Global Peak - 5/2/22

Global Peak from Scramble Approach

Global Peak Route

Reaching the Sandstone on the Global Peak Trail

Starting up the Lower Cairn Trail

Still squeezing out good weather days in the Red Rock Sandstone Bluffs, we decided to do a hike that the club hasn't done since 2012! Out of our group of six, only three had summited Global Peak before ... two in 2012! Charlie was the only recent visitor to the peak that lies between Windy Peak to the south and Black Velvet Peak to the north. He and Jerry were using old tracks to guide us in but the many cairns had us going every which way! We got off on the wrong track, so to speak, at least twice and got cliffed out both times. Finally, we found the secret and were able to summit. Our hike began from the Mountain Springs Pass Trailhead. We hiked up to the shortcut trail that crosses over to another old dirt road and down across the gulley.

Jerry and Cheryl passing a blooming Ephedra Plant

Lower Cairn Trail rock outcrop Landmark

Hiking out the Windy Peak Trail

Gathering at the Global Peak Trail Junction

With our explorations of added new trails, we have really enjoyed what we call the Lower Cairn Trail and the Upper Cairn Trail. Our ascent for this hike was the Lower Cairn Trail. We crossed the small road circle and found the trail that leads up along the gulley embankment ignoring the Upper Cairn Trail junction to the left. We crossed the gulley and began a nice climb up the ridge on the Lower Cairn Trail passing two large rock outcroppings to reach the main ridge trail above. This main trail is the one that is used between the Heartbreak Hill Saddle and Windy Peak / Mountain Springs Peak. We turned left at the junction then veered right at the Windy Peak Trail fork quickly.

Steep Trail Descent

Reaching the Sandstone

Following Cairns

Posing on a Cliff

Climbing again, we took the Windy Peak Trail up and over the hike high point. About 0.25 mile from the high point down the hill, there is a large cairn on the left where the junction for Global Peak Trail is located. We took a breath here then headed down. "Down" is the key word here! The trail heads steeply down to the sandstone above Muddy Creek Canyon. At this next point, you are at the mercy of cairns that, I'm sure, were placed with good intentions. That said, we wandered off course for a little while before we finally found the secret to the route. It turns out that the route leads down the steep slab and slightly right, east northeast, until you find yourself in the location indicated by the second photo of this entry.

Now Where?

Trying this Route

Spring Flowers

Wrong Way

At this point, you see Global Peak to the east rising next to the Windy Peak bench. Again we had to figure out the route as Charlie imagined that we should walk out that small ledge as seen in the second photo below. Since I am a scaredy cat, I had had enough of the cliffiness and decided to stop there. Next time, I think I will be able to continue from this point since the ledge idea was nixed and a climb up the crack to the right of it was found to be the way to go. As I watched, they climbed that crack, went behind the top of the crack to the left and hiked along the wall. Another crack climb led them up to the saddle to the right of the peak. Then cairns led them over to the summit.

Another Cairned Route

Uh, not the Ledge either.

Heading up the Crack - Finally, the right way!

Between Walls

I took photos of the group until they were on the peak then I slowly made my way back up the sandstone and steep dirt trail. Cheryl and Mike took a few photos of the parts I could not see. It appeared to be a very fun traverse over to the saddle. And, they said there was one large step-up that you may or may not need help with while climbing over to the peak itself. Always a trooper, Ralyn now has Global Peak under her belt but she says it was a "one and done!" We'll see about that! (After all, I'm just getting started with this one!) 

I was waiting and watching for them at the Windy Peak Trail junction when they appeared at the bottom of the hill. It didn't take long for them to power up the hill and join me for a breather. They were all smiles and had great reviews!

We climbed on up to the Windy Peak Trail high point and on down past the Lower Cairn Trail junction on the Main Ridge Trail. At the Heartbreak Hill Saddle, we jogged down to the trail that heads over to the Burnt Ridge. Since we had just used this trail the other day, we headed down the ridge without hesitation.

Hugging the Wall

Climbing another Crack to the Saddle

Yay! They made it to the peak!

Summit Photo

Over to the ridge, down the ridge all the way, left on the old road, right at the trail fork, down a vague trail to the wash and up the next ridge, left on the next old road and down to the right to walk into the trailhead parking lot. Fantastic day even if there was a bit of wind on the way down!

Stats: 4.7 miles; 2180' gain; 4.5 hours (maybe less with streamlined routes)

Proof of the last time AtBF climbed Global Peak

Group of Five on Global Peak

Descending via the Burnt Ridge