@@MrCasTeaYo no problem! You planning on hiking this section? It’s a very beautiful piece of trail, especially in the Desolation Wilderness area.

Agreed! That whole area up there is full of amazing views. Agassiz remains one of my favorite peakbags to date. It was hard but very rewarding. Got any trips planned in the near future? I just got back from a peakbag trip where I spent a lot of time in the Rock Creek area which is also a spectacular place just north of the Bishop area.

@@SummitSeeker546 thanks so much! It was a fun hike … except for that darn sand chute. 😉

Thanks so much, I am happy you enjoyed the video! The view from the top was incredible. That whole area is full of 360 degree panoramic vista views.

Thanks so much!

@@thomasmontoya7279 why is that? Because of the sand slog starting from the other trailhead? It did look pretty hairy but the road up to the Queen Mine was in pretty bad shape.

@@matthewparker7515 yeah I had rent care dodge challenger. So I chose trail canyon...but had to park over mile from trailhead head. That straight up scree sucked on trail canyon trail

@@thomasmontoya7279 Yeah, looking at the sand/scree slog up trail canyon from the trail above made me glad I chose the rough Queen Mine Road. However, if I ever go back up I may try to the Trail Canyon approach just to avoid that road.

Thanks, much appreciated! How was the road going up to the trailhead for your approach? I have heard the road you took is in much better condition than the Queen Mine road. The Queen Mine Road was in very broad shape last weekend due to the storms over the last few years. It washed away parts of the road. I saw two parts where the trail you took meets up with the trail I took (at two different saddles). The lower saddle one looked a lot better than the higher saddle junction where that massive sand slog is. Which one did you take?

​@@matthewparker7515 As I recall, it was as decent road, basic forest service road up past a small reservoir, following Trail Creek in the canyon. I want to check out the road up to Queen Mine in the coming year in my '85 4Runner. It sounds like my kind of road!

@@The4Crawler I also drive a 4-Runner! Mine is a 2020 and it handled the road well but I had to go very slow for ~6 miles. The road starts out a little rough right off of Hwy 6 with a rutted section that is impossible to go fast on. But it wasn't too bad. It was the last mile to the Queen Mine trailhead where it got pretty bad.

Thanks Matthew. Always enjoy your hikes

@@carollansen2810 thanks, much appreciated! : )

Thanks, much appreciated! I agree per the downclimb as that always is the harder part. I don't know why most people don't show that part of their climb. I can't remember the last time I feel on the ascent but can remember numerous times I have fallen on the descent. ; )

@@matthewparker7515 they probably don’t show it because it’s not as glamorous. And they don’t want to post video of themselves complaining the whole way down, haha

@@brianrihlmann6054 ha! Yeah, there is nothing glamorous about the descent.

Been to granite via..Pedal. Shh.

@@mtbalpinecounty granite?

Thanks, much appreciated! There are many more accessible mountains in the Reno/Tahoe area. I suggest anything around Lake Tahoe where you can drive to the trailheads on paved road like with the peaks around the Mount Rose area. Check out the hikes at kzbin.info/aero/PLxG5SuH_Os7SY1LqCN8LjS7mM4_5G7iQT to see more. The Freel Peak one does require some gravel/dirt road travel but it's not that bad. There are also peaks at kzbin.info/aero/PLxG5SuH_Os7SOF5RLz850ynFrrLBQbgxY and at kzbin.info/aero/PLxG5SuH_Os7RQ45BCkmGX-sezbWHaP2L2. Happy hiking!

Per Kumiva Peak, yes you can get to the trailhead without high clearance or 4-wheel drive. Just take it slow.

Thanks Matthew for your comments and recommendations! Definetly Dicks peaks seems a great adventure. We will study that! Is there any recommendation to visit the Black rock desert area or Pyramid Lake? We love these kind of desert scenarios, as in kumiva or in your Death Valley Videos! Thanks for the videos

@@gonzalogonzalezdelgado8866 No problem, I am happy to help! Thanks for the kind words on my vidoes. I also love the desert scenes offered up in Nevada and in Death Valley. Dicks Peak is an interesting one. I turned around a few hundred feet from the top as it got too sketchy for me. It was either take a challenging steep Class 3 route or hike up a pretty steep and loose chute so I bailed on it. The only peak I have hiked up to near the Black Rock Desert is Kumiva. Tohakum Peak (on the east side of Pyramid Lake) is not that far south of Kumiva and is a good peak but it's a haul with over 4k ft of elevation gain. I have not been up to the top of Tohakum yet but I imagine the view is pretty amazing. I have tried Tohakum twice but didn't make it up to the top (once because the line I took wasn't the right one and I lose a lot of time and the other time I simply ran out of energy). You need to get a permit at pyramidlake.us/permits for a day hike up to Tohakum. More info on Tohakum at www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=3359.

@@matthewparker7515 thanks a lot for the comments!! I saw the video of Dicks Peak, you were very close! As I saw it was really worth the hike anyways with amazing views all time. Would you say it is more interesting this hike or others you have that trying the most typical hikes like Mount Tallac or the Aloha Lakes? Your videos are showing amazing scenarios and they are lonely which provides a great experience. I see it is very difficult to chose just several hikes in Reno! Plenty of options😃 Regarding Tohakum thanks a lot! it seems a very interesting spot to see the complete lake from the top, but yes, it seems very hard . Do you tried the hike using the east acces from Nugget cy? It was also ok for normal cars that access? I Hope to see soon a video developed by you of this mountains!! Thanks a lot

@@petr-podrouzek thanks my friend!

Peak bagging, summit seeking! Love it! Whether it’s a 14er or just an 11k, it humbles you. Makes me and my problems seem very small; which they are in the grand scheme of life! Happy trails Matt!

@@SummitSeeker546 Thanks my friend, much appreciated! Just got back from a peakbagging trip in Bishop where I hit Mount Aggie and Mount Goode. Some great views on those hikes. Hope you are well!

Thanks, much appreciated!

Thanks for the positive feedback, much appreciated! Are you heading up to Potluck Pass?

Thanks, much appreciated! This was one of my favorite trips.

@@markbir7540 Doctor Chicken! It’s great to hear from you! The hump I think you are referring to is a high point and technically not a peak. It’s called something like Cirque Crest high point. Or are you referring to the peak just north of the Woollyback? That’s awesome you are in Bishop! I do a lot of day hikes and backpack trips out of there. Will let ya know the next time I come down there. I live in Reno now so if you are ever in the Reno/Tahoe area let me know. Doing a hike together sounds great!

Thanks my friend! : )

@@JaelFregoso-ev3dl don’t know as unfortunately I turned around about 100ft from the top as the terrain got too challenging for me.

No worries at all! I am jealous as the area you are heading to is an area I have not explored much. Mt. Goddard has been on my list for awhile now but I have not attempted it yet. It did get in my system though when I climbed up to Black Giant as Goddard was the highest peak in that area. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of advice to offer on your trip given my lack of exploration there. the only section of your trip I have hiked is the Evolution Valley to Wanda Lake section on the PCT/JMT but that is all trail so no issues there. I think your off-trail route takes you over Davis Lake Pass which is classified as Class 2. If you have time you may also want to hit the Ionian Basin which I have only seen from afar but it looks pretty incredible. Have a great trip and please post videos/photos as I want to hit that area someday too.

If not already purchased, I highly recommend to pick up R.J. Secor's book called "The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, Trails". It has a wealth of information in there about where you are going.

I hiked up to Telescope over the July 4th weekend years ago for this hike and it was quite pleasant. About 70-75 degrees on top with some wind (but not too bad). However, the National Weather Service forecast for this July 4th weekend is a different story with Highs up to 98F so I would not hike it this weekend.

Thanks, much appreciated! How did your hike up to the Hunchback go? Gotta love those 80's tunes! ; )

Thanks my friend!

Yep! French Metal! Gojira and Mario Duplantier help me to get up to those tough climbs.

Thanks, much appreciated! This trip is a good intro to off-trail hiking as the passes are relatively mild and easy to navigate over. And the views are incredible!

@@matthewparker7515 great! Thanks, I will some research on this one! Roads end open Mid June! Should be a nice August up there.

@@danielwaldner5412 Yep, it should be a great summer up there. Any questions on this route, let me know. I am happy to help out.

Thanks, much appreciated!

Yep, it's a great place to explore. The wildflowers last year were incredible. Have a great hike!

Thanks a bunch, much appreciated!

Yep! I often think about geologists having a field day in this area. The colors in the rocks there are crazy!

Thanks so much my friend! Agreed, Death Valley is an amazingly beautiful place. I love exploring there.

Thanks, much appreciated! It's nice to know you enjoyed the video. It's a fun way for me to relive the experience when creating these videos. Although there were parts of this particular hike I wish I could forget such as the hellacious talus field at the end of the hike. ; ) Still, it was a very fun hike with great views. I can't wait to get back to Great Basin NP and do more exploring.

Thanks! Where are you headed to in the Sierra this season?

@@matthewparker7515 Ansel Adams Wilderness, Kearsarge Pass, McGee Pass, and hoping to do the Seki Loop in Sept. I'll play it by ear... Using trails and routes on most. You have nice videos thanks.

@@TimoteoDelCielo Awesome! All sound like great trips. I love the McGee Pass area, the colors in the rocks up there are tremendous. Per the SEKI loop it was years ago that I hiked south of the JMT/PCT from the junction of Palisade Creek & the Middle Fork of the Kings River. At that time the bridge had been knocked out so I had to find a safe crossing about a mile up the Middle Fork of the Kings River. Did they repair that bridge?

@@TimoteoDelCielo And a big thank you for your comment on my videos, much appreciated!

@@matthewparker7515 I'm not sure, I hiked across Pal. Creek there in 2021 doing a smaller version of the Seki with my son. We had spent a hot day going from near Granite Pass... to near Deer Meadow. I didn't see a bridge while coming up from the south there. Low snow year then so easy crossing. Last year the river crossings were tremendous in the Sierra. Lots of fun... Type 2 I guess.

Thanks so much! It was a very fun and eventful hike that day. 😃

Thanks, much appreciated! So many great hikes in the southern part of the park around Jubilee Pass. Check out Longridge Peak directly east of Jubilee Mountain. I hiked up to Longridge the day after Jubilee and really enjoyed it. The name is perfect for the peak as it's an amazing long ridgeline hike that never gets above Class 2. I have never hiked on the Cottonwood/Marble Canyon Loop but a friend of mine hiked it last year and really enjoyed it. Happy hiking!

Thanks, much appreciated! I saw dodder all over the place on my hike the following day up to Longridge Peak. It seemed to only be appearing on a particular type of bush. I had never seen that before in Death Valley NP. Such a vibrant orange color to it. I had seen the desert trumpet before but never in such abundance like on this hike.

Thanks, much appreciated! I'm happy you enjoyed the video. Yeah, those stairs are daunting for sure. I went down VERY slow and deliberate. I got a little sketched out looking down the see through metal grate walking around the fire lookout tower.

Thanks my friend!

Thanks, much appreciated! I am happy you found the footage helpful. Stanton Pass is one of the scarier passes on the SHR in my opinion but it's definitely doable. There is one short section of exposure on the west side that was a little harrowing but maybe I didn't take the best line. Have a great trip this summer!

Thanks so much! I am happy you enjoyed the video. I have started calling that cough my "High Sierra Cough" as it seems to rear it's ugly head when I go backpacking. It eventually went away once I got home.

Thanks so much, I am happy you enjoyed the video. This pass still eludes me. Maybe one of these days I will try it again from the north side. Seems like it would be safer going up the north side than descending it.

Agreed that is very cool area that doesn't get a lot of foot traffic. I have been spending a lot of time in that part of the park the last few years and have really enjoyed the scenery and the isolation. I would love to see the mud "tower" you describe above. I did see that well preserved bighorn sheep skull and horns on the way up to Epaulet Peak in one of those washes.

It looks like, in summiting, you had to go way to one side to climb, as the front face is too steep and loose. That mud tower thing was kind of right-side/right-center of the mountain as approached from the highway. Not all the way to the right side, but definitely towards the right. I didn't try to climb very high, but I hiked all around the area at the base in those super-deep washes and slot canyons/passageways.

@@notrombones5041 You are 100% correct. On my second attempt I went to the south of the peak (and just to the south of Rhodes Hill) and headed up to a lower saddle between Epaulet and Calico Peak. Then just followed the ridgeline up to the top of Epaulet which was quite easy. There was only one small sketchy section where it was a bit steep and loose but overall a lot easier than my first direct approach attempt directly from the west. That approach beat me up pretty good thanks to the steep and loose aspect of it. Thanks for the info on the mud tower. I will be back down there shortly to explore more of that area. Thinking of hitting Longview Peak and maybe Desert Hound Peak.

Thanks so much!

Thanks my friend!

Thanks so much, I am happy you enjoyed the video and the music! Agreed this year is shaping up to be a good year for off-trail hiking. However, I am getting hit right now with snow with this winter storm. March snowfall will determine a lot about where I go in the summer/fall in the Sierra. Lamarck Col is such a great way to get into the backcountry. My only issue with that approach is that small section of extremely big talus at the first Darwin Lake you run into after coming down from Lamarck. For some reason that section always gives me a bit of trouble but with time I make it through. I have never been up to Alpine Col or Goethe Cirque, please send photos/videos of that section as I want to explore up there someday. I hear there is a lot of talus up there but I think it's never more than Class 2 type stuff?

lol... talus sucks. I did a section of the kings high route from twin lakes and the talus over copper mine and down into lion lake pass, lion rock pass west was so brutal. same trying to get to Crabtree meadows from Crabtree pass. Harrison pass to lake reflection from lake south america was brutal as well.

@@hikesteepfishhigh all the passes you mention above are on my to do list. However, after hearing your descriptions of the brutal talus maybe I will focus on more hiker friendly (aka minimal talus) passes. I don't mind a good talus field here and there but when it's never-ending ... that's when I get frustrated. Was Harrison Pass steep and loose?

Thanks, much appreciated!

Thanks so much!

I created them using DeLorme's old Topo software (before they were acquired by Garmin) & PowerPoint. I am happy to share them with you if you like.

Thanks my friend, much appreciated!

Thanks, much appreciated! Congrats on your first solo, that is a great achievement, especially going off trail. I hear ya on feeling that anxiety when looking down a pass. They can be quite intimidating. I also had that feeling when looking down Puppet Pass at first but when I started down I realized it wasn't too bad. I just had to go slow. If you liked Puppet Pass you would love the other passes on the Sierra High Route. Except Snow Tongue Pass, that one still gives me a lot of anxiety and it's one I have not completed yet, too darn steep and loose for me. I have other Sierra High Route videos in my Sierra High Route playlist on my KZbin channel. What's your next planned backpacking trip?

My wife and I are doing a loop through Royce Lakes, Bear Lakes Basin and Granite Park this summer. I actually just watched your Feather Pass vid, which was super useful for planning.

@@taylorbrady1424 Awesome! That will be a great trip for you both. I tried to get back into the Vee Lake area back in 2021 but the wildfire smoke turned me around at Ursa Lake. I have never been up to Royce Lakes and really want to explore more there. I'm happy you found the Feather Pass video helpful. I still remember vividly taking the wrong approach up to the top of that pass. That was a humbling experience.

Thanks! The view from the top of Puppet Pass is one of a kind.

Agreed! I can’t wait to get back up there and explore some more.

Thanks, much appreciated! I’m happy you enjoyed the video. The White Mountains are an amazing place to explore.