Hike Hole in the Mountain Peak Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Sep 14, 2020 — Getting to the trailhead for Hole in the Mountain Peak requires passing through private property, which seems not be a problem to the landowners, signs stating as much. Google navigates on a road that doesn't exist at some point, but following the main road will get you there since there's actually only one option. You can't get lost once you leave the main road. Mid-clearance is required to navigate the mostly decent dirt road approach. Once you pass over a cattle guard back into National Forest property, you might be tempted to continue along the steep, awful road like I was. Don't. Seriously, only an ATV can likely reach the end of the road. It's in very bad shape and you'll probably be faster just walking. So, from the spot marked as "Park" on the map, I headed on foot along the boring road exposed to the morning sun to its end. Here, I was confronted with tall brush and wasn't prepared for a brutal bushwhack. With some poking around, I noticed a social trail through the foliage. I added a cairn to make this spot more obvious. The social trail led safely, if a little scratchy, up the slope. The slope swapped between grasses and brush for a quarter mile before reaching a really dense section. Fortunately, the social trail continued north, away from the dense brush and off the ridge. This was clearly the standard route, an obvious trail leading down a couple hundred feet into Lizzies Basin. The water feature was mostly dry, likely because of the dry year.

The "hole" that Hole in the Mountian Peak was named for is visible above, but not accessible via this route. If even possible, getting to it would probably involve coming up from the west slopes, and not from Lizzies Basin. I then noted the major gully ahead that's used as the standard route for the peak (better described in photos below). I crossed through Lizzies Basin, and headed up the gully, which was Class 2 and mostly just steep grass. I assume in the spring this would be a snow climb, so take note of the conditions before doing this route. It took me much longer to ascend than I thought it would, the angle quite significant. Once at the top of the gully, I took a left and headed west on Class 2 talus to the summit. There are many options along the talus-filled ridge, but I recommend just keeping away from any steep rock outcroppings and getting up will be no problem, if a little tedious. The summit views into Lizzies Basin from Hole in the Mountain Peak were really interesting, the peak's incredible cliffs feeling particularly immense from above.