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Elephant Head, the Northwest Approach

3/2/2020

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A group was to ascend Elephant Head via from the south on an easy to follow trail and I let them know I'd meet then at the saddle (shown on the left of the "head") to show them how to ascend the neck, which is tricky in spots.  I wanted the challenge of climbing from the northwest a rarely done route.
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No trail, no cairns just a gps track on my cell phone.  I was unable to get my car to the trail head so had to park 2 miles away so that was an unplanned add-on.  Following an easy walk on a dirt road, I plunge into the wilderness.  I mostly skirt a very thick grove of ocotillos.  
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While I have the gps track to follow, there really is no reason to obsess about following it exactly.  It just represents how one person decided to go, using the same clues I see before me.  Looking back I see I needlessly climbed a ridge (doesn't look like much from this vantage point but it was) and would have been better off circling around it by staying in a wash.
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Maybe I should have looked more often at that gps track after all. ha, ha.  I look at the base of the Head and it actually looks like I could reach it and then climb toward the saddle where I would meet the group.  But, from a distance, sure it looks doable but once in there, who knows what obstacles I would encounter.
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I slowly work my way through a hodge podge of plants, walls, drop offs, etc...  I check my watch...ugh.  The extra 2 mile hike from my car and the slow route finding....not good.  I began to doubt I'd arrive at the ridge before the group.
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From on high, I hear and can see hikers close to the summit as I pause and.....
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….marvel at the view.  That rock climbing dude who free solos walls would make quick work of this while I continue my slog.  It was a little unnerving to smell the distinct odor thrown off my javelinas.  Plus, while I was down climbing the ridge I should not have climbed, I worked my way through a rock/cliffy area and rounding one building sized boulder there was a flat area with a bunch of large animal droppings below it.  I admit I had a "WTF are you doing out here" thought and I was not carrying on this hike.
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Oh, hey, there's the ridge showing the rock area I  descended on the left with the wash I should have followed on the right.  I made certain I'd get in that wash for the return.  I reached another ridge and saw a final chute that looked like I could climb to the back of the elephant head.  But, my cell phone battery was waning, upon reaching the neck of the elephant would I still be able to hook up with the group and if so, would I impose on anyone to drive me to my car after I followed them back to their trailhead?  I was running late on time too so I....
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….decided to live to hike another day and descended.  I got into the wash and it proved to be a good choice although I did encounter not one but.....
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….two barbed wire fences.  I climbed one and crawled under the other.  Soon I.....
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….found the dirt road and returned to my car.  I looked back many times.  I hate giving up on a hike and not reaching a peak.  This will bug me.  
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And yes, visual proof that it was that type of hike.  The pointy plants flourish on the slopes below Elephant Head.  Finished with 6.4 miles and 1800' of climbing.
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    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

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