Impromtu run, Piute Pass, Jan 27, 2013
Posted: January 28th, 2013, 2:50 amA few weekends ago we did a snow wheeling run up Piute Pass from the Caliente side. This time, we did a run up Piute Pass from the Weldon side. After a winter storm and 3 days of rain in Bakersfield, I was expecting fresh powdery snow, but there wasn't any. We had about 1/2 inch of powder on top of the crunchy, hard to break through, old snow with a slick icy base. When you add that to a 10% grade, it was slow going. The icing on the cake though, was that crunchy top layer allowed us to get past that last fire trail on the way to Piute peak where the deep powder stopped us two weeks earlier and we got to the weather station at 8,380 feet and then we hiked to the peak, which is a little over 8,400 feet!
Starting at less than 500 feet elevation in Bakersfield, on our way to the Kern Canyon and then on to Lake Isabella
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4149.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4157.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4160.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4161.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4171.jpg[/img]
After Lake Isabella and turning east into the high desert at Weldon, we ran into Joshua trees in the desert from 2,700 feet elevation to over 4,000 feet.
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4173.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4175.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4179.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4180.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4183.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4184.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4185.jpg[/img]
At the Piute Mountain trail head, at 4,100 feet elevation
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4187.jpg[/img]
A reverse view from Paiute Mountain, looking down to the Jawbone Canyon OHV area
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5119.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5124.jpg[/img]
Another reverse view looking down to Kelso Valley Road and Mayan Peak
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5126.jpg[/img]
Around 6,000 feet elevation, the terrain starts to change from high desert to alpine forest, with pine trees and scattered snow
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4190.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5093.jpg[/img]
An abandoned mining camp at 6,800 feet elevation
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5095.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5097.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5100.jpg[/img]
3 point Y-turn on a narrow trail
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5105.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5108.jpg[/img]
Deep snow eventually stopped James. With 33x12.50 BF Goodrich KM2's, he didn't have the width for floation to keep from digging deep in the snow or the clearance to keep his belly from dragging. He pulled his jeep off to the side at around 7,400 feet elevation and we continued on in one rig, treading cautiously, but knowing we had an escape route, with his Jeep less than 2 miles from the peak.
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5109.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5111.jpg[/img]
The peak at Piute Pass, at 8,200 feet elevation. Our group had been there, just two weeks earlier, but approaching from the opposite side, coming from Caliente.
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5112.jpg[/img]
After cutting out a downed tree at 8,350 feet on the fire trail to the peak of Piute Mountain. It was a winter wonderland with every tree, every branch completely coated in ice!
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5114.jpg[/img]
The weather station at the peak of Piute Mountain, with GPS reading 8,380 feet. The fire trail ended and we hiked to the summit at 8,440 feet. Not bad for a day trip with a climb of 8,000 feet and back!
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5117.jpg[/img]
A spectacular winter wonderland!
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4193.jpg[/img]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp-qORrZbmQ][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w59XaYIsJPk][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYkH_4E6r14][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_cVTDiJwD8][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9lKfWW2gtQ][/youtube]
You tube videos are still uploading at the time of posting. Youtube says they have an editor That can splice videos. I'll' give it a shot. Anyon have recommendations for a differentvideo editing program?
Thanks,
-L.
Starting at less than 500 feet elevation in Bakersfield, on our way to the Kern Canyon and then on to Lake Isabella
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4149.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4157.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4160.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4161.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4171.jpg[/img]
After Lake Isabella and turning east into the high desert at Weldon, we ran into Joshua trees in the desert from 2,700 feet elevation to over 4,000 feet.
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4173.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4175.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4179.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4180.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4183.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4184.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4185.jpg[/img]
At the Piute Mountain trail head, at 4,100 feet elevation
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4187.jpg[/img]
A reverse view from Paiute Mountain, looking down to the Jawbone Canyon OHV area
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5119.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5124.jpg[/img]
Another reverse view looking down to Kelso Valley Road and Mayan Peak
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5126.jpg[/img]
Around 6,000 feet elevation, the terrain starts to change from high desert to alpine forest, with pine trees and scattered snow
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4190.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5093.jpg[/img]
An abandoned mining camp at 6,800 feet elevation
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5095.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5097.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5100.jpg[/img]
3 point Y-turn on a narrow trail
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5105.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5108.jpg[/img]
Deep snow eventually stopped James. With 33x12.50 BF Goodrich KM2's, he didn't have the width for floation to keep from digging deep in the snow or the clearance to keep his belly from dragging. He pulled his jeep off to the side at around 7,400 feet elevation and we continued on in one rig, treading cautiously, but knowing we had an escape route, with his Jeep less than 2 miles from the peak.
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5109.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5111.jpg[/img]
The peak at Piute Pass, at 8,200 feet elevation. Our group had been there, just two weeks earlier, but approaching from the opposite side, coming from Caliente.
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5112.jpg[/img]
After cutting out a downed tree at 8,350 feet on the fire trail to the peak of Piute Mountain. It was a winter wonderland with every tree, every branch completely coated in ice!
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5114.jpg[/img]
The weather station at the peak of Piute Mountain, with GPS reading 8,380 feet. The fire trail ended and we hiked to the summit at 8,440 feet. Not bad for a day trip with a climb of 8,000 feet and back!
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/DSC_5117.jpg[/img]
A spectacular winter wonderland!
[img]http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k34/ldmcnutt/Offroad/IMG_4193.jpg[/img]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp-qORrZbmQ][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w59XaYIsJPk][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYkH_4E6r14][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_cVTDiJwD8][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9lKfWW2gtQ][/youtube]
You tube videos are still uploading at the time of posting. Youtube says they have an editor That can splice videos. I'll' give it a shot. Anyon have recommendations for a differentvideo editing program?
Thanks,
-L.