Hike Piute Mountain, Mount Barcroft, White Mountain Peak Inyo National Forest, CA

Oct 18, 2019 — I've procrastinated in hiking White Mountain Peak because it's a road walk to the summit, which isn't particularly appealing. With the weather reading snow everywhere else, I thought it would be a good time to head up to the area for my first time. Rather than start at the official trailhead, I decided to make the day a little more intersting by including a few more California high points along the southern ridge before making my way up to White Mountain Peak. My full day includes the unranked Limestone Peak, Sheep Mountain, Piute Mountain, Mt. Barcroft, and White Mountain Peak.

The rocky slope leading past Limestone Peak and to Sheep Mountain was windy and uneventful. As was the short traverse over to Piute Mountain. In fact, that was a bit of a theme for the day's excursion. From Piute Mountain, the slope continued down to the official trailhead, where I finally started the long ascent up to White Mountain Peak on the dirt road. The wind was brutal and I had to wrap my leggings around my face, but I was just happy to be out here. I took a short Class 2 excursion to Mt. Barcroft after passing the Barcroft Field Station, where the expanse leading to White Mountain Peak was a little disheartening. Back on the road/trail, I continued north through pretty alpine meadows and then started the switchbacks to the summit, still along a road. The view from White Mountain Peak was wonderful, but the slog back was a little annoying, and then I had to add a few more miles on the driveable road to get from the official trailhead to where I parked my car.