Hike Kelbaholt Peak and Northern Mopah Range Turtle Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

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This loop in the northern Mopah Range, a named range within the Turtle Mountains, is quite the desert craggy peak undertaking. It summits a bunch of the named and lesser visited interesting towers, all of which look impossible from below. The route has sporadic Class 3+/4, but the only true Class 5 stuff is on Fools Point. If you plan to complete the loop, be prepared for a fair amount of scrambling and rugged terrain, but skipping Fools Point will keep the route Class 3/3+. Desert peaks don't get much better than this. Any vehicle could make it to the trailhead, though it does get a little rocky toward the end. A big shout-out to Bob Burd and Tracy Foutz for sharing their routes.

From the trailhead we set out through the desert toward the intimidating-looking Kelbaholt Peak, making our way to a spur ridge on its northeast side. Class 2 brought us to the base of Kelbaholt Peak, where a gorgeous view of the peak's sheer east face greeted us from the top of the cliff where we stood. From here the terrain got complex, a series of gullies and side-hills bringing us to the peak. We continued along the top of the cliff, scrambled up a Class 3 set of moves on big conglomerate pebbles, surprisingly secure. A short crevasse brought us to some flatter ground, where we wrapped around the base of the cliffs to the right and located a Class 3 chute with a yucca at its base. There were lots of loose boulders, so we went one at a time. At the top of this chute was more flat ground, where we wrapped around to the right yet again. A Class 2+ 10-foot down-climb brought us to base of another chute, this one more loose. We each made our own moves up varying sides of this chute, all options Class 2/3. The top of this chute revealed that we still had a way to go, Kelbaholt Peak's higher reaches becoming visible. We kept to the left around a rocky set of outcroppings and made a descending side-hill to the base of a gully that seemed like it would reach the summit. This gully was long and a bit dirty and brushy, but only Class 2. We ascended a few hundred feet and found ourselves in a short crevasse (Class 2+) leading to the ridgeline. Once on the ridge, what appears at first to be a knife-edge stretches to the summit for a hundred feet. It's clear where to go, but the route involves an airy Class 3 move, followed by some lightly exposed Class 2 on typical volcanic rock. We scoped the peaks to come for the day to the south. There certainly is no non-technical way to get down from Kelbaholt Peak's south side to access the southern peaks, unfortunately.

Once we backtracked from Kelbaholt Peak to its base where we previously had admired the sheer face from the rim of a cliff. We followed the cliff until a Class 2 section allowed us to descend to the south. The next half mile required some side-hilling through fairly brushy terrain, but it wasn't too bad and was likely a better choice than descending all the way down only to regain the vertical elevation. Bob Burd reported a Class 3 steep gully that honestly I likely wouldn't have even attempted. It just looked so unlikely from below, but a bunch of fun Class 3/4 dryfalls led up the gully. It was a delightful section, and the stimulating scrambling brought us to higher ground more quickly than we thought. The terrain mellowed out a bit and we found ourselves on a Class 2 slope as we wrapped around the base of the cliffs and the gully widened. We made it to the saddle northeast of our net peak, Peak 3687. Class 2 led up to and along the base of its eastern cliffs until a weakness presented itself on the right, some steep Class 2 on a conglomerate slope followed by a Class 3 move on a narrow ramp. Sticking to the ridge crest results in a horrifying scramble on top of a baby arch. I quickly decided I wouldn't be doing that, instead locating a Class 2 option on its left to gain the summit. There were two high point, the closer one taller.

We headed back most of the way from Peak 3687 and descended toward the major drainage to the east, keeping to the drainage's east side to avoid losing too much unnecessary elevation. Fools Point came into view, its incredibly pointy-looking summit almost a deterrent, but we'd give it a go. There are three ramps leading up Fools Point's west face, the leftmost one being our choice. Reaching the summit from here required ascendin to the saddle on the northwest side of Fools Point, then scrambling up the Class 2 ramp, which is just on the edge of a sheer cliff. Toward the top of the ramp, we had to pull a couple of Class 3 moves on a dubious congomerate rock slab, followed by a couple more thoughtful moves as the ramp began to narrow and the exposure was present, if not severe (yet). We reached a flatter rest area at what seemed like the end of our attempt. If not for Bob Burd's report, we likely would have given up here. On the left was a serious crevasse and on the right a 20-foot face he called a "Class 3/4 crack". I'll go right ahead and call it a low Class 5 face. Granted, maybe only a 5.2-5.4. Although a fall would likely not mean falling down the crevasse to your death, 20 feet of climbing means you're still pretty high up, and the North Mopahs are quite remote. It wouldn't be a good time. Matt, Tyler, and Kailey scrambled up without issue, but I requested some webbing. Though I didn't use it, it was nice to know I had the option. Thanks for the meat anchor, Tyler. 😉

The crux is fairly solid, but Tyler did rip a small rock off, so I dunno if I want to say it's solid. A few easy moves got me feeling pretty okay about it, a series of decent flat holds and rounded footholds leading most of the way up. I had pause at a somewhat overhanging hunk of rock on my left, which felt like it made the route more vertical than it was. Keeping to the right of this rock hunk, I made a light pull move and found myself at the top. I will note that descending is a lot more scary, all of us except Tyler taking our time to feel for holds. We didn't leave any webbing, mostly because there wasn't a solid anchor to pin it to. Tyler served as our meat anchor in case we needed the webbing (we didn't, but again, nice to know it's there), and he free-soloed on the descent. Just above the crux pitch was an exposed Class 3 set of moves on the broken face, and an exposed loose Class 2 slope brought us to a final Class 3 pull move and the summit block. Ultimately I'd say it's a really fun desert peak, but certainly kept my blood pumping the whole time. We all sort of dreaded the descent, except for probably Tyler, who likely was nodding with us just to fit in with us muggles.

Back at the base of Fools Point, we had a final objective for the day, Peak 3336. We descended into the drainage to the south rather than side-hilling on crap terrain, then re-ascended through a shrot section of narrows and up to the saddle to the southwest of Peak 3336. Class 2 led us most of the way to the summit. You'll note on my map that there are two lines leading to two point. We aren't sure which is higher, but likely the northern one. If that's the case, the route continues as Class 2+, wrapping around on an animal trail, ascending a slope, and finding an easy way up the steep last five feet to the knife-edge ridge. The southern point required some Class 3 up the only viable-looking route, everything else a sheer cliff. Matt and Tyler traversed between the two peaks on a scary knife-edge which I was having none of, instead wrapping around, hence the two orange lines on my attached map. There's a third high point slightly to the south, but it's definitely not as tall as the two I marked on my map.

We descended from Peak 3336 and headed into the drainage to the south, entering a wash and following it for a few miles. An old and almost fully deteriorated road popped in on the left, difficult to spot so we left a cairn, and we took this to the main (driveable for 4WD) road farther to the north. We continued along this road back to our trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Kelbaholt Peak

3687 ft

390 rise

Peak 3687

3687 ft

948 rise

Fools Point

3323 ft

322 rise

Peak 3336

3336 ft

433 rise

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Kelbaholt Peak left of center.

Heading to the base of Kelbaholt Peak.

Class 2/3 to get to Kelbaholt Peak's base.

Class 3 move.

At the base of Kelbaholt Peak, admiring its sheer face as we head along the rim of a cliff. The gully left of center is tempting, but it's not the route. Instead head to the overexposed rock in the center of this phoot.

View back along the cliff, our cars on the far left somewhere.

Class 3 on big conglomerate pebbles, surprisingly solid. A short crevasse above this brought us to flatter ground.

Flattish section as we head to the right around Kelbaholt Peak's cliffs.

Heading around Kelbaholt Peak's cliffs.

Up a gully with a yucca at its base.

View down the gully.

Class 3 to the top of the gully. Above this, we kept to the cliff base, heading right.

We traversed along the base of the cliff on the left, then took a short down-climb to reach the gully in the center.

View down this next gully.

At the top of the gully, Kelbaholt Peak came into view (it's somewhere up there). The route requires side-hilling to one of the gullies in the center of this photo.

Ascending the Class 2 slope leading to a gully

Up the loose gully.

Almost to the short Class 3 crevasse move.

View down the crevasse. Behind me is the ridgeline.

Ridgeline.

Class 3 airy move along the ridgeline.

Looking back along the summit ridge.

Kelbaholt Peak ahead.

Close-up toward Peak 3687 (right) and Fools Point left of center a bit obscured.

Wide shot looking south toward the northern Nopah range.

Back at the base of Kelbaholt, we found a Class 2 option to get off the cliff I mentioned previously. The sheer face we admired is sort of visible on the right in this photo.

Side-hilling at the base of Kelbaholt Peak to gain a Class 3 steep gully pioneered by Bob Burd.

Class 3 steep gully coming up.

Entering the steep gully.

Lots of fun Class 2/3/3+ obstacles within the drainage.

View back as we make progress.

More fun scrambling.

The crux of the drainage, Class 4 on very good holds.

Once we made it to the top of the drainage, we kept to the left and wrapped around the cliff visible on the far left.

View back down the drainage we came out of (bottom center) as we ascended to the saddle northwest of Peak 3687. Kelbaholt Peak's false summit visible top.

At the saddle, Peak 3687 on the right somewhere. Class 2. We followed the base of its eastern cliffs for a bit.

Weakness to gain higher ground.

Class 2+ narrow ramp.

Peak 3687 ahead. Matt and Tyler went the scary way, jumping over a severely exposed arch, but Kailey and I kept to the left.

Class 2 alternative.

We came from the right in the sunlight. Kailey is seen in the baby arch that Matt/Tyler jumped across (dummies).

Peak 3687 summit, view toward Carsons Benchmark (top center).

Close-up toward Fools Point (left of center), Peak 3336 just behind it, Carsons Benchmark and Lincoln's Nose top left (another day).

Back down from Peak 3687, heading down the drainage to the east.

View back toward Peak 3687.

Fools Point comes into view on the left. You'll see three ramps, take the leftmost one.

Heading up Fools Point.

Steep Class 2 ramp.

Class 3+ move toward the top of the ramp.

Shot back down at our progress up the ramp. Just behind me is a rest area before the crux.

Class 5 section up Fools Point. Matt is just below the crux of the face.

Kailey at the crux.

View back down from above the crux. I'm standing on a ledge where we all huddled to stay out of the wind. It was big enough to fit all four of us somewhat comfortably.

Class 3+ exposed move on the broken face, just above the Class 5 section.

Class 2 loose slope just above the Class 3+.

Summit of Fools Point.

Close-up toward Peak 3336, center. Lincoln's Nose (far left), and Carsons Benchmark (top center).

Fools Point summit, view toward Peak 3687 left of center.

Back down from Fools Point, we ascended to a saddle before descending again. The drainage above my friends is where we came from after doing Peak 3687.

Peak 3336 on the left, the impossible-looking Peak 3369 on the right. We descended to the drainage in the center before ascending again to the saddle of the two peaks, center.

View back toward Fools Point (right) and Peak 3687 (center).

Class 2 for the first bit up to Peak 3336.

Class 3 section.

Looking down the same Class 3 section.

Class 3 section higher up, Peak 3339 visible top right.

Along the ridgeline to the lower peak of Peak 3339.

View along the ridge as we make our way to the summit. We ascended from the slope on the right in this photo. There's another itty summit behind Kailey, but that's certainly not the high point.

Summit of Peak 3336 (or at least the southern one on my attached map), view along the knife edge to the northern summit. I backtracked to find a better way there.

Class 2 option to get to Peak 3336's northern point.

Peak 3336 northern point, view along the ridgeline back to the southern point.

Shot toward Fools Point, Peak 3687, and Kelbaholt Peak.

On our way down the drainage after coming down from Peak 3336.

Looking back toward the saddle of Peak 3336 and Peak 3339, Peak 3339 on the left. We followed a major wash, took an old road, and made our way back to the car.

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