Ascent of Grapevine Mountain on 2015-04-11| Others in Party: | Larry Edmonds
Nelson Peacock
Beth
----Only Party on Mountain | | Date: | Saturday, April 11, 2015 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Motorized Transport to Trailhead: | 4x4 Vehicle | | Peak: | Grapevine Mountain | | Location: | USA-California | | Elevation: | 3955 ft / 1205 m |
Ascent Trip ReportDrove in on a dirt road off northside of SR-78 at MP ?. If coming from scissors crossing the road is just after right side old road bed pullout and just before the plum canyon road/signage (also on the right/south side). We had 4wd vehicles but didn't need 4wd; a high clearance vehicle definitely would make it; car likely would make it also just would have to watch for deep sand. After driving in about 1.5 miles there is a pull out to the left which we parked and started at point N33.14021 W116.44133. Heading WSW following a wash towards Grapevine Mtn (which isn't visible from this point). We went around two small dry falls. We climbed out of the wash at a large juncture (just below point 2620). We took the least brush route (as this was a burn area not too many years ago) to the northside ridge (between point 2620 and point 3125). After a short break at point 3125, we maintained the ridgeline not wanting to give up too much elevation before sidestepping back into the upper reaches of the wash. There are a couple different use trails to follow. All seem to point to the high point (which is not visible from this location). Some of the group went straight for the highest visible point only realizing it is one of several false summits. The best route is aiming just below and right while ascending. This makes the grade more manageable and more direct in the end. There are some points along the ridge just shy of the summit with some large drops on the Bitter Creek Canyon side. One member almost lost a hat due to sudden exposure to gusts. Also a few of the rocks (one I nicknamed the thumb) are ready to fall/roll down the same exposure. So scout your route before blindly ascending some of these fall hazards. After several false summit bumps, the actual summit is wide and broad. We signed the register and found the benchmark (with both reference marks). Half the group decided to stay here while the other half of the group headed peak 3831.
Our descent continued along the ridgeline to the SW. Upon reaching a saddle, we scouted our route down into Bitter Creek Canyon along a steep airy ridge with a good use trail.
Stats are for Grapevine Mtn. After the round-trip to Peak 3831, we returned to this saddle to start our descent to Bitter Creek Canyon. The side stepping wasn't too bad. Watching out for loose rock/soil and cacti avoidance. A fall here would likely not be fatal but would ruin your day/week. Halfway down the ridgeline, we were catching up to the group that didn't go on to peak 3831. They had headed left/west side down into the upper reaches of Bitter Creek Canyon. The right/northeast side of the ridgeline is a more direct route to the canyon proper which would eliminate a couple dryfall detours we had encountered. Once at the canyon bottom, the going is much easier. There are many twists and turns, short brush and deep grass at all the water seepage spots. Not enough to drink nor appealing; especially with all the white mineral deposits. Eventually we reached the cast iron tub just below Bitter Creek Spring. We noticed the large cottonwood tree was down; likely due to the last fire. However there was no doubt were the spring was due to large palm and deep green grass circle in the middle of the canyon wall. We continued out the wash. The temperature was really climbing especially without the slight breeze we experienced up top along the ridgeline. The wash reaches the dirt road. We turned onto the dirt road (south) back to our parked vehicles.
Total stats for Grapevine Mtn & Peak 3831:
8.2 miles, 3363 feet total elevation gain; total elapsed time 6h 43min which includes picture stoppages and summit break times |
| Summary Total Data | | Total Elevation Gain: | 2635 ft / 802 m | | Total Elevation Loss: | 2635 ft / 802 m | | Round-Trip Distance: | 6.8 mi / 10.9 km | | Grade/Class: | Class 1-2 | | Quality: | 5 (on a subjective 1-10 scale) | | Route Conditions: | Open Country, Scramble | | Gear Used: | Ski Poles | | Weather: | Pleasant, Breezy, Clear | | Ascent Statistics | | Gain on way in: | 2357 ft / 718 m | | Gain Breakdown: | Net: 2064 ft / 629 m; Extra: 293 ft / 89m | | Loss on way in: | 293 ft / 89 m | | Distance: | 2.6 mi / 4.2 km | | Route: | XC NE Ridge | | Start Trailhead: | N33.14021 W116.44133 1891 ft / 576 m | | Time: | 3 Hours 3 Minutes | | Descent Statistics | | Loss on way out: | 2342 ft / 713 m | | Loss Breakdown: | Net: 2064 ft / 629 m; Extra: 278 ft / 84m | | Gain on way out: | 278 ft / 84 m | | Distance: | 4.2 mi / 6.8 km | | Route: | Bitter Canyon Wash | | End Trailhead: | N33.14021 W116.44133 1891 ft / 576 m | | Time: | 3 Hours 39 Minutes | Ascent Part of Trip: Grapevine Mtn 2015
Complete Trip Sequence:
| Order | Peak/Point | Date | Gain | | 1 | Grapevine Mountain | 2015-04-11 | 2635 ft / 803 m | | 2 | Peak 3831 | 2015-04-11 | 728 ft / 222 m |
Total Trip Gain: 3363 ft / 1025 m Total Trip Loss: 3363 ft / 1025 m | GPS Data for Ascent/Trip
 GPS Waypoints - Hover or click to see name and lat/long
Peaks:  climbed and  unclimbed by Jim Wick
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