Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. —MAHATMA GANDHI, Indian Nationalist Leader, 1869–1948
Telescope Peak Climb Overview
I said “YES!” to this invite and boy am I glad. Mary Poppins (trail name) contacted me last week to do a winter climb of Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park. I know her virtually through my website and Instagram as Mary Poppins, but we had never met in person. We had a great day getting to know each other, laughed a ton, got A LOT of exercise, had the peak to ourselves, and talked on and on about trips and gear. My kind of day. Added bonus, she took some pretty sweet photos of me on the mountain!
Our weather window was perfect. The day prior was windy and snowed a couple of inches. We had mostly sunny skies, some wind, and biting cold temps. Loaded with all kinds of winter gear (snowshoes, crampons, boots, ice axe and lots of winter clothing), we headed up the steep 1 1/2 mile Upper Wildrose snow I covered road. The trail then climbs steadily along the eastern slope of the Panamint Mountains. Both Mary Poppins and I have hiked Brett Tuckers’s Lowest to Highest (Badwater to Mount Whitney) that climbs up Telescope Peak along the route. It was fun identifying landmarks like Hanaupah and Tuber Canyons, Badwater Basin, and Sierra Nevadas. The climb to Telescope is filled with many unobstructed and breathtaking views. Highlight of the trip: the ice encrusted ancient bristlecone pines.
Route Details
- DATE: March 6, 2022
- LENGTH: 16 miles round trip, 4,677 feet elevation gain
- WINTER TRAILHEAD: Charcoal kilns at the closed gate above Wildrose Campground (this adds a steep mile and a half up in the winter to the main trailhead).
- PERMIT: No advance permit required, sign in at trailhead board.
- NAVIGATION: GPS or Map and Compass skills, much of the trail in winter is covered in snow.
- DIFFICULTY: Strenuous
- GEAR: Warm clothing (for our trip it was in the single digits at the summit), crampons, boots or gore tex trail runners with gaiters, ice axe. We did not use the snow shoes we carried, but in higher snow years would be needed.
- WATER: No natural water source along the way (we carried 3 liters).
- TIPS: Leave early. It is a long hike in winter with shorter days. We left the trailhead at 6:30 and returned at 6:30.
Guidebooks, Maps & GPS
This is a GPS of our winter hike. Note: This route diverts from established trail. Click blue “Open in “CalTopo” in upper right hand corner of map to view and download GPX.
Video Highlights
Recommended Gear
- MICROSPIKES | CAMP Chainsen Light
- ICE AXE | Petzl Summit 2 Ice Axe
- CRAMPONS | Petzl Irvis Flexlock Crampons
- SNOW SHOES | MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes
- GORE-TEX HARD SHELL JACKET | Marmot Minimalist
- GORE-TEX HARD SHELL PANTS | Marmot Minimalist
- GORE-TEX TRAIL RUNNERS | La Sportiva Wildcat 2.0 GTX
- MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS | La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX
- GLOVES | Kinco Mitts
- LINER GLOVE | Outdoor Research PL400 Sensor Gloves
- WINTER TIGHTS | Rainier Tight
- DOWN JACKET | Mountain Hardwear Stretch Down
Photos from the Day
More Death Valley National Park Trips You Might Enjoy
- Cottonwood/Marble Canyon Loop Backpack – Death Valley NP
- Death Valley Traverse Backpack
- Lowest to Highest Route: Badwater Death Valley to Mount Whitney
- Hike Darwin Falls ~ Death Valley
- Climb Telescope Peak ~ Death Valley
- Venturing into Death Valley National Park
- Death Valley Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop Backpack
So humble. This is a difficult day for sure, yet you make it all sound easy! Keep it up, it will keep you young. Rock on.
That is what I am hoping for. The endgame. Heading out for the Arizona Trail to do some miles. Hope to have you along for the ride.
You have some gorgeous photos of your hike. Thank you for this blog and seeing where you love to hike. I can’t imagine hiking like you do.
Great to hear from you Marilyn! I always love hearing your positive voice. Hope you are well.
thanks, Christy. Aah! but seeing you come up on my screen you make me feel that life is worth living.
Hi Christy
Many thanks for your comment . Now there is praise indeed! Thank you. Luckily I am still doing well, despite my 80+ years! Yesterday I hiked 21 km return with a 1000 metre elevation gain! Don’t think I am up for the PCT now! Wish I had done it years ago
Best
Barrie
You always make me smile!
Great write-up and beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing your amazing trips and providing such a thorough plan. You motivated me to get back into making backpacking/trip plans and maybe dust off the blog I started creating.
Thank you Deanne. 🙂 I like your attitude, “Dust off the Blog”! It is a labor of love and can suck time, but it is so worth it. Sometimes I think all of my trips would be one big blur if I hadn’t kept a journal and taken a boatload of photos. Best to you.
Hi Christy, loved the post. Great to see youre back again.
Great to hear from you Barrie! and thanks for the welcome back. Hope you are doing well. Thanks for your dedication. You rock man.
I had no idea there was a mountain this tall in Death Valley. It looks like a beautiful hike! I love the frozen bristlecones.
Hello Diana. It was very cold but so worth it. The hike up in the spring and fall is clear trail and shorter. Highly recommended too.
So glad you’re back here
And still able to be Up There and Out There and sharing it.
🙏🏽 you
Blessings
Hello there. Thanks. Sometimes electronics can really be a time sucker. Not anymore, well at least for the time being. Hope you are well. Thanks for following along. 😎