drive to. The outdoor john has a great view. I missed some friends the first day I was there, so ended up hiking to White Mt. two days in a row so a friend didn't have to walk alone. Seen enough of it. The Bristlecone pines are neat to see, imaging what they been through.
Duane

 

That sounds pretty amazing..thanks for sharing!

 

@theed, are you still in?

I'm going to try to leave work early on Friday, Sept 1, probably around noon from Fremont.
When do you think you can leave?

We'll probably meet a friend of mine who's driving around Utah at the trail head. He's got this idea that we're gonna ride his mountain tandem to the summit. Also, one other person and his wife might meet us there. They have a subie so they won't be doing Silver Canyon Road.

I'm thinking we can make it all the way to the top of Silver Canyon on Friday and explore Saturday and finish the day at the trail head or somewhere nearby.

Also Wyman Canyon road is listed as unknow difficult conditions....sounds perfect.

 

This will cost you a park vehicle admission if you don't have a National Parks Pass. Might consider 108 as an alternate.
We were out just west of there Saturday, beautiful area.

 

I have a parks pass. That's a nice route!

I'll probably be going through so late there won't be anyone stationed at the entrance anyway. I'll probably run into someone there on the way back though.

 

I've got a wedding to go to on Friday afternoon, so my current plan is to leave either late Friday night or more likely early sat morning, and meet up early sat afternoon. I'll look at this a bit more when I get home. (Driving back from Oregon and the eclipse now.)

 

If I leave at 06:30-ish on Sat, that puts me in Bishop around 13:00 and probably up around the bristlecones around 14:00. Does that work for you to meet up Sat. afternoon on top of a mountain somewhere, explore some more on Sat.?

I'll bring two handheld HAMs, and can bring a CB for the truck if everyone else wants to use that.

After hiking, I'm inclined to camp somewhere nearby Sun night, and have a leisurely drive back on Monday.

I've got a friend that's gonna ride with me and and hike too, looks like.

Wyman looks fun:
http://ourfourwheelcamper.blogspot.com/2014/08/wyman-canyon-white-mountains-inyo-nf.html
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=81034
"many stream crossings on this route, 4WD and High Clearance vehicles recommended. On the East end of Wyman Canyon is White Mountain City, in the 1860’s this was a silver processing town, only some stone walls and smelter stacks remain."

 

Sounds like a good time. I'd be interested, but not sure I can take the time since I just got back from a big trip.

 

Sounds good...I think that last time I went down Wyman I didn't get very far. I was by myself and got a puncture and turned back.

I might be able to get my hands on an IN-Reach Satellite locater. It can be linked to a website so you'll be able to see exactly where I am.

For Ham frequency 146.460. Next week I'll add a back up frequency if that one is occupied.

You're welcome to join

 

Oooh I want to do this trip.

Let me look into it. I think my plans for labor day fell through so I'm free.

Would a stock tacoma make it up Silver Canyon Road? I've never done that road.

 

DO IT!

Stock will make it. The last time I went up it my truck was stock. Low Range is the important part.

85 Jalopies would make it too.

 

Nice!

I've been meaning to do this exact trip for awhile. Even better that the gate will be open!

Now to talk my wife into it... at a minimum I'll probably bring my kids or maybe a kid. I'll have to figure it out.

 

Sounds good!

I might bring my mountain bike or meet my buddy who might bring his mountain tandem.