Markleeville Peak a good warm-up for other climbs

Markleeville Peak, at 9,415 feet, is not the most challenging peak in eastern Alpine County, but it's a great warm-up or conditioning climb with excellent views, and you won't find a crowd at the summit. So get out your Mokelumne Wilderness map or that old 15-minute Markleeville topographical map and take a look.

On Blue Lakes Road drive past Charity Valley and park at any of the several wide spots roughly 6.5 to 7.5 miles from Highway 88. Pick a slope that you can traverse while trending always up and in a northeasterly direction. The initial steepness gives way to gentler thinly treed slopes with western white pines and hemlock on the north slopes of the gully to your left.

This outing is all off-trail. There's faint evidence of a use trail on the southwest ridge near the top, but winter has erased it. Total elevation gain is about 1,700 feet with a distance of about two miles each way. This is the easiest way up.

This peak can be climbed from Grover Hot Springs via the northeast ridge, a strenuous hike of about 12 miles round trip and 3,800 feet of elevation gain.

Continue trending more to the east as you get higher to gain the southwest ridge where a left turn to a heading of north will take you behind a false peak and on to the summit. There was no register on the summit. Years ago, on a previous hike, there was one; it may have been secreted under the numerous rocks that form the top, but I decided it wasn't worth dismantling the top of the mountain to sign in.

Surprisingly good views can be had from the summit. To the west, Round Top is the high point and the snow covered ridges of the Sierra crest hide Blue Lakes. Red Lake, Stevens, Waterhouse, Thompson and other peaks range across the north to the Freel - Jobs Peak complex. Just across Charity Valley is Hawkins Peak while further east are the Pine Nuts, Mt Grant and the Sweetwater Range. Impressive peaks to the south include Silver, Highland, Tryon with the Raymond - Reynolds group closer and Jeff Davis immediately to the south.

Mid June through mid July will bring the most colorful displays of wildflowers in this area. Phlox, lupine, mule ears, paintbrush, buckwheat and sego lilies will be in bloom and moist areas might have common monkeyflower, columbine, and perhaps even elephanthead along moist slopes or snow melt rivulets.

Deer, coyote, bear and many varieties of smaller mammals can be found here. Numerous bird species inhabit these slopes. Insects are abundant - seasonally you'll find ticks (which are actually an arachnid, not an insect), no-see-ums, mosquitoes, biting flies and finally yellow jackets by late summer. Often flying insects are kept down by the winds on the mostly open upper slopes.

Start early or pick a cool day for this hike. There's little cover and the sun can be intense. Be prepared for wind. Absolutely know the weather before ascending any peak. Go lightweight but bring layers appropriate for the weather. Pack at least 1.5 liters of water (cache extra in the car) and high energy snacks that you've at least tried before. Depending on where you park, you'll summit in 1.5 to 2 hours and a side trip to Jeff Davis on the way out could mean 4-5 hours start to finish.

A note on climb ratings: class 1 is a walk up on a trail; class 2 is off trail through brush or rocks with occasional use of the hands for balance; class 3 requires hand and foot scrambles up steep rock, talus or scree slopes with risk of serious injury if a fall occurs; class 4 climbs require protection due to extremely steep terrain and exposure; class 5.xx is technical rock climbing.

With all that in mind, Markleeville Peak is a class 2 climb since it is off-trail. Peak baggers debate these ratings all day long. On the physical exertion scale of easy, moderate and strenuous, it is moderate. It's close to being easy and close to being class 1 but doesn't quite fit into either of those categories.

Eastern Alpine County has more than a dozen walk up peaks that can be climbed in similar fashion. Pick one, enjoy the hike, go at your own pace, and bring the 10 essentials. And please leave no trace.

n Jim Donald is a Markleeville resident.