Last Chance Mountain, Tucki Mountain

23-Apr-77

By: John Hellman

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Most of the group camped Friday nite at the large, excellent Mesquite Spring Campground, where the ranger did not get up early to collect fees. After consolidating at the Grapevine Canyon highway junction we drove 3 miles on the paved road toward Ubehebe Crater, right 21.2 mi of good dirt road (where we met 3 of Steve's BLM co-workers from Bakersfield who came along to scout part of the vast territory they administer), right .9 mi on single track road, then left 2.7 mi to a small cabin. The last section of road was poor but passable by all vehicles. A quarter mile above the cabin in the wash is a good all-year spring. Last Chance Mtn, 8456', is on the Magruder Mtn. topo, Nev/Calif. We climbed the main wash, keeping left at the first several forks. After about one mile stay right at a major fork. After another 1/2 mile at about 7200', climb to the right ridge, follow it to the main ridge, then right over one bump to the summit. The peak provides good views of the Eureka sand dunes, White Mtn., Inyos, Sierras and Death Valley. The climb of 2800' gain goes thru pinyon pine and juniper and took six hours round trip including lunch on top. Several very distinguished Desert Peaks members were on the trip and agreed that Last Chance Mtn. would be a worthy addition to the peak list.

The Telephone Canyon road appeared to be too badly washed out for thE vehicles remaining so on Sunday we climbed Tucki from Skidoo Road, a long, hot hike but all made it including Steve Smith's seven-year old son, Shane. We sighted several bighorns en route.


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