Fremont Peak

Date ? (Private Trip)

By: Bob Michael

 none

For many years, I've been fascinated by this pretty little peak which from some angles (such as the southeast) rises to a geometrically perfect, symmetrical point. I lies between Kramer Junction and Randsburg, in a "blank spot" of the Mojave map, very far indeed from any DPS listed peaks - although not too far south of HPS Red Mountain. Now that I've graduated to non-list peaks, it was high on my priority list - I chose it for my traditional New Year's desert pea.

Access is via the Fremont Peak Road which takes off from 395, 13 miles N of Kramer Junction. This wide, good but rather sandy dirt road heads almost straight at the peak. From this side, the peak is not a point, but a broad spearhead. The road becomes somewhat sandier as one proceeds east. I parked my 2WD truck at the indicated spot because I was apprehensive about the sand, but a 4WD or a less timid 2WD driver could easily make it to the Monarch Rand Mine, less than 1/2 mile from the peak. From the mine, a trail goes to some diggings on the W ridge of the peak; the route continues up the ridge, then veers onto the SW flank of the peak , and finishes up a delightful, solid class 2 chute which deposits you right onto the white granite boulders of the airy summit. Just a little gem of a peak! The expansive views in all directions are of a part of the Mojave that the DPS doesn't see much of, including the "terra incognita" of the Randsburg Wash Test Range just to the E; very prominent is the truncated cone and variegated "squaw skirt" flanks of Pilot Knob, which might be on, someone's List if the military hadn't sealed it off. There is also the best view I've had of the old natural route into southwestern Death Valley via Wingate Wash, the old 20 mule-team route.

Fremont doesn't qualify for the List (see, I don't recommend everything I write up), but it's a pretty little peak from any direction and well worth doing.

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