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| Page Type: Route Location: California, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 36.71190°N / 117.0033°W Route Type: Hike / Scramble Time Required: Less than two hours Difficulty: class 2 with a taste of class 3
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| Page By: cp0915 Created/Edited: Feb 25, 2005 / Feb 11, 2008 Object ID: 164104 Hits: 605 Loading... Page Score: 0% - 0 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
ApproachSee main page.
Route DescriptionThe route is virtually impossible to get wrong or get lost on. It's almost a waste of time explaining it...but I will.
From Hell's Gate, head west/southwest cross-country for a little over a mile to the toe of the first butte. You can't miss it - Death Valley Buttes is the only stand-alone small mountain west/southwest of Hell's Gate. Once there, look for a use-trail heading up the butte. Even if you don't see one, no worries, just head up the thing...it's class 1-2.
When the top of the first butte is gained, look due west toward the highest butte (point 3017). Drop down to a saddle and continue westward toward the highest butte.
There is a nice little ridge that must be crossed on the final approach to the highest butte. The ridge is mainly class 2, but has a few fun and very easy class 3 sections. It's narrow in several places, including one particular 12" wide ledge section, has nice exposure into a series of steep gullies on either side, and ultimately makes the mountain worth doing.
From the top of the narrow ridge, walk west cross-country a little ways to the actual summit. When I was there, the summit "register" consisted of some scraps of paper in a prescription pill bottle.
On 2-10-08, tonyo added "Shorten the hike, if you'd like, by parking at the base of the first butte, instead of the Hell's Gate parking area. You can cut a half mile of hiking in a wash off the hike." - Thanks tonyo!
Essential GearHiking boots, water, sunscreen should do it in most conditions. Take a look at the weather, then use your discretion.
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Death Valley
