BajaNomad

No snow so we must go. Strike mission to picacho del diablo

LukeJobbins - 2-6-2018 at 03:34 PM



































My new friend is a guide for hiking picacho del diablo in Sierra Pedro de martir, and she invited me to go hike this past weekend. Normally this is a 3 day hike but we did it in two due to time constraints. While I have been to the park several times, I’ve never hiked to picacho. I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who is into backpacking or peakbagging. It is fairly intense but not too long distance wise. You need a guide to obtain a permit to hike it because several people have been hurt and several have died over the years just from getting lost. I’m not trying to scare you, because it really isn’t that intense, there just isn’t any help available once you get out there. Absolutely amazing scenery, and rock formations with one of the best views in all of baja from the top. We started from campo noche at 3am and reached the peak at sunrise. We could see both bodies of water and all the way from San Felipe to Bahia Gonzaga and from Colonet past San Quintin. If you want to go, I can not recommend enough , Sofia with her guiding service SIMA. I don’t think anyone has more love and respect for that area then her and it shows with how helpful and stoked she is to get everyone to the top to share the mountain and then back safely. Gracias Sofia! And all the park rangers and the mountain for keeping me humble.

David K - 2-6-2018 at 03:35 PM

WONDERFUL!!!
Thank you for sharing the photos and you report!!!
:bounce::bounce::bounce:

freediverbrian - 2-6-2018 at 04:27 PM

Great photos,thanks!

Pacifico - 2-6-2018 at 06:06 PM

Thanks for sharing your pics! Looks fun!

mtgoat666 - 2-6-2018 at 06:20 PM

Silly to require a guide. If we have climbed it before, will they require a guide for future climbs?

TMW - 2-6-2018 at 07:49 PM

Excellent pictures, thanks.

advrider - 2-6-2018 at 08:24 PM

Cool report, thanks... I'm sure going with a guide wont be that big of a deal!

LukeJobbins - 2-6-2018 at 11:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Silly to require a guide. If we have climbed it before, will they require a guide for future climbs?

If you can prove to them you know the hike and route I’m sure they would be fine with you going without a guide. There have just been so many people that have gotten lost and hurt that they want everyone out on the trail to be with someone who for sure won’t get lost and they only hand out radios to guides.

Maderita - 2-7-2018 at 12:50 AM

Congratulations Luke. It's an arduous route and an accomplishment to be proud of. Great fotos, thanks for sharing. Two days is a fast time. At first I wondered why the alpine start (before first light). Now I get it: summited from Campo Noche and hiked out in a day. That's one long day!
Sofia Bautista is rapidly gaining recognition for her numerous ascents on the mountain. What is her current count, maybe 35+ ascents now?
It has been over 20 years since I guided on the mountain.
If you speak Spanish, this interview might be of interest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmVG5f9ZUvk&feature=yout...

Mtgoat666,
Luke is correct. If you can demonstrate sufficient prior experience and proper equipment, the rangers will allow non-guided ascents. They want everyone to check in at the ranger station for registry and inspection. That mountain has seen it's share of people getting lost, disoriented, and dire situations or deaths. So, I don't agree that the requirement for a guide or significant prior experience is "silly." It's a serious mountain, with potentially serious weather. It has become the "Mt. Whitney of Baja" in my view. Seems like everyone wants to climb it, but most people lack the basic skills and knowledge. Just 10 or 15 years ago, most people had significant experience before attempting the route. Now it's a tourist hike on everyone's bucket-list. (Not directed at Luke or degrading anyone who has the energy to tackle the route).
You must recall the family that was lost and dramatic rescue last year? Btw, Sofia was instrumental in the ground efforts of that successful search & rescue operation.

bajapedro - 2-7-2018 at 07:09 AM

Awesome! Thanks for sharing pic's!!

nandopedal - 2-7-2018 at 08:35 AM

Or.....you can simply go from the desert, no ranger to check on you but like stated above it is a place to be taken very seriously. I've summit twice with the help of Francisco Detrell also an excellent guide from Ensenada.

John Harper - 2-7-2018 at 08:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
If you want to go, I can not recommend enough , Sofia with her guiding service SIMA.


Got a contact number or email? I would like to go into La Grulla meadow in search of Nelson't trout.

John

[Edited on 2-7-2018 by John Harper]

Congradualtions!

Don Jorge - 2-7-2018 at 09:09 AM

That's how you bag a peak. Thanks for sharing.

David K - 2-7-2018 at 09:35 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
If you want to go, I can not recommend enough , Sofia with her guiding service SIMA.


Got a contact number or email? I would like to go into La Grulla meadow in search of Nelson't trout.

John

[Edited on 2-7-2018 by John Harper]


The first site for Mission San Pedro Mártir is in La Grulla, too. Square stone pads the wooden church was built upon survive from 1794. After three forsty months, the mission moved 7 miles south and 1,700 feet lower! This mission is what gave the entire mountain range its name.

John Harper - 2-7-2018 at 10:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
If you want to go, I can not recommend enough , Sofia with her guiding service SIMA.


Got a contact number or email? I would like to go into La Grulla meadow in search of Nelson't trout.

John


The first site for Mission San Pedro Mártir is in La Grulla, too. Square stone pads the wooden church was built upon survive from 1794. After three forsty months, the mission moved 7 miles south and 1,700 feet lower! This mission is what gave the entire mountain range its name.


Yes, that would be part of my plan as well, to try and find the foundation stones.

John

David K - 2-7-2018 at 11:02 AM

Froylan Tiscareño gives the GPS for them (as I recall) in his 2013 book, Baja California Adventures. On Google Earth, you can see the site to some degree, as well.

LukeJobbins - 2-7-2018 at 11:35 AM

+52 1 664 272 5312 Phone number
And or Facebook SIMA outdoors. I was told to google “Sima picacho” to find the Facebook easiest.

Tell her you heard about her from Luke. She would get a kick out it.

John Harper - 2-7-2018 at 11:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
+52 1 664 272 5312 Phone number
And or Facebook SIMA outdoors. I was told to google “Sima picacho” to find the Facebook easiest.

Tell her you heard about her from Luke. She would get a kick out it.


Thank you. I don't do Facebook, but I will give her a call.

John

fishbuck - 2-8-2018 at 02:05 PM

I have been to the top of both San Gorgonio and San Jacinto. And I didn't ride the tram at San Jacinto.
From the bottom. No guide either. I'm lucky I didn't die.
I hope I still have at least one more good climb left in me so I can do this trip.
I might need 2 guides. Porters to carry me down:coolup:

John Harper - 2-9-2018 at 06:21 AM

I got in contact with Sofia. Thank you. Awesome photos. What creek is that in your photos?

John

BigBearRider - 2-9-2018 at 07:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck  
I have been to the top of both San Gorgonio and San Jacinto. And I didn't ride the tram at San Jacinto.
From the bottom. No guide either. I'm lucky I didn't die.
I hope I still have at least one more good climb left in me so I can do this trip.
I might need 2 guides. Porters to carry me down:coolup:



The Cactus to Clouds route on San Jacinto is quite a feat. Extremely impressive.

BigBearRider - 2-9-2018 at 07:45 AM

What’s the guide fee for Picacho del Diablo, ball park?

LukeJobbins - 2-10-2018 at 10:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
I got in contact with Sofia. Thank you. Awesome photos. What creek is that in your photos?

John


It’s the creek that runs down canyon del Diablo. I have been all over the park but I have no idea the names of anywhere up there.

LukeJobbins - 2-10-2018 at 11:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
What’s the guide fee for Picacho del Diablo, ball park?


Don’t quote me on this because everything I know is just from casual conversation with Sofia. She was saying something about a 6000 peso minimum with 1000 pesos per person after 6 people for the picacho hike which is 3 or 4 days normally. I have no idea how set in stone that is or other variables or what other guides charge or what her charges are for other locations. I just became friends with her a couple weeks ago and joined her group to help out with some rock climbing stuff gratis so like I said, don’t quote me on her prices exactly. I just hang out with her and occasionally she tells me when to show up to teach people how to climb.

Let me know what you guys think of that price of 6000 minimum for only guiding services? She thought it might be high, mostly for locals, but I said at least for tourists it seems cheap. Looking at rei prices for guiding services or how much it costs for one day on a panga, her prices seemed cheap to me. But please let me know what you guys think. And once again, don’t quote me on this stuff. I’m not a spokesperson for her group, just a friend who did the hike.

woody with a view - 2-10-2018 at 12:20 PM

Glad to se you keeping busy. How was the Searcher season?

LukeJobbins - 2-10-2018 at 10:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Glad to se you keeping busy. How was the Searcher season?

Actually I jumped over on the condor for some overnight and day and a half action. It was great. We just stopped running a few weeks ago. Bluefin in December and January. Can’t really ask for much more. Now a few months off work and back out there for hopefully an epic season. Not before at least one more bay trip though.

BigBearRider - 2-11-2018 at 08:01 AM

Thanks for the info.

John Harper - 2-11-2018 at 08:49 AM

6000 pesos? That's like $320 for 3-4 day trip with a guide? Seems like a REAL bargain to me. I'm definitely interested in La Grulla next year.

It cost's $700 or more to have a couple mules pack gear into the Cottonwood lakes (5 miles), and that's an easy trail.

A flyfishing guide will cost you $400/day.

John

[Edited on 2-12-2018 by John Harper]

woody with a view - 2-11-2018 at 01:53 PM

Yeah mang, the Condor had a good season! Planning on the bay mid May.

LukeJobbins - 2-12-2018 at 08:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Yeah mang, the Condor had a good season! Planning on the bay mid May.


Hmm mid may sounds pretty interesting. Let me know the exact dates as it gets closer. It would be cool to hook up down there again.

bajaandy - 2-12-2018 at 09:05 PM

Sweet photo essay. Climbed it about 10 years ago with a buddy. We did the 3 day version... hike in, climb the next day, hike out the next. Really rugged peak and a cool place to visit. I always said if I ever went again I'd like to do the Pinnacle Ridge route. Sad to hear about the guide issue, but even back when we went, they wanted to check our gear and make sure we knew what we were doing.

John, let me know if you ever want to go after those trout! That's for sure on the bucket list.

LukeJobbins - 2-12-2018 at 09:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaandy  
Sweet photo essay. Climbed it about 10 years ago with a buddy. We did the 3 day version... hike in, climb the next day, hike out the next. Really rugged peak and a cool place to visit. I always said if I ever went again I'd like to do the Pinnacle Ridge route. Sad to hear about the guide issue, but even back when we went, they wanted to check our gear and make sure we knew what we were doing.

John, let me know if you ever want to go after those trout! That's for sure on the bucket list.


Sofia is probably the most popular person I know and super busy but we both want to do the pinnacle route as soon as she has a couple days free. Maybe in March during my spring break. I’m all about rock climbing and I’m getting her more into it and I was just drooling over all the rocks around the canyon and the peaks. Especially the thought of the pinnacle route. Or maybe a southern desert approach with some climbing and scrambling.

BigBearRider - 2-20-2018 at 02:55 PM

I made it up Pico de Orizaba on Sunday. 18,500 feet or so. It was generally miserable. I swore "never again" but the next day started making plans for the next one.

LukeJobbins - 2-20-2018 at 05:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
I made it up Pico de Orizaba on Sunday. 18,500 feet or so. It was generally miserable. I swore "never again" but the next day started making plans for the next one.

Awesome. Were you with Sofia? She was or is there right now. I wanted to go but had obligations keeping me here.

LukeJobbins - 2-20-2018 at 05:14 PM

Also wanted to give an update on Sierra Pedro de martir. I went up solo on Thursday and got denied entrance into the park as a whole. Apparently an American wanted to hike to blue bottle peak solo and was denied a permit so he said he would just camp and not do the hike and he went anyways. Well he got caught the rangers got in trouble for not monitoring the park enough and now the rangers are denying solo entry into the park. If you are part of a group or caravan type deal it is fine, but they are not allowing people to be in the park solo. I emailed the regional national park office in Ensenada to inquire about getting around the rule because I have been probably about 20 times solo and I have tons of gps routes and experience in the park and some survival training. They wrote me back saying this is not a new rule but it is new that they will be enforcing the no solo travelers rule from here on out. Outside of the park like picacho del Diablo they don’t care. And knowing some people and a few of the rangers I may be able to skirt around this rule from time to time but this is just a heads up for anyone in the future. No solo entry to the park. I was/am pretty bummed about it because I do almost all my trips and exploring solo and that eliminates a lot of planned trips down there this year for me.

David K - 2-20-2018 at 05:27 PM

To be clear, unless you have a passenger, they won't let you camp or even visit the observatory for the day??? Gee, I prefer to have my wife, but when researching for the roadguide last October, I was solo. Could it be because you had asked about climbing and that was why?

AKgringo - 2-20-2018 at 05:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
I made it up Pico de Orizaba on Sunday. 18,500 feet or so. It was generally miserable. I swore "never again" but the next day started making plans for the next one.

Awesome. Were you with Sofia? She was or is there right now. I wanted to go but had obligations keeping me here.


He wasn't in Baja, that mountain is in south central Mexico.

I'm impressed...just breathing at that altitude would be a challenge for me!

Maderita - 2-20-2018 at 06:44 PM

Congratulations BigBearRider. What an aerobic workout!

AKGringo, surely Luke knows where Pico de Orizaba is located. Sofia also climbs or guides on the big volcanoes, so he made no mistake. Sofia posted from Nevado de Toluca (4th highest) yesterday.

Luke, sounds like you have the serious stoke for climbing. Hit me up if you are interested in rock climbing in the Sierra de Juárez. ClimbBaja {at} aol [dot] com


[Edited on 2-21-2018 by Maderita]

mtgoat666 - 2-20-2018 at 07:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
Also wanted to give an update on Sierra Pedro de martir. I went up solo on Thursday and got denied entrance into the park as a whole. Apparently an American wanted to hike to blue bottle peak solo and was denied a permit so he said he would just camp and not do the hike and he went anyways. Well he got caught the rangers got in trouble for not monitoring the park enough and now the rangers are denying solo entry into the park. If you are part of a group or caravan type deal it is fine, but they are not allowing people to be in the park solo. I emailed the regional national park office in Ensenada to inquire about getting around the rule because I have been probably about 20 times solo and I have tons of gps routes and experience in the park and some survival training. They wrote me back saying this is not a new rule but it is new that they will be enforcing the no solo travelers rule from here on out. Outside of the park like picacho del Diablo they don’t care. And knowing some people and a few of the rangers I may be able to skirt around this rule from time to time but this is just a heads up for anyone in the future. No solo entry to the park. I was/am pretty bummed about it because I do almost all my trips and exploring solo and that eliminates a lot of planned trips down there this year for me.


Ridiculous!
This coming from a country/govt that does not enforce building codes or seat belt laws, and builds/maintains crappy roads - and together kills dozens of people per day.
Ridiculous!

LukeJobbins - 2-20-2018 at 08:52 PM

I did originally go to down to rock climb(boulder), and the rangers knew I was coming solo but they lost internet the day before when the incident happened and they couldn’t warn me to not go. They made it clear to me that it did not matter the reason for visiting, nobody goes in solo. I am not sure if it applies to the observatory. It wouldn’t make sense to deny access to that.

LukeJobbins - 2-20-2018 at 08:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  
Congratulations BigBearRider. What an aerobic workout!

AKGringo, surely Luke knows where Pico de Orizaba is located. Sofia also climbs or guides on the big volcanoes, so he made no mistake. Sofia posted from Nevado de Toluca (4th highest) yesterday.

Luke, sounds like you have the serious stoke for climbing. Hit me up if you are interested in rock climbing in the Sierra de Juárez. ClimbBaja {at} aol [dot] com


[Edited on 2-21-2018 by Maderita]


Oh for sure. I am always down for some rock climbing. I’ve never climbed in Juarez so I’m for sure interested in that. And yeah she invited me to go to mainland with her but I am going to school and I don’t think professors would accept climbing mountains as a valid excuse for skipping 2 weeks.

Maderita - 2-20-2018 at 09:10 PM

Luke, where are you going to school? The best rock climbing in Baja is only 2 hours from San Diego, in la Sierra de Juárez.

mtgoat666 - 2-20-2018 at 10:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
I did originally go to down to rock climb(boulder), and the rangers knew I was coming solo but they lost internet the day before when the incident happened and they couldn’t warn me to not go. They made it clear to me that it did not matter the reason for visiting, nobody goes in solo. I am not sure if it applies to the observatory. It wouldn’t make sense to deny access to that.


I used to like SPM because there was no one there, and it was almost as good as sierras. Now Mexico says you can’t go for a hike in SPM w/o a babysitter and a hired guide. Crikey!

Maybe time to drive an extra hour and go to the sierras, in the “land of the free”

BigBearRider - 2-21-2018 at 02:04 AM

I don't know if I met Sofia on the mountain. Near the peak, I met a young woman from Tijuana named Miriam. She was struggling a little less than I was. We were together for about the last hour. I know that I asked her about Picacho, and she said she had not climbed it yet. Come to think of it, she might have said that she had a friend who was guiding there. I cannot recall exactly. I was in pretty bad shape. On the way down, I ran out of juice completely. I had forgotten to eat and drink almost completely, only consuming 200 calories in solids and 100 calories of Powerade. Very bad. On the way down, I realized what I had done, but was generally too lethargic to grab the food and drink in my backpack. About 30 minutes from the bottom, I think Miriam and a female friend passed me.

LukeJobbins - 2-21-2018 at 08:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
I don't know if I met Sofia on the mountain. Near the peak, I met a young woman from Tijuana named Miriam. She was struggling a little less than I was. We were together for about the last hour. I know that I asked her about Picacho, and she said she had not climbed it yet. Come to think of it, she might have said that she had a friend who was guiding there. I cannot recall exactly. I was in pretty bad shape. On the way down, I ran out of juice completely. I had forgotten to eat and drink almost completely, only consuming 200 calories in solids and 100 calories of Powerade. Very bad. On the way down, I realized what I had done, but was generally too lethargic to grab the food and drink in my backpack. About 30 minutes from the bottom, I think Miriam and a female friend passed me.


Haha sounds like my Whitney trip. If you saw Sofia on the mountain it would not have been for long. She is gnarly. I call her the energizer bunny. She just keeps going and doesn’t seem to get winded or tired. I can out run and out climb her but when we hiked she just cruises when I’m dying. I’m actually pretty stoked to get to orizaba. The pictures and trip reports from there look amazing. I really want to see the shadow in person. I was super bummed when she said she was going on these dates and I couldn’t go.

BigBearRider - 2-21-2018 at 10:25 AM

It was [edited from "wasn't"] actually one the more miserable climbs that I've done. Conditions were bad. Cold, windy, dusty, and no snow. Lots of sand and gravel is hard to climb on.

[Edited on 2-22-2018 by BigBearRider]

Desert Rat - 2-22-2018 at 01:09 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LukeJobbins  
Also wanted to give an update on Sierra Pedro de martir. I went up solo on Thursday and got denied entrance into the park as a whole. Apparently an American wanted to hike to blue bottle peak solo and was denied a permit so he said he would just camp and not do the hike and he went anyways. Well he got caught the rangers got in trouble for not monitoring the park enough and now the rangers are denying solo entry into the park. If you are part of a group or caravan type deal it is fine, but they are not allowing people to be in the park solo. I emailed the regional national park office in Ensenada to inquire about getting around the rule because I have been probably about 20 times solo and I have tons of gps routes and experience in the park and some survival training. They wrote me back saying this is not a new rule but it is new that they will be enforcing the no solo travelers rule from here on out. Outside of the park like picacho del Diablo they don’t care. And knowing some people and a few of the rangers I may be able to skirt around this rule from time to time but this is just a heads up for anyone in the future. No solo entry to the park. I was/am pretty bummed about it because I do almost all my trips and exploring solo and that eliminates a lot of planned trips down there this year for me.
Well that is a fine, "How do you do!" Well, it was fun while it lasted. So, so, so, solo, so long San Pedro Martir Parque. If it ain't one thing, it's another.

John Harper - 2-22-2018 at 08:47 AM

Considering the limited federal resources in Baja, it kind of makes sense to at least require a "buddy" system for exploring the park. You wouldn't scuba dive without a buddy, so this is a small step for safety IMO. SAR efforts are very expensive in the US, can you imagine what it would cost to get someone out of SPM? See below.

Of course, this is another example of a few bad actors ruining it for everyone.

Here's a little story for all of you about an emergency in SPM back in the 1980's, probably not a lot has changed except communications equipment:
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1986/nov/06/cover-snakeb...

John



[Edited on 2-22-2018 by John Harper]

TMW - 2-22-2018 at 11:57 AM

An excellent book about climbing and rescue off Diablo mountain is "Coming Home from Devil Mountain" by Eleanor Dart O'Bryon.

PaulW - 2-22-2018 at 03:00 PM

Been years since I climbed Diablo. Do it like I did from the East. No rangers. No fees. Its a little tricky to find the route solo due to missing the ducks. All in all it just takes a little more time to do the route finding. It starts out with a pendulum swing followed by a modest friction climb. Then all the rest is easy. Up the canyon to Campo Noche then the rest is the same as from the west.
Trail head parking can be an issue because of local holiday users.

Desert Rat - 2-22-2018 at 06:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Been years since I climbed Diablo. Do it like I did from the East. No rangers. No fees. Its a little tricky to find the route solo due to missing the ducks. All in all it just takes a little more time to do the route finding. It starts out with a pendulum swing followed by a modest friction climb. Then all the rest is easy. Up the canyon to Campo Noche then the rest is the same as from the west.
Trail head parking can be an issue because of local holiday users.
I agree, Paul. The eastern route gives you a great canyon hike experience. Also, a fairly simple straight, forward route basically following the creek that runs down the canyon. One should prepare for a round-trip hike of about 6 to 8 days if you intend to climb Picacho. That should allow enough time in case you have to slow down for some reason. I've yet to summit Picacho, but I have made several trips up Diablo Canyon and if I ever make another attempt to summit Picacho, I won't hesitate to take the eastern desert route.

David K - 2-22-2018 at 06:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Desert Rat  
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Been years since I climbed Diablo. Do it like I did from the East. No rangers. No fees. Its a little tricky to find the route solo due to missing the ducks. All in all it just takes a little more time to do the route finding. It starts out with a pendulum swing followed by a modest friction climb. Then all the rest is easy. Up the canyon to Campo Noche then the rest is the same as from the west.
Trail head parking can be an issue because of local holiday users.
I agree, Paul. The eastern route gives you a great canyon hike experience. Also, a fairly simple straight, forward route basically following the creek that runs down the canyon. One should prepare for a round-trip hike of about 6 to 8 days if you intend to climb Picacho. That should allow enough time in case you have to slow down for some reason. I've yet to summit Picacho, but I have made several trips up Diablo Canyon and if I ever make another attempt to summit Picacho, I won't hesitate to take the eastern desert route.


You are 'da man from the east (side of Diablo)!


Desert Rat - 2-22-2018 at 11:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by Desert Rat  
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Been years since I climbed Diablo. Do it like I did from the East. No rangers. No fees. Its a little tricky to find the route solo due to missing the ducks. All in all it just takes a little more time to do the route finding. It starts out with a pendulum swing followed by a modest friction climb. Then all the rest is easy. Up the canyon to Campo Noche then the rest is the same as from the west.
Trail head parking can be an issue because of local holiday users.
I agree, Paul. The eastern route gives you a great canyon hike experience. Also, a fairly simple straight, forward route basically following the creek that runs down the canyon. One should prepare for a round-trip hike of about 6 to 8 days if you intend to climb Picacho. That should allow enough time in case you have to slow down for some reason. I've yet to summit Picacho, but I have made several trips up Diablo Canyon and if I ever make another attempt to summit Picacho, I won't hesitate to take the eastern desert route.


You are 'da man from the east (side of Diablo)!



Hi, David. This photo was taken at the entrance falls to the canyon. The pendulum swing is located across from me, but does not appear in the photo. This is a great place to swim after returning from the canyon hike.

[Edited on 2-23-2018 by Desert Rat]

PaulW - 2-23-2018 at 08:34 AM

DesertRat,
You probably remember these images from a while back. I dug them up from Photobucket for this thread.

This is my daughter on the pendulum with me standing by to coach her.


And here is my wife directing traffic for daughter and husband on the second hard place. The ladder is gone and the last time I went up all that was there was the steel cable to use as a hand hold. On my first climb of Diablo nothing was present on that wall, so it was a difficult friction climb that required some ability and really good boots.


The next place to mention is a short section of bush whacking that took a little time to pass.

Good times on this route.

David K - 2-23-2018 at 09:47 AM

Thanks Paul for the photos. Really helps visualize the "trail"!