mstender - Mar 21, 2022 9:14 am Date Climbed: Mar 20, 2022
Canyon Route
I arrived at dark and camped off the powerline road just before it dropped in Chemehuevi. The road to the mine was in decent condition and high clearance would be sufficient. I drove the road another mile from the mine and 4WD was needed. I took the canyon up and down and really enjoyed the scenery.
aobbard - Feb 3, 2020 4:24 pm Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2020
Alternate route down next ridge to West
LOVED this hike. Couple data points...
First, on the drive in, much of it is on the powerline road, and there aren't any *great* campsites until the mine. I mention this because if you drive in at night, as we did, and think "oh we'll just stop wherever and crash for the night..." there's really not a good spot before the mine. Which will take you 1 hour and 2 minutes to reach from pavement.
Second, we followed the route on surgent.net up. The approach through the canyon was really enjoyable, with great footing on open rock for much of the way.
Third, we took a different- and I think better- way down. On the return we continued further along the summit ridge to point 4092 on the topo. (This minor peak has great views to the West/Southwest and is worth doing as a quick side trip even if you're returning the same way you came up.) From 4092 we dropped the ridge heading North and slightly West down to where it rejoins the up-route at elevation ~3,000 ft in the bowl-like little valley at the top of the canyon referenced in the point above. This is the first major ridge to the West of the one surgent's route climbs. This route is easier and a bit more scenic, but it passes through a cliff band near the bottom of the ridge. There's one (and I think only one) chute that passes the band- a class 3 or 4 scramble with a little exposure. Otherwise it's an easy route. (It would also make for a great ascent, though the bottom of the chute is not obvious from the valley below.)
jdmorehouse - Dec 5, 2016 2:42 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2016
2nd Ascent
Wind had died down from the day before (climbed the Turtle Mountains HP the day before), and a bit warmer. Pleasant day with great views. Spirit to the north, Stepladder to the west, Lake Havasu to the north east, Chemehuevi to the north, and Signal way down in AZ to the south, to name a few. #53 into my second DPS list finish.
kevin trieu - Mar 28, 2016 6:29 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2016
Carried the dog down
Climbed with Allison and Zoe the wonder dog. Thought it was an easy outing until Zoe lost the skin on her hind paws and we had to carry her down the mountains. Poor Zoe. Next time we'll get her some dog booties.
gimpilator - Feb 18, 2015 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2015
A week in the Desert
I spent 3 days hiking with Heather and then she went off to do 100+ miles on the PCT. I then spent 4 days bagging peaks solo and I started with Whipple. Whipple was fairly rugged. I found an old tobacco pipe near the summit which looks ancient. Other things I climbed on this week trip include the Kingston, Kelso Dunes highpoint, East Ord, Cady, Chemehuevi, Mastodon, and Eagle (J-Tree).
jdmorehouse - Dec 29, 2013 6:12 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2013
Two Forks
We started this one using the Summitpost directions, since I didn't have my DPS directions with me, as Whipple was a replacement for another peak we decided against earlier in the week. The directions call for paying attention to a fork in the wash about .8 of a mile in. All is good, but at approximately 1650' of elevation there is another, less obvious fork that must be taken to the right. We didn't see it and continued on in what appeared to be the main channel, until we later ran into a massive headwall. We climbed out of the channel onto a rough ridge that worked it's way up and down several bumps, with the last one giving up nearly 300' of elevation to get to the 3000' saddle where the real climbing begins (I know we're not the first to have made that mistake). From there I worked my way around the base of a huge rock formation and found my way up to the summit ridge. We returned down the canyon we should have been in on the way up, and it was easy and pleasant. BTW, despite what some say, there was not a cairn of any kind along either route, with the exception of a summit cairn at point 3290' and the three high points on the summit ridge.
cab - Jan 22, 2013 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2013
War Eagle Mine
Fun, easy day with a big group of new friends. Nice views to the Lake Havasu area.
bechtt - Oct 29, 2010 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2008
Ridgeline up, canyon down
With Bob Burd & Matthew Holliman, did Chemehuevi in the morning followed by this one.
surgent - Mar 2, 2010 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Feb 28, 2010
Just after a small storm
We arrived late the night before and got rained on for a few hours, but by next morning the clouds had cleared out, leaving a beautiful cool day for the climb. The canyon portion is outstanding. Even the very tricky-looking parts aren't bad, as long as you pay attention. Trip Report, 2/28/10
mstender - Mar 21, 2022 9:14 am Date Climbed: Mar 20, 2022
Canyon RouteI arrived at dark and camped off the powerline road just before it dropped in Chemehuevi. The road to the mine was in decent condition and high clearance would be sufficient. I drove the road another mile from the mine and 4WD was needed. I took the canyon up and down and really enjoyed the scenery.
aobbard - Feb 3, 2020 4:24 pm Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2020
Alternate route down next ridge to WestLOVED this hike. Couple data points...
First, on the drive in, much of it is on the powerline road, and there aren't any *great* campsites until the mine. I mention this because if you drive in at night, as we did, and think "oh we'll just stop wherever and crash for the night..." there's really not a good spot before the mine. Which will take you 1 hour and 2 minutes to reach from pavement.
Second, we followed the route on surgent.net up. The approach through the canyon was really enjoyable, with great footing on open rock for much of the way.
Third, we took a different- and I think better- way down. On the return we continued further along the summit ridge to point 4092 on the topo. (This minor peak has great views to the West/Southwest and is worth doing as a quick side trip even if you're returning the same way you came up.) From 4092 we dropped the ridge heading North and slightly West down to where it rejoins the up-route at elevation ~3,000 ft in the bowl-like little valley at the top of the canyon referenced in the point above. This is the first major ridge to the West of the one surgent's route climbs. This route is easier and a bit more scenic, but it passes through a cliff band near the bottom of the ridge. There's one (and I think only one) chute that passes the band- a class 3 or 4 scramble with a little exposure. Otherwise it's an easy route. (It would also make for a great ascent, though the bottom of the chute is not obvious from the valley below.)
jdmorehouse - Dec 5, 2016 2:42 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2016
2nd AscentWind had died down from the day before (climbed the Turtle Mountains HP the day before), and a bit warmer. Pleasant day with great views. Spirit to the north, Stepladder to the west, Lake Havasu to the north east, Chemehuevi to the north, and Signal way down in AZ to the south, to name a few. #53 into my second DPS list finish.
kevin trieu - Mar 28, 2016 6:29 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2016
Carried the dog downClimbed with Allison and Zoe the wonder dog. Thought it was an easy outing until Zoe lost the skin on her hind paws and we had to carry her down the mountains. Poor Zoe. Next time we'll get her some dog booties.
gimpilator - Feb 18, 2015 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2015
A week in the DesertI spent 3 days hiking with Heather and then she went off to do 100+ miles on the PCT. I then spent 4 days bagging peaks solo and I started with Whipple. Whipple was fairly rugged. I found an old tobacco pipe near the summit which looks ancient. Other things I climbed on this week trip include the Kingston, Kelso Dunes highpoint, East Ord, Cady, Chemehuevi, Mastodon, and Eagle (J-Tree).
jdmorehouse - Dec 29, 2013 6:12 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2013
Two ForksWe started this one using the Summitpost directions, since I didn't have my DPS directions with me, as Whipple was a replacement for another peak we decided against earlier in the week. The directions call for paying attention to a fork in the wash about .8 of a mile in. All is good, but at approximately 1650' of elevation there is another, less obvious fork that must be taken to the right. We didn't see it and continued on in what appeared to be the main channel, until we later ran into a massive headwall. We climbed out of the channel onto a rough ridge that worked it's way up and down several bumps, with the last one giving up nearly 300' of elevation to get to the 3000' saddle where the real climbing begins (I know we're not the first to have made that mistake). From there I worked my way around the base of a huge rock formation and found my way up to the summit ridge. We returned down the canyon we should have been in on the way up, and it was easy and pleasant. BTW, despite what some say, there was not a cairn of any kind along either route, with the exception of a summit cairn at point 3290' and the three high points on the summit ridge.
cab - Jan 22, 2013 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2013
War Eagle MineFun, easy day with a big group of new friends. Nice views to the Lake Havasu area.
bechtt - Oct 29, 2010 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2008
Ridgeline up, canyon downWith Bob Burd & Matthew Holliman, did Chemehuevi in the morning followed by this one.
surgent - Mar 2, 2010 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Feb 28, 2010
Just after a small stormWe arrived late the night before and got rained on for a few hours, but by next morning the clouds had cleared out, leaving a beautiful cool day for the climb. The canyon portion is outstanding. Even the very tricky-looking parts aren't bad, as long as you pay attention. Trip Report, 2/28/10