Telegraph Peak

[lesper4]

So I have been half hartingly trying to get to Telegraph Peak the last two weeks. Two weeks ago My sister and I made it to Timber Mountain in good time but it was during the storm so we headed back. Then last week we did the same hike again but brought two other friends who were slower so we only got to Timber again and ran out of time. This time we were able to see Telegraph Peak but with in 30 mins it was covered in clouds with the next incoming storm.

We have hiked the Three T's route before but with out summitting the peaks. I was recalling the north side of the trail on Telegraph and wondering what is the best route to get to the peak? It seems to be steep on all sides? My sister both have teethy snowshows and mircospikes and I have crampons. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[lesper4]

Well I intended to Summit Telegraph this Sunday but weather conditions convinced me to do other wise. I left for Baldy Canyon with bright blues skies but as soon as I hit Icehouse Canyon the clouds already started to roll in. It was 29 degrees in the parking lot so I left with my jacket on but took it off before the first cabin or so. I put on microspikes at the spring with the log steps as it was basically a frozen stair step of ice. Once I got to the saddle I dawned my snowshoes and took off for Timber Mountain. I got their in short time and could see the weather conditions. There were patches of blue skies with some sunlight and I could see across the second saddle to Telegraph so I figured I would go for it.

I put my crampons on for the descent and kept them on till I headed down Thunder. Snow is definitly deeper on the north facing slopes 2-3ft. I could see the trail at the saddle but lot it as soon as it went to the east side of the peak. I tried to follow the trail and I tired to go along the ridge but neither were much easier. At least I wasn't too worried about falling as I was post holing above my knees quite consistently. It snowed on my the entire ascent and descent of Telegraph. I would have liked to bag Telegraph but the .25 miles to the summit looked much farther on the maps and I would have to switch back to snowshoes and I wasn't in the mood to stay longer on the mountain by myself even though I was making good time. the plan was to go to Telegraph and then return the same way but I figured it was too long a hard and much short to keep going.

I picked the trail up between the Telegraph summit but lost it right away again. I think in both cases I ascended to the peak to slowly and descended as well. I ended up down climbing the NW face of Telegraph which was actually very difficult. I slipped 3-4 times but because the Iceaxe was secure I never went anywhere. Finally I head skiers voices so I aimed that direction. Once I saw the ski run rope lines I went straight up Thunder on all fours (never climbed that way in the snow before). I probably confused a few skiers when I popped up. I tried to get a ride down the lift but they made me walk so I put my snowshoes back on and then bought a ticket from the notch down. That was the coldest part of the day. Finally I grabbed a ride back to Icehouse parking lot and then rode down the mountain. There was so many people on the mountain that the total time to get from the lifts parking lot to Upland was close to one hour.

Here are the pictures. I don't think many people have done this trip recently and probably won't with the conditions we are having so far this year. I was lucky since the wind was only 5 mph as the last two weeks it was above 20 mph and will be like that again this week. As far as a short cut to the top it doesn't look like there is enough snow to go from Cedar Canyon or Telegraph Canyon just yet.
https://plus.google.com/photos/11543334 ... 8633886945

[HH8]

I was lucky since the wind was only 5 mph as the last two weeks it was above 20 mph

Even in summer the wind seems higher there.
Luckily it's a "dry cold"?
They always say desert heat is easier to take than humidity,
and I find cold feels far worse with a moist wind.

[arocknoid]

Hey there Loren,

Thanks for the TR and photos.

Glad you had a good Telegraph trip as the snow finally arrives. That last quarter mile makes a lot of difference in the view and drop-in options.

From the trail report, it sounds as if you must have dropped down the west face of Telegraph, rather than the NW face.

I ended up down climbing the NW face of Telegraph which was actually very difficult. I slipped 3-4 times but because the Iceaxe was secure I never went anywhere.

The NW face is too steep to hold many trees or shrubs, and right now is *poorly* holding snow. It will make for great skiing later in the season, with any snowfall fortune.

That sign topped with your ice axe strikes me as almost inviting some miscreants to do what it discourages ("Please do not litter"). At least no one has added to the four .22 holes in the post--yet-- for the past year or so at least...



BTW the south peak of Telegraph has some wind-sheltered lunch/bivouac sites, as well as offering steep escarpment views of Ice House Canyon. You can look all the way down to the trail traverse up from Cedar Glen. Abundant snow times makes it inviting for backcountry AT skiing, but with the south exposure the top-to-bottom snow variability slaps enough avy sense into my pequeno cranio that I've avoided the call of that siren. (Recalling Ulysses' crew's rocky fate...)

A few years back GigaMike posted a nice report and gps rte of a winter hike up-canyon to Telegraph (justa prelim on his long day, of course ;)

Stay safe out there,
kind regards,
arocknoid[/img]

[Hikin_Jim]

the south peak of Telegraph has some wind-sheltered lunch/bivouac sites, as well as offering steep escarpment views of Ice House Canyon.

Ah. Good to know.

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy Lesper4

Nice to chat with you at the tram yesterday

Miles of smiles,
Ellen