Coyote Flats, Vagabond Peak (aka Cloudripper Jr.) (13,374') and The Hunchback (12,311') (06.23-24.2012)
June 23-24, 2012: After gassing up (vehicles with gasoline and humans with coffee) in Bishop, we headed out in a two-Toyota-pickup caravan to Coyote Flats. The ~20 mile run to Baker Creek starts off sandy, then moves on to steep and rocky as it switchbacks up from about 5000ft into the 10,000ft Coyote Flat. It's a challenging but not heart-attack-inducing class II-III 4x4 with views that will knock your socks off (if you have a moment to look up from the road and enjoy them).
It took about two hours for us to finish the drive to Baker Creek, where we found a nice campsite and settled in. Both guys were recovering from leg injuries, so I left them at about 10 am to fish the lakes while I headed out to climb Cloudripper and Vagabond Peaks. The wind was howling and as the day went on it only got worse. After successfully reaching the summit of Vagabond (aka Cloudripper Jr) and starting over towards Cloudripper, the winds were strong enough to start knocking my legs out from under me. I had to draw the line between "You got this" and "don't be stupid", so since I was solo I turned back, leaving Cloudripper for another day. On the way back I did tag the easy Hunchback as a consolation prize.
We had a nice (but windy) night in camp and enjoyed really warm overnight temps for 10,000 ft. I would really like to get back here for more than an overnight and explore some of the side roads and get in to some other peaks. It's so beautiful up there!
Trip Report
GPS track from the hike to Vagabond and Hunchback
GPS track from the drive into Coyote Flat
Read More