Telescope Peak

Saturday night found me driving out to Death Valley for a solo hike up to Telescope Peak. I have been wanting to hike to the peak ever since my last failed attempt back in the Winter of 2003.

After coming across a few extra days off from work that I forgot I had scheduled, I decided I had just the trip to burn up a few of those days off from work and a night spent alone on the peak would be a soul cleansing experience.

I hit the trail at 7 am and made the summit at 2 pm. I set up my camp a few hundred feet from the peak up against a pinion pine.

I spent the rest of the day reading a few books and hiding from the bugs inside my tent. As night approached, the tent (which I would normally not use) came in handy when the winds really kicked up on the mountainside.

Night-time temps inside the tent where just above 50 degrees and despite the wind, I was comfy and slept well.

The sun coming up over the Funeral mountains made a perfect alarm-clock. I was packed and ready to descend by 7 am.

The trip back down the mountain was a uneventful three hour stroll. I was soon back in the 4-Runner and on my way home.