Binoculars in the Backcountry: White Mountains Exploration

With a camping and hiking trip planned in late July with our friends BJ, Bob and T, and wildfire smoke messing up a large portion of the area, we had to find someplace to go with good air. The White Mountains along the CA/NV border looked good. This mountain range holds a large population of the oldest living organism on earth, the Ancient Bristlecone Pines. Susan and I have day hiked this area dozens of times over the years, but there were areas in the range that we had never been able to access. With friends along and several high-clearance 4X4 vehicles for safety, we were set to see some new country.

First up was a quick day hike up to the top of Campito Mountain for lunch.

Bob and T enjoying the lunch view from the top of Campito Mountain

We then headed for our first destination, Cottonwood Basin on the east side of the range. This required a steep 4X4 descent off the top, past an old mine, and into the basin at 10,000 feet elevation. Once on flat ground again we set up camp and watched the rain showers for the rest of the afternoon.

Ancient Bristlecone Pine

Coming down the hill. If you look closely you can see BJ's 4Runner

An old cabin at the mine site

Young Bristlecone

Evening in the Cottonwood Basin

The next morning we put together a loop hike through the basin in the White Mountain Wilderness that would take us along the North Fork of Cottonwood Creek. This creek starts near the top of the 14,000+ White Mountain and has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River. It also holds a population of federally endangered Paiute Cutthroat Trout, transplanted there from their original range in Silver King Creek for conservation.

Elk (or Meadow) Thistle

A 100+ year old arborglyph from the days of sheep grazing

Larkspur

After our hike we traveled back up out of the basin and over to Crooked Creek Canyon for a descent down to a campsite near Station Peak, our objective for the next morning. The hike up to the top was short and steep, with some tricky talus at the top, but worth the effort for the amazing views.

Station Peak on the left

Talus near the top

From the top of Station Peak we could see back into Cottonwood Basin

From the top of the peak, looking down Crooked Creek and into Death Valley

From there we backtracked up Crooked Creek and took the other 4X4 road into the basin and the South Fork Cottonwood Creek for a lovely evening of exploration and camping.