
Starting along the Quantrell Mine Trail.

Crossing a creek.

View back toward the trailhead, Mount Hopkins visible up there.

Ascending to the saddle with Little Elephant Head.

Another shot back to the surrounding desert.

Junction with the social trail for Little Elephant Head.

Onward along the Quantrell Mine Trail, Elephant Head seen far left.

Quantrell Mine Trail.

The mine shaft, just off the trail.

Little Elephant Head seen across the canyon.

The trail crested a slope and I could see Elephant Head clearly in front of me.

I started down the social trail into Chino Canyon below.

Descending into Chino Canyon.

Chino Canyon.

Gorgeous slickrock and running water.

View back down into chino Canyon as I start up its north slope.

Ocotillo forest.

A shot back toward Little Elephant Head and Chino Canyon. You can also see the Quantrell Mine Trail on the slope.

Now on the ridgeline, heading toward Elephant Head.

Elephant Head ahead. A social trail makes the rout-finding less difficult than what it could have been.

Now at the base of Elephant Head, I started up.

First section of scrambling, a nice Class 2 slab.

Keeping right at this first headwall.

A ledge the social trail leads around.

A sandy section where the trail keeps left.

Ascending below some trees.

View back at my progress so far.

Class 2/3 scrambling along the ridge.

Close-up back along the ridge.

A gorgeous last bit to the summit.

Approaching the crux ahead.

Class 3 crux to overcome this headwall.

Continuing through cracks and over rock ribs to the summit.

View back down the ridgeline.

Elephant Head summit. Little Elephant Head far right, Chino Canyon center.

Close-up toward Chino Canyon.


Back along the Quantrell Mine Trail, a view toward Little Elephant Head.

I backtracked to the junction and headed along a social trail toward Little Elephant Head.

Along the way, a view of both Elephant Heads.

Approaching the base.

Class 2 and a nice social trail lead through the boulders to the summit.

Little Elephant Head ahead, Elephant Head seen in the distance.

The social trail leads to the right, below this small cliff band.

Little Elephant Head summit, view toward Elephant Head.

Little Elephant Head summit, view back along the ridgeline.
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