Humboldt County High Point Trip Report
Granite Peak (9,732 ft)
Date: June 23, 2002
Author: Scott Surgent
Adam and myself bypassed Star Peak and went directly for this HP north of Winnemucca. We arrived at Hinkey Summit
at about 4:30 pm, and 4WD helped us gain another 600 feet, shave off a mile and put us on a neat little sage
flat for a great campsite at 8,400 feet.
We walk the road to its terminus at a fence line, then the fence line up a steep sage and rock-slab hillside
to top out at a knob just east of the summit. Here, we descended and assessed the final push.
The final portion looks pretty challenging and steep but as we started up, the way became fairly obvious and safe.
It is steep, but the granite slabs make good solid steps. About 100 vertical feet below the top the
route becomes total boulder-hopping. If you pay attention and follow the most sensible route up,
you should come to an 8-foot slab about 20 feet below the summit, no more than 50 feet horizontally from the top.
This slab is definite class-3, but the granite rock offers bomber holds. The final scramble was over a
little ledge and up to the summit rocks. We relaxed for a bit and celebrated.
We down-climbed the rocks and were back to my truck at about 8 pm. We camped at the site for the evening.
Adam enjoyed blackberry liqueur to celebrate his one hundredth county highpoint.