Death Valley National Park High Point Trip Report

Telescope Peak (11,048 ft)

Date: June 24, 2001
Author: Andy Martin

The day before hiking Telescope we drove through Death Valley, and stopped by the visitor center. It was 115 degrees in the shade, and the kids made good time on the death march across the parking lot to the relative sanctuary of the indoor exhibits. Jane reckoned that anyone camping in the vicinity would swell up and burst, so the younger set took a keen interest in the locale of our evenings accommodations.

The big mystery to me was how far the fully packed Honda would make it on the rough road to the Mahogany Flat campground at 8,100'. The drive to the Charcoal Kilns in Wildrose Canyon was no problem, but the road after here was a bit high centered, gravelly, and steep. Fortunately we made the grade on the first attempt, and settled in at a nice trailhead campground.

A 4:00 a.m. alarm ensured an early start and hiking in dark/shade. Reached summit by 8:30 a.m. on the good trail, and enjoyed nice, but a bit hazy, views of Mount Charleston to the east, and the Sierra crest to the NW.