Humboldt County High Point Trip Report

Granite Pk (9,732 ft)

Date: June 23, 2002
Author: Adam Helman

Scott Surgent and myself were on a northern Nevada highpointing trip. In the morning we had visited the summit of Desatoya Pk - the Churchill County highpoint. Now we were way north near the Oregon border with the intention of getting the Humboldt County highpoint before sundown.

After a disconcerting drive up a jeep road from the main highway (which one leaves westward towards Granite Pk from the 7,700 ft saddle), Scott coaxed his vehicle to the 8,400 ft level - parking near a meadow with mind-expanding views in all directions.

Granite Pk lay to the west and appeared, from our distant vantage point, to be anything but a walk-up for the last few hundred vertical feet.

We walked south along the deteriorating jeep track, encountering mushy ground owing to the recent snowmelt. Upon turning west, eventually a subpeak of Granite is ascended via grassy fields, whence a 100 ft descent to the base of the south and east faces of the mountain proper.

The south face looked more promising - take it. Ascend class 2 boulders with vegetation in the general direction of the summit antenna mast. As you approach the summit your route will become naturally constrained on both left and right by class 4 rock. Some twenty vertical feet below the skyline encounter the only way up - an eight foot section of 50+ degree rock with solid handholds (class 3). Go that way both up and on descent.

On the summit we enjoyed a short time since we both agreed to descend to the subpeak for a longer and more relaxed break after the dicey sections were over with.

Upon return to Scott's vehicle he graciously offered me use of his portable lounge chair. I accepted, sipping blackberry liqueur as twilight lingered well past 9 PM on this day poised nearly atop the summer solstice.

Why the lounge chair and the liqueur? - Simple. It was my one-hundredth county. Welcome to the Century Club!!