Bottom to Top

I've been somewhat obsessed lately with climbing to the top of a mountain completely under my own power. That means no driving up a canyon to a trailhead and climbing from there, but starting at the base of the mountain and biking and hiking all the way to the top. My first challenge was Frisco peak, the highest point in the San Fransisco mountains west of Milford. I tallied about 3600 vertical feet climbing from the foothills to the 9860-foot peak - some biking, some hiking.

I try to remember to snap a photo of the benchmark at the top of the peaks I climb for a couple of reasons. First, these are often historically significant. The disc on Frisco Peak was established in 1971 which is not all that old, but many others were placed back in the 1930s, 1920s, or older. Second, there can be no dispute to whether you actually made it to the top if you have a snapshot of that summit benchmark.

The views from the high West Desert peaks are endless.

On the southwest side of Frisco Peak, west of the communication array, you will find this hang-glider launch pad to oblivion.

The Mineral Mountains west of Beaver are another little-known gem that I was compelled to climb. The high point is the 9580-foot-high aptly named Granite Peak. The color and contrast on this incredible fall trip were unbelievable. Scrambling up the snow-covered granite spires toward the end were a little sketchy but well worth it. Total elevation gain was about 3500 feet.