rtgomez90 - May 21, 2017 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Apr 8, 2017
Elephant Head Hike
Hiked it with the wife. Half a day with some fun scrambling.
drainpipe - Mar 28, 2015 5:56 pm Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2015
elephant head
took trail 930 past Little Elephant Head. The trail then descends to the quantrell mine trail. At 2.3 miles from the trail head look for cairns for the descent to chino Canyon. Can be hard to find. The trail is extremely steep it descends approx. 500ft in about 1/4 of a mile ,about the same going up. At the ridge you can start to plot the ascent . The route was incredibly well cairned all the way with very little exposure. It was a fun scramble with little danger. We are both over 60 and handled it easily thanks to the cairn building people. The view is incredible at the top unfortunately we had not brought any Elephant tribunes so i left a apology note. A fantastic hike - scramble. Who ever built the cairns i owe you a beer.
December 2005, Seth and I decided to go at Elephant Heads West Gully Mountaineering route. I felt Seth should have the lead since it was his first time in the Gully. This kept the climbing new and took us in to some uncharted - unclimbed territory! Pending a detailed description from Seth, it will suffice to say that we ventured out of the traditional Gully to the RIGHT, and wound up climbing some excellent faces. (Unprotected strenuous 5.9 on in a couple spots, so Seth gets the medal for rope-gun bravery!) Our favorite pitch we refer to as "The Prescription Pitch" which goes at 5.9+ R/X. After difficult to protect, but FUN 5.8+ climbing, slabby commiting face moves at the top with poor protection below make the exit moves something you'll probbably only want to do once. We waypointed belays at several pitches, and if I can ever find them on my computer I'll be posting those with some pictures of the route... We didn't take many, but it will always be a vivid adventure remembered in our minds' eye!
Sirena - Nov 2, 2010 10:57 pm Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2010
Elephant Head Hiker's Route
Hiked this gorgeous route with killer views on a winter afternoon and the water in the creek crossings made it all the more beautiful. Full trip log at: http://desertsirena.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/elephant-head/
Sarah Simon - Feb 15, 2009 10:47 am Date Climbed: Feb 14, 2009
Hikers Route
I really, really enjoyed this Valentine's Day outing with my husband and parents. From the old mine road, we dropped down into the canyon via the "direct" route, then back up to the saddle. I was the only one to continue on for the entire scramble to the top.
I really think the final little wall move before the last ridge push to the summit is Class 4, no ifs, ands or buts. It was surprisingly vertical and required a bit of concentration. (I can typically scramble Class 3 without even thinking, but this last little wall was not "non-thinking crawling".)
Loved the views from the top and didn't mind the pachyderm pile at the summit.
hans.schenk - Sep 20, 2007 10:50 am Date Climbed: May 6, 2004
East Ridge: Hiker's Route
A bit postdated...but a great hike up the east ridge! I agree with the class 3 rating...although a couple of spots were borderline 4th and a little dicey for some of my non-climber friends.
Route Climbed: West Gully/ Central Rib Date Climbed: October 2005
Classic but sporadic desert mountaineering kind of stuff... class 3-5 scrambling with the odd 5.6 thrown in. Nice exposure, rock's not as terrible as you might think (though pro sometimes is). Roped four pitches, back to crack a few beers before dark. Descent is annoying but brief. Take the wash if you can.
Route Climbed: Bushwhack hike from Proctor Road to saddle Date Climbed: May 21, 2005
An awfully hot day, but a really worthwhile hike. I came up from the EH bike trail's Proctor Road end and just bushwhacked up the northern slopes to the saddle. From there I followed the cairns to the top. There's a delightful little shrine of elephant figurines in a heap of rocks where the summit register is located; I'll upload a picture.
Route Climbed: West Gully + Variation Date Climbed: January 27, 2004
Drove the 4WD road to the base of the West Gully and started up with a chalkbag and my Nike ACGs. Class 4 slabs led to a few 5.easy moves. I decided to take a more interesting (steeper) variation about 2/3 of the way up. The variation turned out to be an exciting refresher course in 5.8-5.9 kitty litter free-soloing! The descent really wasn't that bad.
Route Climbed: West Gully Date Climbed: November 22nd 2003
Climbed with Todd Hinrichsen. We aimed to climb the West Gully but strayed off route for awhile. This is a good adventure climb. The descent is rather thorny (wear thick pants if you go).
Route Climbed: The West Gully, 5.6 1000' Date Climbed: Dec. 21st, 2002
Wow, what an adventure. Our intention in the morning was not to do a significant amount of climbing, but rather scout out an area for new sport routes on a beautifull wall IN the West Gully... The day turned out much different, as the Gully was too inviting. We only got to the rock at 11:30, and suddenly decided we would climb it. 1000 feet. What the heck were we thinking. We brought our headlamps, (just in case), ate a bag of dry Top Ramen, and took a gallon of water. 6 hours later, after some fun scrambling, and climbing up to 5.8 on marginal pro and loose rock (we got of route on one occasion), we arrived at the summit! Before we left the summit it was dark, and the 2 hours of backcountry scrambling was enough to make me not want to go back... but I probably will! The next time, however, we will take a little more food, and leave quite a bit earlier! 8hrs and 15min car to car... and air and ground search and rescue out looking for two lost climbers!!!! (My parents were a little worried.) Somehow we managed to climb safely, and make it back, extremely hungy and sooooo tired.
rtgomez90 - May 21, 2017 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Apr 8, 2017
Elephant Head HikeHiked it with the wife. Half a day with some fun scrambling.
drainpipe - Mar 28, 2015 5:56 pm Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2015
elephant headtook trail 930 past Little Elephant Head. The trail then descends to the quantrell mine trail. At 2.3 miles from the trail head look for cairns for the descent to chino Canyon. Can be hard to find. The trail is extremely steep it descends approx. 500ft in about 1/4 of a mile ,about the same going up. At the ridge you can start to plot the ascent . The route was incredibly well cairned all the way with very little exposure. It was a fun scramble with little danger. We are both over 60 and handled it easily thanks to the cairn building people. The view is incredible at the top unfortunately we had not brought any Elephant tribunes so i left a apology note. A fantastic hike - scramble. Who ever built the cairns i owe you a beer.
bighigaz - Dec 2, 2010 2:21 pm
"Just What the Medicine Man Ordered" 5.9+ R/XDecember 2005, Seth and I decided to go at Elephant Heads West Gully Mountaineering route. I felt Seth should have the lead since it was his first time in the Gully. This kept the climbing new and took us in to some uncharted - unclimbed territory! Pending a detailed description from Seth, it will suffice to say that we ventured out of the traditional Gully to the RIGHT, and wound up climbing some excellent faces. (Unprotected strenuous 5.9 on in a couple spots, so Seth gets the medal for rope-gun bravery!) Our favorite pitch we refer to as "The Prescription Pitch" which goes at 5.9+ R/X. After difficult to protect, but FUN 5.8+ climbing, slabby commiting face moves at the top with poor protection below make the exit moves something you'll probbably only want to do once. We waypointed belays at several pitches, and if I can ever find them on my computer I'll be posting those with some pictures of the route... We didn't take many, but it will always be a vivid adventure remembered in our minds' eye!
Sirena - Nov 2, 2010 10:57 pm Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2010
Elephant Head Hiker's RouteHiked this gorgeous route with killer views on a winter afternoon and the water in the creek crossings made it all the more beautiful. Full trip log at: http://desertsirena.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/elephant-head/
Sarah Simon - Feb 15, 2009 10:47 am Date Climbed: Feb 14, 2009
Hikers RouteI really, really enjoyed this Valentine's Day outing with my husband and parents. From the old mine road, we dropped down into the canyon via the "direct" route, then back up to the saddle. I was the only one to continue on for the entire scramble to the top.
I really think the final little wall move before the last ridge push to the summit is Class 4, no ifs, ands or buts. It was surprisingly vertical and required a bit of concentration. (I can typically scramble Class 3 without even thinking, but this last little wall was not "non-thinking crawling".)
Loved the views from the top and didn't mind the pachyderm pile at the summit.
hans.schenk - Sep 20, 2007 10:50 am Date Climbed: May 6, 2004
East Ridge: Hiker's RouteA bit postdated...but a great hike up the east ridge! I agree with the class 3 rating...although a couple of spots were borderline 4th and a little dicey for some of my non-climber friends.
Andinistaloco - Oct 23, 2005 2:16 pm
Route Climbed: West Gully/ Central Rib Date Climbed: October 2005Classic but sporadic desert mountaineering kind of stuff... class 3-5 scrambling with the odd 5.6 thrown in. Nice exposure, rock's not as terrible as you might think (though pro sometimes is). Roped four pitches, back to crack a few beers before dark. Descent is annoying but brief. Take the wash if you can.
And watch for javelinas!
PeakMule - May 22, 2005 12:45 pm
Route Climbed: Bushwhack hike from Proctor Road to saddle Date Climbed: May 21, 2005An awfully hot day, but a really worthwhile hike. I came up from the EH bike trail's Proctor Road end and just bushwhacked up the northern slopes to the saddle. From there I followed the cairns to the top. There's a delightful little shrine of elephant figurines in a heap of rocks where the summit register is located; I'll upload a picture.
Josh - Feb 5, 2004 12:47 am
Route Climbed: West Gully + Variation Date Climbed: January 27, 2004Drove the 4WD road to the base of the West Gully and started up with a chalkbag and my Nike ACGs. Class 4 slabs led to a few 5.easy moves. I decided to take a more interesting (steeper) variation about 2/3 of the way up. The variation turned out to be an exciting refresher course in 5.8-5.9 kitty litter free-soloing! The descent really wasn't that bad.
Mjollnir - Nov 24, 2003 11:55 am
Route Climbed: West Gully Date Climbed: November 22nd 2003Climbed with Todd Hinrichsen. We aimed to climb the West Gully but strayed off route for awhile. This is a good adventure climb. The descent is rather thorny (wear thick pants if you go).
bighigaz - Dec 22, 2002 2:58 pm
Route Climbed: The West Gully, 5.6 1000' Date Climbed: Dec. 21st, 2002Wow, what an adventure. Our intention in the morning was not to do a significant amount of climbing, but rather scout out an area for new sport routes on a beautifull wall IN the West Gully... The day turned out much different, as the Gully was too inviting. We only got to the rock at 11:30, and suddenly decided we would climb it. 1000 feet. What the heck were we thinking. We brought our headlamps, (just in case), ate a bag of dry Top Ramen, and took a gallon of water. 6 hours later, after some fun scrambling, and climbing up to 5.8 on marginal pro and loose rock (we got of route on one occasion), we arrived at the summit! Before we left the summit it was dark, and the 2 hours of backcountry scrambling was enough to make me not want to go back... but I probably will! The next time, however, we will take a little more food, and leave quite a bit earlier! 8hrs and 15min car to car... and air and ground search and rescue out looking for two lost climbers!!!! (My parents were a little worried.) Somehow we managed to climb safely, and make it back, extremely hungy and sooooo tired.
Climb On!!!!!
bighigaz - Nov 3, 2002 6:33 pm
Route Climbed: East Saddle/Hikers Route Date Climbed: June 2000Beautiful view! Where pants!