Ashford Peak (Unsuccessful) - Death Valley NP (2024-March) : DoubleTap скачать в хорошем качестве

Ashford Peak (Unsuccessful) - Death Valley NP (2024-March) : DoubleTap

Video of my ascent of Ashford Peak (3,547ft) in the southern region of Death Valley National Park in March of 2024. Unfortunately, due to the intense terrain on the southwest ridge approach I only made it halfway up but this video gives a good idea of what you will run into if you take the same approach. I parked at the Ashford Mill Ruins right off paved Hwy 178 as the road up to the Ashford Mill was officially closed due to multiple washouts from the heavy Winter rains. The last 0.25 mile to the parking area is on dirt/gravel road but it's flat with not many rocks so any car can make the short drive with no issues. The first 2.8 miles is hiking in open desert up 1,200ft to the start of the intense southwest ridgeline up to Ashford. At this point I could have headed east up towards the Ashford Mine and then the final ascent to Desert Hound Peak but the ridgeline to the southwest up to Ashford was too hard to resist ... bad decision. The ridgeline kicks your butt right off the bat with steep terrain coupled with sections of loose spots and sections with hard packed sand underneath small rocks and pebbles that move under your weight. There is even a short Class 3 move at ~1,330ft that required some thinking to get up (coming down it was a lot easier) unless you want to traverse around the small hump which involves some harrowing footwork on a very narrow use trail that has some sections washed out. I would rather go straight up as opposed to around humps so I did the Class 3 move and continued on. The only positives of the ascent on this harrowing ridge are the views and the wildflowers. However, the terrain is intense with hardly any flat spots. It is extremely loose and steep at times too. The only fun I had on this section was hitting some stable Class 2 areas with big rocks that did not move. Unfortunately, at noon I was just under halfway up to Ashford when I hit a VERY steep and narrow section with loose terrain so I decided to turn around knowing that pushing further would run the risk of descending this hell ridge in the dark. Not an easy decision as I really did not want to descend this section but I had no choice. After a lot of intentional butt sliding and a lot of swearing I was finally back down on the dirt road. The last 2.8 miles was easy on the dirt road which had many washed out sections and some pretty deep sandy spots too. I would not want to take my 4-Runner up this road. While I was bummed that I did not summit Ashford I am encouraged to know that I can go back and try another approach via the Ashford Mine direction. In addition, on that approach I think one can avoid that crazy southwest ridgeline. Ashford Peak 1 / Matt 0 but I will be back. Peakbagger.com trip report and GPX points from this hike can be downloaded at https://www.peakbagger.com/climber/as.... Contents include: 0:56 Hike Info (Distance, Elevation Gain & Profile, Time, Available Water, Climbing Class, Loose Terrain, Overall Rating) 1:06 At the Trailhead (Ashford Mill Ruins Parking Lot) 1:49 View of Telescope Peak 3:25 Start of the Southwest Ridgeline Approach 5:29 Class 3 Move (Ascent) 7:08 Very Loose & Steep Section 7:57 Red Rocks, Wildflowers, & Cactus 8:27 Moment of Defeat (Turning Around) 10:30 Wildflowers Galore 11:16 "Devil Plant" with Thousands of Needles Growing Out of the Rock (What is this plant?) 13:45 Hell Descent 15:56 Barrel Cactus 16:40 Descending the Very Loose & Steep Section (On my butt!) 18:00 Scouting Out the West Wash Approach up to Ashford & Desert Hound Peak from Above 18:27 Class 3 Move (Descent) 19:44 Back on the Washed Out Road / Finally Down from the "Hell" Southwest Ridgeline 21:12 Massive Orange & Red Boulders 21:33 Vibrant Pink Cactus Blooms 22:42 Back at the Car 23:34 Hike Info 23:44 Trailhead Information (Road Conditions, Car Requirements, Parking, Bear Boxes, Bathrooms, Trash Cans, Water) 23:55 Trail Information (Water, Snow Conditions, Microspikes, Mountain Bikers, Crowds, Off-Leash Dogs) 24:05 Hike Route (Google Earth) 24:25 Hike Route (Topo Map) 24:35 Directions from Las Vegas, Pahrump, Lone Pine, and Bishop 25:00 Music Credits 25:10 End