Tosco Benchmark and Southern Big Maria Mountains in Big Maria Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Hike Tosco Benchmark and Southern Big Maria Mountains Big Maria Mountains Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Class 3 8.2 miles 3000 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Dec 1, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Tosco Benchmark and Southern Big Maria Mountains GPX Track

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Tyler and I set out to hike to Tosco Benchmark, tacking on a couple of unnamed summits to create a loop. Our approach uses an old mining road, but the majority of the hike is off-trail and pretty rugged. To reach our trailhead, we left Midland Road here (33.71674, -114.64285) and headed north on a decent road fine for Crossover SUVs, until the junction with our mining road approach choice. Although we likely could have driven farther, the road becomes only suitable for ATVs shortly after anyway. We started by hiking along this old mining road, with Tosco Benchmark poking out in the distance. The road dipped in and out of a wash a few times, and I recommend following it. Even though the drainage also leads to the same spot, there are a few obstacles within and the gravel is loose enough to get annoying.

As we made our way along the road, the gorgeous multi-layered cliff band of our peaks the day before surrounding South Maria came into view behind us. The road then began to ascend, and we made our way toward Peak 1707 via its east slope. The terrain became steep and pretty unstable as we ascended the steep slope. The ridge crest leading to Peak 1707 introduced some Class 3 on rotten rock, a totally unexpected obstacle for this innocuous-looking peak.

We continued onward to Tosco Benchmark, descending briefly through some arroyo-riddled terrain and then into a drainage with a few short dryfalls. We left this drainage before it bent west, and side-hilled into the major drainage that would take us to the north ridge of Tosco Benchmark. This drainage was covered in boulders, and there was some Class 2+ scrambling along the way up stacks of them. After we reached the saddle, we continued south, heading toward Tosco’s summit. We kept right of the trickier-looking crest, choosing a more resonable-looking gully that we eventually left higher up in favor of a slope. The slope was not too loose, but it did have many granitic boulder clusters that added a possibly avoidable low Class 3 move here and there.

Peak 2071 was our final summit for the loop, but it was set pretty far north, and we were separated by a ridge traverse. From the saddle on the north side of Tosco Benchmark, we started up a slope that looked more dangerous from below than it ended up being (Class 2). Along the crest, much of the Class 2/2+ obstacles could be wrapped around, but there were some fun sections that required easy scrambling. The base of Peak 2071 was guarded by a volcanic cliff, so we kept right to avoid it, using a weakness on the southeast side that led to the summit.

From the top of Peak 2071, we headed down its northwestern ridge, navigating some loose terrain and a final small cliff at the base of the peak. We reached the old mining road again, following it back to the cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 1707
1707 ft
380 rise
2
Tosco Benchmark
2329 ft
1171 rise
3
Peak 2071
2071 ft
311 rise

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Tosco Benchmark poking out on the right. We hiked along this old mining road.
Tosco Benchmark poking out on the right. We hiked along this old mining road.
The road dips in and our of a wash.
The road dips in and our of a wash.
View back, the peaks near South Maria seen over there.
View back, the peaks near South Maria seen over there.
Ascending Peak 1707 via its east slope.
Ascending Peak 1707 via its east slope.
Loose, steep terrain.
Loose, steep terrain.
Approaching the ridge crest.
Approaching the ridge crest.
Class 3 ridge crest to the summit of Peak 1707.
Class 3 ridge crest to the summit of Peak 1707.
Tyler coming up the Class 3 ridge.
Tyler coming up the Class 3 ridge.
View southeast. Peak 2071, our third peak of the day (left), and Tosco Benchmark (right).
View southeast. Peak 2071, our third peak of the day (left), and Tosco Benchmark (right).
Onward to Tosco Benchmark.
Onward to Tosco Benchmark.
Through a drainage with a few short scrambly obstacles.
Through a drainage with a few short scrambly obstacles.
Obstacle within the drainage.
Obstacle within the drainage.
Some side-hilling and then we reached the major drainage that led us to the north ridge of Tosco Benchmark (the saddle seen center).
Some side-hilling and then we reached the major drainage that led us to the north ridge of Tosco Benchmark (the saddle seen center).
Class 2 up the drainage.
Class 2 up the drainage.
View back as we approach the saddle.
View back as we approach the saddle.
At the saddle, continuing south to the summit.
At the saddle, continuing south to the summit.
Bouldery terrain, maybe a Class 3 move here and there.
Bouldery terrain, maybe a Class 3 move here and there.
Tosco Benchmark seen ahead.
Tosco Benchmark seen ahead.
Starting up an initial slope on our way to Peak 2071 next.
Starting up an initial slope on our way to Peak 2071 next.
View back toward Tosco Benchmark.
View back toward Tosco Benchmark.
Peak 2071 seen distant right of center. The ridgeline included some Class 2/2+ stuff, much of which can be wrapped around.
Peak 2071 seen distant right of center. The ridgeline included some Class 2/2+ stuff, much of which can be wrapped around.
The base of Peak 2071 is guarded by a cliff. We kept right around it.
The base of Peak 2071 is guarded by a cliff. We kept right around it.
A weakness on the southeast side of Peak 2071 led to the summit.
A weakness on the southeast side of Peak 2071 led to the summit.
Peak 2071 summit, view back along the ridgeline toward Tosco Benchmark.
Peak 2071 summit, view back along the ridgeline toward Tosco Benchmark.
Peak 2071 summit, view north toward the other Big Maria Mountains.
Peak 2071 summit, view north toward the other Big Maria Mountains.
View back toward Tosco (right of center) and Peak 2071 (left) as we head down.
View back toward Tosco (right of center) and Peak 2071 (left) as we head down.
View back up toward 2071 as we navigate some loose terrain and a small cliff at the base of the peak. We reached the old mining road and headed back along it to the cars.
View back up toward 2071 as we navigate some loose terrain and a small cliff at the base of the peak. We reached the old mining road and headed back along it to the cars.

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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!