Granite Peak

BOU AVENUE
Granite Peak

On 4 January 2024, Zosia Zgolak and I scrambled up Granite Peak, the highest point of the Granite Mountains located within the Mojave Wilderness at the south end of California's Mojave National Preserve. We got our inspiration for this scramble from Bob Spirko's 2012 trip report.

Turn west onto a dirt road (high clearance vehicle recommended) from paved Kelbaker Road, 76.0 kilometres southeast of the interchange with I-15 (Exit 246) or 15.0 kilometres north of the interchange with I-40 (Exit 78). Drive 2.7 kilometres and park near a fence at the wilderness boundary.

Passing through an opening in the wilderness boundary fence, Zosia and I followed an old road which drops into a wash and continues southwest into a broad valley. About 3.7 kilometres from the wilderness boundary, we abandoned the road and crossed a dry creek bed before climbing up the ridge on the far side. Travel was initially easy, but as we climbed higher, we began running into more and more huge boulders which necessitated a lot of tedious route-finding. We tried to stick close to the crest of the ridge as much as possible but often found ourselves veering to climber’s left to avoid technical climbing. Somehow, we muddled our way high enough to eventually regain simpler terrain where we made better progress. The summit block is guarded by a final stack of boulders, but a weakness can be found to climber's right.

After taking a well-deserved break on the summit, Zosia and I retraced our steps more or less down the mountain. Despite going back over familiar ground, we still had a lot of route-finding challenges while descending the ridge. At one point, we veered quite far off the crest to skier's right and inadvertently wandered into increasingly complex terrain. We had to re-climb about 30 metres back up the ridge in order to get back on track and resume descending. The sense of relief was palpable when we finally regained the old road, and we had no further issues hiking back to the trailhead.

Caught her blinking! Zosia begins hiking from the wilderness boundary. Granite Peak is the bump at distant far left.

Beautiful, isn't it?
Clouds hover over the Providence Mountains behind Zosia.

Easy hiking is always appreciated in the desert!

Zosia enjoys easy hiking along the road for the first few kilometres. At centre is Granite Peak.

	Zosia will soon leave the road and head up the ridge straight ahead.
	Here is a look back at the broad valley used for the approach. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Route-finding on the ridge is complicated by numerous stacked boulders.
	Although the summit block looks close here, there are still some route-finding challenges ahead as well as 300 metres of elevation gain left.
	Sonny and Zosia stand on the summit of Granite Peak (2068 metres).
	Although not indicated on most topographical maps, the pinnacle to the south is apparently almost the same height as Granite Peak.
	The range's benchmark is apparently located on the lower unnamed peak (right) to the west. San Jacinto Peak and San Gorgonio Mountain are also visible on the left horizon.

We'll have to save Silver Peak for another day (if ever)!

Silver Peak (left) and the Providence Mountains (distant right) round out the view to the north.

	Zosia carefully descends the weakness in the boulders guarding the summit block.
	Despite going back the same way, Zosia still faces plenty of route-finding challenges on the way down.
	Sonny tries to revive the outdated fad of planking beside this interesting boulder. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

I'll be back...I hope!

Here is a last look at the Providence Mountains late in the day.

A challenging scramble but with great rewards!

Total Distance: 13.0 kilometres
Round-Trip Time: 8 hours 54 minutes
Net Elevation Gain: 848 metres

GPX Data

	Zosia begins hiking from the wilderness boundary. Granite Peak is the bump at distant far left.
	Clouds hover over the Providence Mountains behind Zosia.