Hike Gavilan Peak Indian Pass Wilderness BLM, CA

Feb 24, 2023 — Without any information about reaching its summit and with a day full of failed summit attempts during our earlier Indian Pass Wilderness Loop, we set out with high hopes and low expectations on this unnamed peak. We named it summit Gavilan Peak based on its proximity to Gavilan Wash to its south. Indian Pass Road is in decent shape, though you'll want a little clearance for some rockier/sandier sections.

We set out to the north through a major drainage, our summit visible ahead. There was a major wash junction a bit under a mile into the hike, where we kept right. Farther along, the wash we were in led to the west of Gavilan Peak. Although this seemed like the best option to me at the time, Tyler has a bone to pick with washes after a recent bout of sloggy approaches, so he chose to head up the peak's southwest slope instead, and we followed him. This led through bright badlands and up a steep slope to a small saddle. From here we could see the drainage below and were happy we'd come this way instead. The terrain looked far more rugged and a route from down there seemed like it would have been a lot more work. Even better, a burro trail led us along the west slope of Gavilan Peak, keeping the side-hilling much more tame than anticipated.

The side-hilling ascended us gradually toward the northern ridge of Gavilan Peak, where a Class 2 gully led to the crest. From here we split into two parties, one on the ridge proper and the other just to the right (west) on a wide sloped ledge. The crest ended up being Class 2/2+, the ledge Class 2. Both options ultimately led along the crest and then just left (east) of the ridge, which had become a fin we needed to avoid. A notch on the opposite side of the fin introduced a small headwall. We all took turns ascending this surprisingly solid Class 3+ set of blocky moves.

Above this first crux, we continued along the narrow ridge crest to a second crux, a minor knife-edge formed by a small notch. The Class 4 crux of the summit required a series of exposed moves on large and incut holds on solid rock, especially relative to the area. The sunset summit views made us want to see more of the area, but unfortunately the days are too short, so we just went back to the cars the same way we'd approached.