Meadow Valley Mountains High Point in Meadow Valley Range Wilderness BLM, NV

Hike Meadow Valley Mountains High Point Meadow Valley Range Wilderness BLM, NV

Class 3 7.4 miles 3300 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Mar 30, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This route heads to the highest point of the rarely-visited Meadow Valley Mountains, tacking on its neighboring peak, J. J. Freakel Peak. I parked on the side of Kane Springs Road and headed southeast throug hthe desert. I followed Adam Walker's route because he found the remains of a plane wreck, so I was looking forward to checking them out. After about a mile into the approach, I started seeing scattered bits of metal or pipe and finally stumbled on a big chunk of plane. Farther up is the largest piece nestled by a big yucca, and I marked this one on the attached map.

Just past the big plane wreckage piece, I dropped south into the major drainage that drains from the saddle of Meadow Valley Mountains High Point and J. J. Freakel Peak, the saddle being the goal. At first the drainage was an easy walk with some minor brush and boulders to zig-zag around, but as it began to narrow the brush got thicker and the rocks larger. The drainage narrowed into a short section of canyon, where some light scrambling was involved to get over bigger rocks. I was wearing snake gaiters so the brush was of no consequence, but I imagine it could get a little tedious in this narrow section. The canyon widened a bit, and another option presented itself in addition to brush/boulder-hopping: a scree slope. While the scree was fun to slip down on the descent, I wasn't sure if I preferred it to the former option on the way up. As the drainage widened further and seemed to want to continue to take me to the left away from the saddle, I scrambled out of the drainage and started up the slope to gain the saddle.

Once at the saddle, I headed north to Meadow Valley Mountains High Point first. The slope seemed like it might be a little tricky, Class 2 limestone ledges making it slightly dificult to see the best route up. However, I was able to get just below the summit without having to do any backtracking – each time I thought there would be a cliff band blocking access, a Class 2/2+ option presented itself on my left or right. The summit block of Meadow Valley Mountains High Point is the highlight. From below it seems like its completely guarded on all sides by a 15-foot cliff band, but a large crack serves as a Class 3 squeeze move. It's completely enclosed and quite tight, but the moves are straightforward. Class 2 led to the summit.

Back at the saddle, I headed south toward J. J. Freakel Peak. This one was a bit less fun, but still a good add-on. The Class 2 slope was littered with talus and about two-thirds the way up I had to scramble up a Class 2+ weakness in a minor cliff band. Above this was a wide, rocky ridge that brought me below the summit block. It might be tempting to just head up the unnecessay knife-edge ridge, but a short Class 3 move on the right of the ridge more easily took me to the summit without the scary exposure.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Meadow Valley Mountains High Point
5772 ft
1812 rise
2
J. J. Freakel Peak
5678 ft
498 rise

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Starting from Kane Springs Road, I headed across the desert to the drainage in the center. Meadow Valley Mountains High Point visible left of center. The tiny summit block is poking out behind the cliff face that's most obvious in this photo.
Starting from Kane Springs Road, I headed across the desert to the drainage in the center. Meadow Valley Mountains High Point visible left of center. The tiny summit block is poking out behind the cliff face that's most obvious in this photo.
Plane wreckage.
Plane wreckage.
Big piece of plane wreckage.
Big piece of plane wreckage.
The biggest piece of plane wreckage, just before dropping into the drainage on the right. Meadow Valley Mountains High Point left, J. J. Freakel Peak on the right.
The biggest piece of plane wreckage, just before dropping into the drainage on the right. Meadow Valley Mountains High Point left, J. J. Freakel Peak on the right.
Within the drainage, heading to the saddle of the two peaks.
Within the drainage, heading to the saddle of the two peaks.
The drainage starts off pleasant enough.
The drainage starts off pleasant enough.
And then slowly introduces more rocks and brush.
And then slowly introduces more rocks and brush.
And finally the drainage enters a canyon, where the brush and rocks are slightly more of a hassle.
And finally the drainage enters a canyon, where the brush and rocks are slightly more of a hassle.
View down into the narrow section.
View down into the narrow section.
Continuing up the canyon.
Continuing up the canyon.
Shot as I make it higher up. You can see the drainage I came from in the distant center.
Shot as I make it higher up. You can see the drainage I came from in the distant center.
The brush/rock continues on the right, but a scree slope option exists on the left.
The brush/rock continues on the right, but a scree slope option exists on the left.
The drainage kept to the left and seemed to head away from the saddle, so I scrambled out of it and headed up the slope leading to the saddle.
The drainage kept to the left and seemed to head away from the saddle, so I scrambled out of it and headed up the slope leading to the saddle.
Just below the saddle, view down into the slope I ascended after leaving the drainage. The mouth of the drainage is visible on the left.
Just below the saddle, view down into the slope I ascended after leaving the drainage. The mouth of the drainage is visible on the left.
First up is Meadow Valley Mountains High Point. Limestone ledges (Class 2) led up the ridge.
First up is Meadow Valley Mountains High Point. Limestone ledges (Class 2) led up the ridge.
View down toward the saddle. I came up from the slope on the right.
View down toward the saddle. I came up from the slope on the right.
Meadow Valley Mountains High Point summit ahead.
Meadow Valley Mountains High Point summit ahead.
Summit block. The route goes through the crack on the block's far left.
Summit block. The route goes through the crack on the block's far left.
Class 3 crack.
Class 3 crack.
Close-up into the crack. Note the chockstone in the center.
Close-up into the crack. Note the chockstone in the center.
Looking down into the crack. The chockstone from the previous photo is visible in the center of this one.
Looking down into the crack. The chockstone from the previous photo is visible in the center of this one.
Summit of Meadow Valley Mountains High Point, view toward J. J. Freakel Peak.
Summit of Meadow Valley Mountains High Point, view toward J. J. Freakel Peak.
Close-up of J. J. Freakel Peak.
Close-up of J. J. Freakel Peak.
Back at the saddle, I headed up to J. J. Freakel Peak. Class 2 and pretty loose.
Back at the saddle, I headed up to J. J. Freakel Peak. Class 2 and pretty loose.
View back toward Meadow Valley Mountains High Point and the saddle. You can see the drainage I came out of to reach the saddle in the center of this photo.
View back toward Meadow Valley Mountains High Point and the saddle. You can see the drainage I came out of to reach the saddle in the center of this photo.
Class 2+ weakness about two-thirds up the ridge.
Class 2+ weakness about two-thirds up the ridge.
Wide rocky ridgeline.
Wide rocky ridgeline.
Optional exposed knife-edge. Keep right around it.
Optional exposed knife-edge. Keep right around it.
Class 3 section to gain the summit.
Class 3 section to gain the summit.
J. J. Freakel Peak, view south.
J. J. Freakel Peak, view south.
J. J. Freakel Peak, view north toward Meadow Valley Mountains High Point.
J. J. Freakel Peak, view north toward Meadow Valley Mountains High Point.
Close-up down into the drainage I ascended from. My car is at the top center of this photo.
Close-up down into the drainage I ascended from. My car is at the top center of this photo.

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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!