In outdoor exploration, sometimes failure can be a source of motivation. Throughout the course of our twenty-five-year friendship, we have experienced motivational challenges at both Eagle Peak and the nearby Hat Mountain, the high points of Modoc and Lassen Counties, respectively.
The summit of Eagle Mountain, called Eagle Peak, is, at 9,896 feet, the undisputed high-point of thinly-populated Modoc County as well as the highest point in the South Warner Wilderness. Modoc County, located on the Oregon-Nevada-California border is one of the least-traveled counties in California, owing its remoteness to its distance from the major population centers. It is also the third most sparsely populated county of all 58 California counties. Eagle Peak …show more content…
Though our initial hopes were dashed, we learned a vital lesson: in the thrilling sport of peak-bagging, timing, planning and luck are everything.
This year we chose our timing more carefully and planned our trip to Eagle Mountain in mid-October. The weather for the second weekend of October 2016 was bluebird-perfect, with a forecast showing no precipitation, moderate daytime temperatures, and nighttime temperatures marginally within our comfort zones. Elated, we set off—Gary from Palo Alto, and Kath from Boise, Idaho. Our paths converged in the charming hamlet of Alturas (Modoc County) on a Friday afternoon. The early October snow was melting quickly this year—when we arrived, there were only a few icy patches left thawing in the sun. We immediately headed to the Brass Rail, an authentic family-style Basque restaurant, where we had eaten during our previous, failed attempt to reach the summit. The Brass Rail boasts a lively atmosphere for travelers and locals alike. When we visited this trip, the restaurant was full of hunters, some returning with new stories to tell, others heading out to the wilderness in freshly-washed
The summit of Eagle Mountain, called Eagle Peak, is, at 9,896 feet, the undisputed high-point of thinly-populated Modoc County as well as the highest point in the South Warner Wilderness. Modoc County, located on the Oregon-Nevada-California border is one of the least-traveled counties in California, owing its remoteness to its distance from the major population centers. It is also the third most sparsely populated county of all 58 California counties. Eagle Peak …show more content…
Though our initial hopes were dashed, we learned a vital lesson: in the thrilling sport of peak-bagging, timing, planning and luck are everything.
This year we chose our timing more carefully and planned our trip to Eagle Mountain in mid-October. The weather for the second weekend of October 2016 was bluebird-perfect, with a forecast showing no precipitation, moderate daytime temperatures, and nighttime temperatures marginally within our comfort zones. Elated, we set off—Gary from Palo Alto, and Kath from Boise, Idaho. Our paths converged in the charming hamlet of Alturas (Modoc County) on a Friday afternoon. The early October snow was melting quickly this year—when we arrived, there were only a few icy patches left thawing in the sun. We immediately headed to the Brass Rail, an authentic family-style Basque restaurant, where we had eaten during our previous, failed attempt to reach the summit. The Brass Rail boasts a lively atmosphere for travelers and locals alike. When we visited this trip, the restaurant was full of hunters, some returning with new stories to tell, others heading out to the wilderness in freshly-washed