Hole in the Mountain Peak in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Hike Hole in the Mountain Peak Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Class 2 7.1 miles 4800 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Sep 14, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Getting to the trailhead for Hole in the Mountain Peak requires passing through private property, which seems not be a problem to the landowners, signs stating as much. Google navigates on a road that doesn't exist at some point, but following the main road will get you there since there's actually only one option. You can't get lost once you leave the main road. Mid-clearance is required to navigate the mostly decent dirt road approach. Once you pass over a cattle guard back into National Forest property, you might be tempted to continue along the steep, awful road like I was. Don't. Seriously, only an ATV can likely reach the end of the road. It's in very bad shape and you'll probably be faster just walking. So, from the spot marked as "Park" on the map, I headed on foot along the boring road exposed to the morning sun to its end. Here, I was confronted with tall brush and wasn't prepared for a brutal bushwhack. With some poking around, I noticed a social trail through the foliage. I added a cairn to make this spot more obvious. The social trail led safely, if a little scratchy, up the slope. The slope swapped between grasses and brush for a quarter mile before reaching a really dense section. Fortunately, the social trail continued north, away from the dense brush and off the ridge. This was clearly the standard route, an obvious trail leading down a couple hundred feet into Lizzies Basin. The water feature was mostly dry, likely because of the dry year.

The "hole" that Hole in the Mountian Peak was named for is visible above, but not accessible via this route. If even possible, getting to it would probably involve coming up from the west slopes, and not from Lizzies Basin. I then noted the major gully ahead that's used as the standard route for the peak (better described in photos below). I crossed through Lizzies Basin, and headed up the gully, which was Class 2 and mostly just steep grass. I assume in the spring this would be a snow climb, so take note of the conditions before doing this route. It took me much longer to ascend than I thought it would, the angle quite significant. Once at the top of the gully, I took a left and headed west on Class 2 talus to the summit. There are many options along the talus-filled ridge, but I recommend just keeping away from any steep rock outcroppings and getting up will be no problem, if a little tedious. The summit views into Lizzies Basin from Hole in the Mountain Peak were really interesting, the peak's incredible cliffs feeling particularly immense from above.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Hole in the Mountain Peak
11306 ft
4849 rise

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Nearing the top of the steep, dirt road walk. It's quite bad in spots, despite how it appears in this photo. Save your vehicle and walk the road.
Nearing the top of the steep, dirt road walk. It's quite bad in spots, despite how it appears in this photo. Save your vehicle and walk the road.
Approaching the end of the road, the "hole" visible tiny in the center. The initial ascent slope visible on the left.
Approaching the end of the road, the "hole" visible tiny in the center. The initial ascent slope visible on the left.
End of the road ahead. The route leads through the brush on the left, then descends into Lizzies Basin on the right, and up the gully right of center.
End of the road ahead. The route leads through the brush on the left, then descends into Lizzies Basin on the right, and up the gully right of center.
A social trail through the brush.
A social trail through the brush.
Looking back from the bushwhack section (not bad if you locate the social trail), view toward the end of the road (center).
Looking back from the bushwhack section (not bad if you locate the social trail), view toward the end of the road (center).
Ascending the slope. The gully used later visible on the right.
Ascending the slope. The gully used later visible on the right.
Before encountering some very bad brush, this opening descends on a social trail into Lizzies Basin.
Before encountering some very bad brush, this opening descends on a social trail into Lizzies Basin.
Looking back toward the opening, after descending into Lizzies Basin.
Looking back toward the opening, after descending into Lizzies Basin.
Heading through Lizzies Basin, the ascent gully visible just right of center.
Heading through Lizzies Basin, the ascent gully visible just right of center.
Within Lizzies Basin, heading to the gully right of center. The "hole" is in the center of the ridge above.
Within Lizzies Basin, heading to the gully right of center. The "hole" is in the center of the ridge above.
Approaching the gully.
Approaching the gully.
Looking back as I start up the gully.
Looking back as I start up the gully.
Within the approach gully.
Within the approach gully.
Looking back, the Lizzies Basin marked water source (pretty much dry for me) visible left of center.
Looking back, the Lizzies Basin marked water source (pretty much dry for me) visible left of center.
Continuing up the gully. It gets steeper the higher you go.
Continuing up the gully. It gets steeper the higher you go.
Looking back again. The spot where I descended from the ridge into Lizzies Basin is just right of center, where the treeline is.
Looking back again. The spot where I descended from the ridge into Lizzies Basin is just right of center, where the treeline is.
Nearing the top of the gully.
Nearing the top of the gully.
Looking back before leaving the gully.
Looking back before leaving the gully.
Just above the gully, looking down into it.
Just above the gully, looking down into it.
Higher up, looking back into Lizzies Basin. Leave the gully as early as you feel comfortable doing so and ascend the ridge.
Higher up, looking back into Lizzies Basin. Leave the gully as early as you feel comfortable doing so and ascend the ridge.
Class 2 along the ridge
Class 2 along the ridge
Lots of talus.
Lots of talus.
Looking back again as I ascend. Lizzies Basin center.
Looking back again as I ascend. Lizzies Basin center.
Class 2.
Class 2.
View of the cliff face of Hole in the Mountain Peak.
View of the cliff face of Hole in the Mountain Peak.
Just below the summit, the ridge becomes too treacherous and a social trail traverses the talus slope for a few feet to continuing ascending on easier ground.
Just below the summit, the ridge becomes too treacherous and a social trail traverses the talus slope for a few feet to continuing ascending on easier ground.
Class 2/2+ to the summit. View looking back toward where the trail left the main ridge (center) to ascend on safer ground.
Class 2/2+ to the summit. View looking back toward where the trail left the main ridge (center) to ascend on safer ground.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit ahead.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit ahead.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit, view into Lizzies Basin.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit, view into Lizzies Basin.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit, view along the rim of the cliffs.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit, view along the rim of the cliffs.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit, view back along the ridge I ascended from.
Hole in the Mountain Peak summit, view back along the ridge I ascended from.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!