Jul 22, 2022
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Etymology Indian Hills |
Story | Photos / Slideshow | Maps: 1 2 | GPX | Profiles: 1 2 | |
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This wasn't the 22mi bike ride I had planned on. I was supposed to hit up four summits in Nevada's Washoe County along the Tahoe Rim Trail heading north from Spooner Lake. When I got to Spooner Lake around 6a, they had a sign out, "Closed 7-21-2022 for paving." I drove in anyway, no attendant on duty and found the parking lot torn up and awaiting new pavement. I would need another plan. It wasn't until hours later that it dawned on me that today was 7-22, not 7-21. Still, it didn't look like they finished the job as planned, so it was probably best I didn't park there.
It was 8:10a and time for the cross-country. The distance to Peak 8,208ft was only 0.36mi, but there was moderate elevation gain and pretty much all sand. It took me 25min to make my way to the rocky summit, the final bit at class 2. It was only the first peak, but it was growing warmer and I was already tired. I found a register left a decade earlier, but there was no pencil (and I had none with me). Someone had torn out the name of the person(s) who'd left the register. Haters. There were familiar names - Sue and Vic Henney, Bob Sumner, Kristine Swigart, none surprising since this is their territory. No views of Lake Tahoe from the summit as they are blocked by higher summits between Peak 8,208ft and the lake. Good views to the east, though.
Peak 8,205ft turned out to be the better of the two. From Peak 8,208ft, it looks like a serrated ridge with steep sides (though the east side was not currently visible). It would prove challenging. Getting to the base of the west side was completely sand, but at least it was downhill getting to the saddle. I also found a road going up from the saddle, but I didn't follow it for long since it bypasses the summit well to the west. At the base of the West Face, I scrambled up towards a high class 2 saddle north of the pointy bits on the ridge. Nearing the top, I turned right to scramble more directly towards the summit. I back down from my first effort, finding a sketchy move I didn't like. The granite here is of poor quality and each step rubs crystals off the surface. The second effort just to the right was easier, thanks to cracks and ledges with better footing. This brought me to the very ridge, just 10ft north of the two highest blocks. There is a scraggily tree just below this point on the east side. The east side descent looked easier, but not easy. I now danced across the east side of the ridgetop to position myself below a short, easy lieback up to the southern of the two rocks. There are good holds to grab as I shoved my boots in the low-angle crack and pulled myself up. Success. The northern rock is only about 8ft away, a short, airy traverse between the two. None of the rock I scrambled was more than class 3, the last part beefy-3 due to poor rock quality. Another TR called it class 4 which I'd say is fair for Colorado 4. :-) I didn't find it as dangerous as described, but certainly one could get hurt on a fall. I sat on the airy perch to take a few pics, then returned to the tree that offered the easiest descent off the east side.
I ducked under one of the tree branches and descended easier class 3 rock for the short distance to the saddle on that side. The going becomes quite easy at this point, just open sand slopes back down to the road. I spent 35min walking the road back down the trail to where I'd stashed the bike. Another cyclist was pushing his bike at the same point. To much surprise, the guy was a kid no more than 10-11yrs old with a fishing rod across his back. This kid was in shape! I guessed he was heading to Hobart Reservoir and I complimented him on his progress so far, but his face had a sort of blank look like he was either too tired to react or simply didn't hear me. I suspect the latter.
The bike ride down went well enough, but not really enjoyable, save for there was no need to pedal. I had to keep the brakes applied for most of it, and the tires were squirrelly going through the sandier parts. I was down by 10:30a where it was already in the mid-80's. But it seemed much too early to call it a day and I didn't want to drive home, so I decided to do some heat training.
Getting back down to the TH was more taxing than I had expected. It was
warmer still, but I didn't check the temperature. I was of half a mind
to call it quits after Peak 6,460ft, but Indian Hills was an easier
effort and "Right There!"(TM by Scott Barnes). I sat in the shade of the
Jeep with a cold soda while I considered further. Against better
judgement, I decided to use the bike again. Out came the parts, wheels
on, pant leg tucked in sock. I guessed 20oz of Gatorade would suffice -
it would., and headed off across Jacks Rd to the other side.
The bike got me a little less than half way to the summit because it was flat
or downhill to that point. I ditched the bike again when the uphill
started and spent 20min hiking the last 3/4mi to
I was back at the Jeep after 2p, much like the previous day, only I was
far more tired. So much for heat training. My face felt crusted in salt
and I would start feeling cramps while changing out of my boots. I beat
a retreat to the Starbucks at US50 and US395 where it would take a few
hours before I was feeling sufficiently rehydrated. Passion tea lemonade
(with free refills) did the trick...
For more information see these SummitPost pages: Peak 8,208ft - Peak 6,460ft
This page last updated: Sun Jul 24 17:20:38 2022
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