WILDROSE PEAK, DEATH VALLEY

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:32 pm

On day two of my Death Valley trip, I led a group to Wildrose Peak which stands tall at 9,064 feet. There was a beautifully maintained trail but it was a tough 4.2 miles one way. The weather was nice, a little chilly at the summit but we had spectacular views of the Eastern Sierras.

The trail head is also known for its Charcoal Kilns. A bit of history: they were built in 1877 and produced charcoal. Workers filled the stone kilns with pinon pine logs and fired them. Burning reduced wood charcoal took 6-8 days and cooling took 5 days. Wagons then hauled charcoal to the furnace smelter where it was burned to extract silver and lead.

The kilns were pretty cool. We went inside to look around. They make a good place for shelter but it's forbidden to do so.

Stats: 9 miles, 2200' gain

False summit. The peak is behind this bump but it cannot be viewed until you climb the switchbacks above it.

Views from the trail

Wildrose summit

Post by **Sean** » Wed Apr 28, 2021 11:50 am

Thanks for the report and history lesson. What was hard about the trail?

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:21 pm

Nothing was hard about the trail but the switchbacks were steep.

Post by **JeffH** » Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:44 pm

I went up there a few years ago. That bump was disappointing because it seemed as if it should be the summit. At the top I could see all the way to Mt Charleston outside of Vegas.

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:42 pm

Jeff, yeah I hated that bump. From the trail below we thought that was the summit and took pictures. Then you find out that you still have a ways to go.