White Mountains - Boundary Peak

On the weekend of August 6-7, 1977, Don Deck, Gil Beilke, Uel Fisk, Stan Haye, Al Nikolaus and Bill Caipen climbed Boundary Peak 13,140', highest peak in Nevada. It is now located in the Boundary Peak Wilderness.

We left Lone Pine around 8 a.m. and picked up Stan, Al and Bill in Independence, then on to Big Pine where we left Gil's car (Gil & Uel were going on another trip after this one). We drove across Westgard Pass and on to Dyer, Nevada, then 16 miles to the Trail Canyon turnoff.

By not paying attention to my route information we made a wrong turn and ended up driving up Middle Creek canyon to the end of the road. We ate lunch by a nice stream, then backtracked and found the right road. This was a good road to its end at a small meadow.

We hiked about two miles up the canyon to camp at the springs around 9600' where the water starts. Cattle grazing in the area fouled the water but we were able to find a seep which we dug out and got good water. The campsite was open grass but nice.

Sunday morning we got up around 6 a.m. and after breakfast and packing headed for the peak about 7:20 a.m. We headed for Trail Canyon saddle, then up the ridge to Boundary Peak. (It is possible, but looser footing, to climb more directly up the left canyon).

On the way to the saddle we saw seven wild horses on the ridge and two more later, plus 5 deer. The route was steep in places but technically easy. At a false peak on the ridge at 12,000' Stan decided to stop. Bill Caipen and I made Boundary Peak about 11:15. The others had made it earlier and Gil and Al went on to Montgomery Peak while Uel stayed at Boundary.

Bill and I decided to forgo Montgomery although we probably should have done it. Gil and Al took a hour to go over, spent an hour on top, and took 45 minutes to return. We all headed down about 2:15 or so. We took the direct route down chutes to camp.

The views were okay but not great. It was smoky from many fires in California but even without the smoke the views would not have been tremendous. From camp it was a quick hike back to the car and we were on our way home around 5 p.m. I think. I was home about 8 p.m. after dropping everyone off. It was a good trip.

For more information and pictures check these links:

• SummitPost.org
• PeakBagger.com
• Boundary Peak via Queen Mine (an alternate route which includes excellent pictures to the Trail Canyon Saddle and then on to Boundary Peak)
• Forest Service Brochure (PDF)
• Forest Service access road map (PDF)
• Google "Boundary Peak" for more links