Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Boundary Peak for acclimatization?

My friend and I are thinking about doing Boundary Peak for acclimatization. Does anyone have any info on it? How accessable is it? On a trail? Technical? Is there water? Views? Permits, being that it is in Nevada? Can you sleep on top? How difficult to drive to? Trailhead distance from peak? ...?

Thanks, Mark G

Boundary Peak (13,146') is a climb in its own right. There is no official trail, although most will follow a good use trail, in the sand, all the way to the top. Many will do this peak taking two days, from the approach up Trail Canyon. With grazing there, and foot deep cowpiles, this would be for hikers who "have to do" the classic route.

Up the Queen Canyon Road, which starts off Highway 6, you can drive pretty far up with a passenger vehicle. In 1992, I drove my subcompact nearly to the ridgecrest, at 10,000 feet. There may be some private land issues. A use trail heads for the peak from there, and then, crossing down a slight dip, many sand routes head for the top. Assuming you know the way, it is about four hours to summit. Getting down is a run. The peak and route are obvious.

There is no water aside from any snow, all gone by now. No permits to get, for a day climb, and it is pretty rocky to sleep on top. Nice views, as always along the Eastern CA area, and thousands of hikers do this.

photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/50301922CQpcli

When we did Whitney in 2001, we were hoping to do Boundary on the way back up to Reno, but the rental car broke down before we got to the trailhead. From what we saw, the first 3+ miles of the Queen Canyon road was readily passable in any car. From there up, the guys we were going along with said that you needed more clearance, especially the last mile or so from the Queen Canyon mine area up to the Kennedy Pass saddle.

We were planning on camping at Kennedy Pass and hiking from there the next day. As long as you don't mind carrying a LOT of water up there, it would be a good spot to camp and acclimate. Bone dry, though, unless you were early enough in the year for there to be some snow left around.

You might also consider Glass Mountain, which is a lot more accessible than Boundary Peak, with good forest service roads up to the trailhead. It's not as tall (11k and small change). Closer to Mammoth Lakes, too, if you want to stay somewhere civilized for a couple of days at reasonable (8,000') altitude.

Details in my 2001 trip report under the "highpointing" pulldown on my <a href="http://www.mtritter.org">WWW site</a>.

Glass is fine for an easy hike. It took me an hour to summit my first time. Watch out for sharp rocks in the road on the way up. I punctured my tire when I drove over some. There's a lot of obsidian in the area, worse than broken glass.

How about White Mountain Peak (14,246')? Lots of people do this, and it is a dirt road to the top. Places to dry, car camp above 11,000-12,000 feet. Good hiking trails through the bristlecone pines, the oldest living things on earth. No high clearance needed here. Only good power required to motor you up the hills. Usually a friendly, hospitable UC lab.

Many posters do this for another high peak to climb, either before or after Whitney. You can backpack up and sleep in or near the summit hut, for some heavy-duty acclimation. But watch for the wind, then!