Driving into Calico Basin we hoped to see wild burros but have no luck.
Calico Tank Peak
Red Rock Canyon NCA
October 29, 2009
Dinah and I expected to knock off Calico Tank Peak in short order but the trip was fraught with intense routefinding beyond anything I've encountered before. We followed the descent route taken from Harlan Stockman's web site with little trip description but a good route map. A shorter, easier route could be taken from Sandstone Quarry, but our route from the other side, Calico Basin, avoided the crowds. Calico Hills, as we discovered, are incredibly complex. Deep canyons and towering boulders blocked our views. We stopped often to explore possibilities. Sometimes we had to backtrack. And rarely did the scrambling let up. After a meandering start we were fortunate to find a cairn. Continuing in the general direction of the summit, we kept searching for cairns, which were usually hard to find or even absent. After climbing for 2.5 hours we reached a saddle where we met a group that started from Sandstone Quarry just 35 minutes earlier! They turned back while we scanned the white rock above that was Calico Tank Peak. After much searching we made the summit. Despite the challenges, we enjoyed the trip. Most of the rock was solid for scrambling and the views from the summit better than expected for a little peak. But I don't recommend trying this route without instructions! |
Driving into Calico Basin we hoped to see wild burros but have no luck.
Setting off for Calico Tank Peak (centre).
The trail takes us by this tree.
Unsure of which way to go, we went right (unseen) but descended from this canyon.
There are many possibilities but we head to the narrow gap (upper right).
Dinah worms her way through the rocks.
Dinah heads to the cairn in front of her.
We need to get to the broad slope above but reaching it was harder than it looked.
We pass some fascinating rock along the way.
Cairns marked a steep route. Getting to the top (arrow) was easy but tricky after that.
An easier way was this chute on the right.
The only easy section. The summit ahead.
We still had to find a way up the summit.
Looking for a way up
All the rock was solid.
After searching the right side of the summit we try the left and find a way.
On top of Calico Tank Peak
Coming down
Dinah heads to a tiny arch.
Mostly a scramble on the way down
Following cairns, I tried a different route down but it led to a drop off.
I climb back up to Dinah.
Eventually we make it to the bottom of the canyon and follow it out.
Panorama from the summit. Turtlehead Peak on the right (looks like a shark fin).
La Madre Mtn. (1:24,000 USGS Topo)