Class 2 5.2 miles 1700 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Jan 23, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Klothos Temple GPX Track

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After hiking Muggins Peak a couple of years ago, I returned to the Muggins Mountains to do Klothos Temple, Muggins' neighbor. This route ended up being a bit better, in my opinion. While Muggins Peak had a fun section toward the summit after lots of rough scree, Klothos Temple has a nice social trail through some intersting desert wilderness. Klothos Temple is the high point of a stretch of desert prominence called Long Mountain. A guy at the trailhead spent some time explaining to us that back in the day, Muggins was called something completely different, and Klothos was called Long. He was a little upset that people renamed the peaks, and seemed content with confusing us by referring to the peaks as their old names. Anyway, I digress.

Matt and I set out from the trailhead, heading north along the Muggins Peak Loop Trail (an official trail that wraps around Muggins Peak) through a short section of narrows. When the cliffs fell away, we headed northwest up a side wash, and then followed another major drainage north. We started encountering cairns, which led usually on the right side of the drainage to avoid extra rock-hopping. The route led through a short narrow section of canyon before spitting us out at the bottom of a Class 2 not particularly fun slope. We headed to the ridge above. At least two routes worked, but I included the better one (which was also cairned) on my attached map.

From the top of the slope, we headed east along the ridge, and then curved north, following a pretty well-defined social trail. The trail keeps close enough to the rim that the views east toward Muggins Peak are captivating. About halfway along the ridge, there was a single Class 2+ move, and then the route stuck generally to the west of the cliffs, ultimately avoiding crumbly cliffs and a jagged knife-edge. The last few hundred feet followed the base of the knife-edge, whose cliffy walls had Matt (a geologist) excited. Overall, I thought this made for a nice hike with a rarely-encountered trail in a somewhat remote area.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Klothos Temple
1665 ft
765 rise

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Along the Muggins Peak Loop Trail. Muggins Peak visisble center.
Along the Muggins Peak Loop Trail. Muggins Peak visisble center.
Within the washes as we continue toward Klothos Temple, visible left.
Within the washes as we continue toward Klothos Temple, visible left.
Short section of narrows within the wash approach.
Short section of narrows within the wash approach.
The base of Klothos Temple is visible on the right.
The base of Klothos Temple is visible on the right.
Nearing the base of Klothos Temple.
Nearing the base of Klothos Temple.
A narrow section of our ascent canyon.
A narrow section of our ascent canyon.
After the narrow section of canyon, we ascended this Class 2 slope on the south side of Klothos Temple. There are a few options for ascending, but there is one easier option that has cairns and keeps a bit to the left although it's tempting to go directly up the slope, marked on the attached map.
After the narrow section of canyon, we ascended this Class 2 slope on the south side of Klothos Temple. There are a few options for ascending, but there is one easier option that has cairns and keeps a bit to the left although it's tempting to go directly up the slope, marked on the attached map.
View back into the drainage we came out of as we continue up the Class 2 slope.
View back into the drainage we came out of as we continue up the Class 2 slope.
Nearing the top of the slope.
Nearing the top of the slope.
View back down the slope.
View back down the slope.
Once emerging from the slope, a view of Klothos Temple.
Once emerging from the slope, a view of Klothos Temple.
View back as we follow a social trail along the ridgeline.
View back as we follow a social trail along the ridgeline.
Along the ridge to Klothos Temple.
Along the ridge to Klothos Temple.
View back along the ridge. The social trail was overall easy to follow.
View back along the ridge. The social trail was overall easy to follow.
Image 14 from gallery
View back toward Muggins Peak (left) and the ridgeline we came up on (right).
View back toward Muggins Peak (left) and the ridgeline we came up on (right).
Approaching a short scramble section.
Approaching a short scramble section.
Class 2+ along the ridge, short-lived.
Class 2+ along the ridge, short-lived.
Past the Class 2+ section, the route sticks to the left around the loose and scary-looking cliffy ridgeline. This resulted in wrapping around the cliffs on Class 2 terrain.
Past the Class 2+ section, the route sticks to the left around the loose and scary-looking cliffy ridgeline. This resulted in wrapping around the cliffs on Class 2 terrain.
Close-up at the approach to Klothos Temple. The social trail heads diagonally from bottom right to top left.
Close-up at the approach to Klothos Temple. The social trail heads diagonally from bottom right to top left.
View back. We avoided the cliffy ridgeline on the social trail by staying in front of the cliffs you see in the center.
View back. We avoided the cliffy ridgeline on the social trail by staying in front of the cliffs you see in the center.
Summit of Klothos Temple, view toward Muggins Peak.
Summit of Klothos Temple, view toward Muggins Peak.
Summit of Klothos Temple, view north.
Summit of Klothos Temple, view north.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!