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Whale Peak - Backpacking

hikerdmb

Posts: 423

5/1/2012

hikerdmb

Posts: 423

The last weekend in April seemed like the perfect weekend to return to Whale Peak. The weather in the lower elevations would be hot but up in the sky island of Whale Peak it was perfect. We started the hike around 2:00 and it was just over 80 degrees. As we climbed higher the temperature lowered and it was a beautiful day, even if it was a bit hazy.

We took a little over an hour and a half to make it from Pinyon Mountain Road up to the top. Not bad for a couple of old guys hauling packs with everything needed for an overnight. The trail was so well marked with ducks and ducks and more ducks. Even though this was my 11th time up Whale Peak I never get tired of this hike. Here is the view up just before reaching the top.

A Boy Scout troop from Point Loma has put a nice new sign on the summit but I missed the old wooden sign. Anybody know what happened to it?

We were the only people on top this night so we chose our favorite campsite. This spot has saved us a couple of times when the wind was blowing so hard up there you could hardly stand. But it is always nice and peaceful and calm here.

Here is my bed for the night. We didn't have much wind on this trip. In fact it was so warm during the night that I spent part of the time on top of my sleeping bag instead on inside it.

We watched the sun set over the mountains and then stayed to watch a fly over of the space station. It was a nice 5 minute view that went pretty much straight overhead. I never get tired of watching it fly by. (I know it's a little weird.)

In the morning we had some great views to the west and north from right near our camp.

Unfortunately it was still hazy in the east on this morning so no good shots of the Salton Sea. We started our hike down and my buddy did a little duck hunting (or set them free if you like) on the way back to the truck. Don't worry you can still find your way up Whale Peak. I cannot believe how much of a trail has developed over the years since my first trip there 20 years or so ago. But a duck every 10 yards seemed like a bit too much. With all the duck hunting it took us about the same time to get back down the mountain. It was a great time and I am ready to go again. But it could be time to head north to the Mighty Sierra unless we get another cool down in the desert.

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Whale Peak - Backpacking