Striped Mountain / Arrow Peak (SPS)

An afternoon start up the Taboose Pass Trail led to a campsite midway up the long ascent. Water was plentiful and spirits were high, and the following morning we crested the pass and cut cross-country along rough terrain for Striped Mountain. Some suncupped snowfields led to a forgettable ascent. The summit of Striped Mountain, however, was far from forgettable and easily made up for the exhaustion and sore ankles.

On returning to the trail and dropping over the west side of Taboose Pass, we were immediately assaulted by a hellscape of mosquitos—this being the ill-advised early spring trip through well-watered basins—which did not let up until exiting the range. If anything, they intensified their efforts toward exsanguination as we crossed the PCT and headed for Bench Lake. Dinner was brief, and we took to our tents near immediately for respite from the winged maelstrom, beneath the watchful eye of Arrow Peak, which we were to climb the following day.

A pre-dawn wakeup gave us a brief span of bug-free hiking as we navigated some gorgeous terrain toward Arrow Pass. From the top of the pass, the bugs began once more to become a nuisance, driving us to higher climes. A prolonged, steep slope took us to the sharp summit of Arrow Peak: an inspiring prospect with soaring views to all directions. Especially scenic was the vista eastward, where the route from our last two days was clearly visible.

Nursing a sore knee and having had my share of compulsory entomological study, I dropped back down Arrow Pass, packed up camp at Bench Lake, and returned to the east side of Taboose Pass to make a trailside camp. A gorgeous sunset painted the desert and I woke refreshed the following morning to return to the car.