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Page Type:
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Trip Report |
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Lat/Lon:
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38.92278°N / 119.89767°W |
GPX File:
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Download GPX » View Route on Map |
Date Climbed/Hiked:
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Sep 7, 2023 |
Activities:
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Hiking, Mountaineering |
Season:
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Summer |
Overview
California/Nevada’s Heavenly Ski Resort sits on the northern slopes of the 10067 ft Monument Peak. Having skied there countless times, my cousin Kris was eager to hike it in summer. We decided to start our hike from Nevada’s Stagecoach side at an elevation of 7490 ft instead of the California side at 6640 ft. We followed a service road to an elevation of 9850 ft and then did some bushwhacking to reach the summit.
Trip Report
Hike Length: 10.84 miles
Total Ascent: 2577 ft
September 7, 2023
Kris and I drove to the big parking area at the bottom of the ski lifts on the Nevada side of the Mountain, elevation 7490 ft. We started our hike at 6:30 AM. Having looked at satellite photos earlier, my plan was to go up the slopes below the chair lift to reach the access road, but the area was roped off with a sign that said, “Not a Trail”. There was an official trailhead 150 feet away but that was an access trail to Lake Tahoe Rim Trail and did not go to Monument Peak.
We got on the trail which took us up the forest going away from the direction that we wanted to go but then it made a turn and reached the Tahoe Rim Trail. We turned right and soon reached the access road which we followed after that. I had expected to run into a lot of people, but we did not see any other hikers all day. Twice we ran into ski resort trucks on the road.
Ski slopes and beautiful trees.
Looking northeast at the Nevada plains far below.
First view of the summit of Monument Peak.
At 7:50 AM, 8620 ft and 2.73 miles, we reached East Peak Lake. A mid ski mountain lodge known as East Peak Lodge was visible across the lake.
Summit of Monument Mountain and East Peak Lake
Continuing up the road, summit of Monument Peak again.
Pretty trees.
From 9000 to 9530 ft elevation, the road went directly up the slope. It does not look steep in this picture, but it was strenuous. Kris said in winter, skiing down that slope did not at all feel steep.
Nevada plains to the north.
Summit.
At around 9800 ft, we reached the base of the summit. The plan was to leave the road and head east to reach the summit, but the slopes were made of jumbles of boulders with a seemingly impenetrable growth of shrubs/small trees. That was quite disappointing. Decided to continue the road to find a better spot to attempt the summit. Like Tahoe finally came to view. When I later looked at the map, I saw that this sign was actually 2000 aerial feet away from the California-Nevada border.
Followed the road to the southwest of the summit where an opening appeared in the shrubs. Left the road and went up a slope to reach a strange landscape, a sandy plain surrounded by boulders and dwarfed pine trees. Where did all that sand come from? Were we on the beach? Two hills made of jumbles of rocks covered with dwarfed trees were in front of us. I assumed that the right one was the taller one and the true summit.
Going up the rocks, I reached the top of the right hill at 9:49 AM and 5.71 miles. The other hill blocked most of the view of Lake Tahoe. Later when I looked at the map, I noted that the other hill had been the true summit. I don’t know why I did not go the extra minimal distance to the top of the other hill, at least for views.
Looking east toward Gardnerville, Nevada.
Looking south at Jobs Peak, Jobs Sister and Freel Peak.
Looking west at South Lake Tahoe. Mt. Tallac to Ralston Peak seen.
Looking north at the other hill (true summit). Rose Mountain to the distance.
Looking southwest.
Zoomed view of South Lake Tahoe.
Zoomed view, Mt Tallac/Dicks Peak, Jacks Peak, Mt. Price, Mt. Agassiz and Pyramid Peak.
Went down to Kris at the bottom of the hill. We sat there to eat and rest. Then we began to go back the way we had come. Very strange and beautiful environment.
Lake Tahoe.
Back to the road. Last views of Lake Tahoe.
Nevada Plains to the northeast.
Summit from East Peak Lake again.
Instead of getting back to the trail, we decided to continue down the service road. It took us to the end of a street in a gated community. Had to do a short hike down the streets to reach our car at 12:36 PM.