Tom Grundy's Rocks I (Tomb Peak), II, and III plus Owens Peak Page

We had been marinating in smoke for almost a week and were sick of it. Bob was stuck at home by the fires and closure of various national parks and forests. We decided to meet up on the BLM land W of Ridgecrest to climb some peaks and rocks. Some of these had technical climbing although there wasn't a lot of information on it. Mostly it was from previous trips and the Domelands guidebook. Robert Wu was also coming as well as Bob's Daughter, Jackie.

We packed up after work Thursday and drove down. It was dark before we got there, but the orange moon and hazy headlights were not a good sign. It was marginally better than Bishop, but not great. It took a few tries to level the truck, but at least it was cool enough to sleep ok.

9-25-2020 Robert came around 6:30 and said he almost turned back as he entered the smoke on the way up. It was a little better looking up high, so we drove up to the end of the road and packed up for Rocks I, II, and III. We got these imaginative names from the guidebook. Bob had previously climbed I with Tom Becht who led the sketchy pitch, so Bob named it Tomb Peak (after Tom B) after him. Sadly the Domelands guidebook name will probably stick. They also made a weak attempt on II that failed when it hit some more serious climbing. link to Bob's TR from May 2015

sunrise over a ridge with Joshua Tree

playing around with the sun

We hiked down into the valley and then up towards the gap between III and II. From there we scrambled up the somewhat chossy ridge (like J-Tree oatmeal rock). The rock got better as we got higher. There were a number of possible routes near the top. I opted to traverse through a tunnel to the N side and up from there. I think it was the easiest, in any case we all went down that way. The views from the top were pretty nice, although not all that expansive because of the smoke and haze that was mostly below us. Our summit cookies were pretty sad, but any summit cookie is better than no summit cookie.

Robert, Bob, and Jackie heading up towards the Rocks III, II, and I above

Peak III, I went through the gap under the chockstone on the right

Robert looking down on the way up Rock III

Bob and Robert watch Jackie come up Rock III

somewhat sad summit cookies
(with Jackie on the summit of Rock III)

descending back to the III-II notch

view of Rock II from Rock III

The way up to II from the II-III notch looked very hard, so we traversed around on the S side to the I-II notch. From there the guidebook suggested skirting to the N side to get up. I tried this a bit and Robert stuck a little more closely to the ridge. I ended up hitting a scary downclimb so climbed up to the ridge for a short but steep downclimb and then skirting around another drop off and through a tunnel under a boulder before climbing up a small shallow trough up the slab before the final easy scramble to the summit. Jackie was not feeling comfortable on the slabs, so she remained in the shade at the notch.

Iris on the slab and Bob coming up the shallow trough

panorama looking up at Owens Peak from Rock II - we were parked by the rocks on the left above the valley

Bob descending Rock II looking over at Rock I

view of Rock I from Rock II - we went up right of the ridge

The way up the Tomb (or Rock I) wasn't very straightforward either, but basically we went up a notch in the W ridge and detoured to the South as needed. There was one short overhanging section near the top that succumbed to a wide stem and foot jam. We passed packs up to make this easier, and I think Iris used Bob as a hold. Then the others went up through a yucca plant in a chimney and were faced with a steep slab. I was intrigued by a ramp down and around to the left and looking at my pics taken from II it looked like I could make it - so I tried - it was pretty good and seemed much easier than the yucca chimney and slab. Robert scrambled up the spicy slab and then we set a toprope for Bob and Iris. Bob tied a loop in the rope and alternated pulling on it as he was belayed up. Iris just climbed up, but was very glad for the toprope. Then we traversed down the ridge to the high point. Except when we got there it looked like the high point was back by where we first came up - so we went back.

Robert scoping out the overhanging move

Robert and Bob on the lower E summit of Rock I (plus circling ravens)

the ridge up to Owens Peak from Rock I

Iris rapping down above the overhanging move
Robert on the slab below

We went down the way I came up which ended up at a tree we rappelled off of to avoid the overhanging bit. Bob went first and then headed back to Jackie who was waiting at the notch to head back with her. Then Robert went down. Iris and I pulled the rope and carried it back down. We were a bit behind everyone but weren't that much behind as we made it back to the vehicles on the hill. They had cold drinks for us when we arrived. There were a few very nice shade trees here and we sat in the shade and ate chips and guacamole. Robert was sick of breathing smoke and headed home followed a bit later by Bob and Jackie. Here is a link to Bob's TR

We decided that the air wasn't any worse than Bishop here and might clear up overnight. Also it looked better at higher elevations so we decided to head up Owens Peak the next day. We washed up with water heated by the sun and relaxed in the shade. Dinner was soup and crackers and then we spent some time reading in the back of the truck before sleeping.

sun rays illuminate the smoke coming over the ridge above us

Iris relaxes after washing up Rock III and II above her

09-26-2020 We got up at 6 but didn't actually finish breakfast and leave until 8. Then we hiked along the old road for a while. This was pretty pleasant until the flies decided they needed to land in our eyes and ears, or at least hover right in front of them all the time. After about an hour the trail turned right and got a lot steeper. Fortunately as we got higher the air got a little clearer. It was pretty hot hiking uphill in the sun but actually quite comfortable not moving in the shade.

smoky sunrise

Iris hiking up the slabs
Robert on the slab below

view down over the E ridge past Rock I to the Five Fingers

Fortunately the flies were pretty much gone by the time we got to the summit. The views were pretty good, but not nearly as expansive as they would be without the smoke. We were mostly above it, but not completely. We stuck around about an hour eating sandwiches and a summit cookie and reading the registers. We also tried to identify the peaks we had climbed earlier in the year. Sadly the smoke didn't really disipate in that time. Then we headed back down to the flies.

360 panorama of the top of Owens Peak - the E ridge is behind a tree in front of Iris' feet
Lamont, Spanish Needle, and Sawtooth are on the right

We went downhill more quickly but took a detour to look at some pictographs under a rock overhang. Then back to the truck. I think we both just about ran out of water as we got back. Then we showered and ate lunch in the shade and decided to head back home since all the other things we wanted to do here started at lower elevations - in the smoke. It was still smoky in Bishop when we got home, but there was a north breeze and things were clearing. The next morning it was almost completely clear.

pictographs under an overhanging rock

Iris' Strava page for day 1, Rocks, III, II, and I (AKA Tomb Pk) - map and pics
Iris' Strava page for day 2, Owens Peak - map and pics
Bob Burds trip report for Day 1 - Rock iii, ii, i

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