Distance

3.2 mi to summit

6.4 mi total

Elevation

7,311 ft start

9,131 ft max

Vertical

1,402 ft gain

Time

1 hr 13 min to summit

2 hr 11 min total

Finally snuck in a legit peak for Peak Month. What I thought would be a very easy, straightforward outing took a few turns in the opposite direction. Started out as a trailrun but petered out into a rhike. The Class 3+ scramble up to the true summit block took me by surprise; I have a strong suspicion that the vast majority of logs of this peak just stop at the end of the more established trail on Castle's west peak. The sun was long gone by the time I scrambled up to the summit. I didn't linger up there because I could see an approaching storm headed right for me. A few minutes later while downclimbing from the summit, major adrenaline kicked in as saw first lightning flash and heard a loud thunder very soon after. With no other good option, decided I had to run toward the storm down the long exposed ridge to escape. At one point while flying down I completely wiped out, but I didn't even feel it, so much adrenaline.

Route name

Castle Peak True Summit

out-and-back
Obstacles

routefinding, weather

Key gear

peakery Android app