Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Ubehebe Peak (Death Valley)

This weekend I made an attempt at Ubehebe Peak but turned around to make it to Saline Valley before dark, my question is has anyone on here done this hike? because as you reach the crest the trail forks with one route being slightly blocked and the other had markers, the route I took with markers leads up the wrong peak, although you could continue from this location cross country on the ridge line the other route which clearly lead to some old mines from what I could see I was told by a man in Saline Valley in a vague manor of course that the mining route leads all the way to the peak, can anyone confirm or deny this?

For anyone that hasn't done it if your ever out in Racetrack Valley give it a go, the trail is 6 miles around trip with about 1800 foot gain and it offers wonderful views of Saline Valley and Racetrack Valley .

All images here .

Beautiful RP. I just decided I am going to DV. I have never been there. Hard to believe how beautiful the desert can be.I always end up in the mountains or at the beach. My bad for never going to DV yet.Seems like I only think about DV and its killer summer heat. Duh how about other times of the year.

Tin and Ubehebe, weekend of 21 March.

Bob R: Thanks for posting your link. I especially like Tea Kettle Junction:




Rod, go ASAP! Weather is usually perfect this time of year.

RP, those are nice pictures. I especially like this one titled Palisades. Where were you when you took it? The peak in the center kind of looks like Mt. Humphreys (or is it Mt. Sill?)

People look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them I've been to just about every major national park in the lower 48, and that my favorite is Death Valley. This is why. I always visit in winter - usually between Feb 20 and Mar 10 - when the wildflowers are in bloom and the temps are just perfect. Daytime highs in the 70s (maybe 85 at Badwater), cool nights in the 40s, clearest, most brilliant night-time sky you will ever see. Oh yeah - and no damn bears!

If you think this place is hell on earth (and it is 8 months a year), you really need to see it's other face - millions of purple and yellow wildflowers popping out of the hottest, driest valley on the planet, towered over by the snowy Panamints! You can stand in Lone Pine and look off to Whitney in the distance with a vertical relief of about 10,800 feet, and be mesmerized. It's better in DV: you can stand on the valley floor at Badwater and look up at Telescope Peak right above you with over 11,300 feet of relief. Something like the 3rd highest relief or apparent elevation in the world after Denali and Rainier, but don't quote me.

It's amazing the number of Californians that I've spoken with over the years that have never visited this place during the best time of the year. It's right in your backyard folks, and it's worth a few hours on the road - especially since the Sierras are not easily accessible Nov-Mar! In fact, I'll be there again this year (March 2-8), during prime wildflower season. This will be my 7th trip in the past 11 years coming from the other side of the country for no purpose other than to camp and hike in DV in the winter. It is so worth it!

Nice job Bob, looks like you all went straight up instead of taking the trail? I thought it looked like it wouldn't be so bad (terrain wise).

I love Death valley, it has so many interesting locations to explore and such beautiful desert scenery, when the Sierra is bogged down with snow in the winter then time to play in Death Valley!

That shot Steve was taken along Big Pine Road, we left Saline Valley over North Pass which hooks you up with it.

The mountain in the center is Mt. Sill, it always reminds me of Whitney the way it's summit looks with the two points on it's left.

Middle and North Palisades are also visible in that image.

Steve I am going soon. I hope to meet up with Bulldog34 and QS in Feb. if all works out. It really is amazing that I have never been there when so many people I know talk about it all the time and I live so close.It is officialy on "my list" of must do.

RP, yes, we did the Ubehebe direttissma. Another suggestion is a loop trip a few years back. We parked on the Saline Valley road around 2500 ft, then climbed the south ridge to the summit. Descended the gully west of the peak to the valley floor, then around to get back to the cars. The descent involved one 40 ft rappel. I have pictures, but they are slides.

As others have mentioned, Death Valley is a great place to go in the winter. My favorite climb there is Corkscrew, and I do it five or so times a year. Thinking about this weekend. And my favorite route on it is not in the guidebooks, which is surprising. If you look at my Flickr pictures, you can figure it out. A Thimble-to-Corkscrew traverse is also nice.

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Did go, yesterday. Pictures

Rogue,

looks like that polarizer filter is really treating you well

Nice trip!

Rod, I had to push my trip back a week due to work commitments. I'll now be there the first week of March, and QS is planning to come up that weekend. Hope that works for you! It's actually better from a wildflower perspective. There'll still be plenty of snow in the Panamints.

Yeah Peter if you hadn't recommended it I would still not have a polarizer, I probably shouldn't use it as often as I do which is 95% of the time but I often get good results.

Bulldog I have no long range plans so that seems to be OK with me as of now. I'll know better what my schedule will be the closer we get to March. Seems like it should work out fine.I just have to try to and work it in around my work schedule. Even though I am self employed, my chiropractic practice doesn't allow for much free time,especially with the economy and last year especially.Good thing is my other business is carrying me and actually returning me money instead of being such a money pit.
I will try to bring you some pics of Herschel Walker.Another good thing is I am only 3 hours from LP.

Rogue, it's been a few years since I did this, but I do recall that either the trail ran out or I lost the trail. In any case, I just scrambled up to the summit without following a trail. This pic http://quandary98.smugmug.com/Nature/Ubehebe-Peak-April-2008/4705138_TaQk4#278403580_Af3yR shows the trail approaching the ridge; scramble up the north face. Amazing views of the Racetrack from the summit!

Edit: Just took a look at your pics. I think this one http://www.flickr.com/photos/roguephotonic/4245673987/in/set-72157623135427918/ is comparable to the one I took. I don't recall the ridge being "hairy" at all, but might seem so from the perspective you took your pic.