Esmerelda and DeRoux Peaks

Andrea, Andrew, and I parked at the DeRoux Creek trailhead (in DeRoux Campground) and headed up trail #1392. At the 5,440'+ switchback we headed NE up the class 2 slopes of Esmeralda Peaks. We visited the 6,765' high point first then walked to the other high point that is 400 feet west of point 6,765'. This west high point seemed higher and it had the summit register on it.

We dropped back to the trail and hiked to Gallagher Head Lake. We all declared the lake an excellent backpack destination for beginners. We continued SW on trail #1392, taking a left fork at the 5,440'+ pass between Hawkins Mountain and DeRoux Peak. This fork dead-ended at 5,640' below the west end of the crumbly, orange cliff band on the north slope of DeRoux Peak.

We followed a faint way path that switchbacked SE above the cliff band then faded away. We continued SE to the summit. It was steep, loose scree, but firmly in class 2.

The summit of DeRoux Peak had 360 degree views and pleasant meadow slopes to the south.

We descended DeRoux Peak via its east ridge, meeting up with trail #1392.1 at the 5,040'+ pass.

Date:

2007/06/23

Elevation gain:

3,825 feet

Trip type:

scramble

USGS quad:

Mount Stuart

In:

Teanaway

Car-to-car:

9 hours 30 minutes

2 hours 52 minutes ascending from DeRoux Campground to summit of Esmerelda Peaks
2 hours 28 minutes traversing from summit of Esmerelda Peaks to summit of DeRoux Peak
2 hours 33 minutes descending from summit of DeRoux Peak to DeRoux Campground

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