"This was my 7th time up Muddy. I wasn't sure of the condition of the road from north, so we took the West End Wash (south) approach. The roads in that way are barely HC, but were altered by last summers floods, partly notable in some nasty paint-scratcher catclaws growing in the way." — hwstock • Mar 9, 2024

"4y 9mo later, I returned to Muddy for my 6x climb. Probably the best part of the trip was a "mistake" that made for a better route with a high class 4 move. Redemption. Great leaders, and I was glad not to lead." — hwstock • Nov 26, 2022

"3.22.19~Solo Muddy Double. Muddy Mtn Peak & Muddy HP Loop. 2 peaks, 19.3 miles, 5,200’ gain, 10:50 hrs. My route was obnoxious and not likely done by anyone. Up Lovell wash to Harlan’s ascent route (& my dryfall bypass deviation) to Muddy Peak, back down to the wash at 3,900’, then up the end of the wash, up to the saddle & on to Muddy HP, then Gale Hills descent back to my car. This was by far one of the toughest treks I’ve ever accomplished. The Muddy Wilderness is a beautiful and remote area. The terrain is relentless, rough, loose, sharp and unforgiving. There is never any sections I can relax on. I had to keep strong focus the whole time and it was exhausting. I was in heaven and hell all at the same time and I didn’t have to die to get there....The sun and heat were intense today and I rarely had a breeze. I consumed all of my 3 liters of water and had to ration at the end. I should have brought 5. This is my 5th week coming out here. I was determined to make happy memories out here to chase away the bad ones. I accomplished that. Thanks Harlan for teaching me how to become a strong, competent & self reliant mountaineer. No Demons here. Muddy Peak #2 Muddy HP #3" — paula.raimondi • Mar 22, 2019

"Hard fought Super Bowl Day Muddy Mtn Summit 2.4.2018. 13 rogue miles & 3,200’ gain. “It takes a village”....to get me on top of some Mountains and today Harlan was that Village! I tried to Summit this Big intimidating mountain back in Dec. 2016 with Harlans help but I became afraid at a dry fall and turned back very close to the Summit. He has since taught me (and we’ve practiced) climbing techniques, rappelling and belaying to increase my confidence. So today I was ready. The route is rough and remote and it looks like a place live things go to die! Today I reached the point where I had turned back in 2016 and I had a full on panic attack. It was pure irrational terror. I felt like I had to flee and I wasn’t ever going to return home. It made no sense and I couldn’t stop it from happening. I hadn’t had one this severe since I watched my Mother die in 2013. My legs became useless noodles and I started shaking. I had to curl up and lay on my backpack for a bit while it overtook me. Harlan was patient and kind and talked me thru. It was a wall of fear so big and so wide that it took all my will and strategies to get through it. We made it to the Summit destination but I was a burden ..." — paula.raimondi • Feb 4, 2018

"Left Vegas around 5am to drive to the Hidden Valley trailhead. We arrived around 7am and were on the trail soon after. We followed the road into Hidden Valley, then made our way up the valley to the prominent saddle. Once there, we negotiated some steep scree slopes up to the ridge, which we took to the base of the summit tower. The last time I did Muddy, we came from the south, so I hadn't done the tower. I had read trip reports of people having difficulties finding the class 3 chute and ending up on much sketchier terrain. I had a GPS track to make sure that didn't happen. We had no real issues getting up there. We came back the same way, but once we reached the valley, we took a side trip to see the huge sandstone arch, since Susie & Jessica hadn't been there before. All in all, it was a pretty good day!" — Kevin • Nov 12, 2017

"Great Hike in the Muddy Mountains, Good workout even though a bit rusty being away from the Mountains for quiet a while. Perfect weather and not Hot yet!!Climbed Muddy peak first and continued to the Benchmark. " — Nuernberger • May 5, 2016