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First ascent to Tikaboo Peak, May 30, 20204.

First Ascent: It was the perfect spring day for a hike to Tikaboo Peak, an 8000 ft elevation mountain top with a view of Area 51. It was sunny with no wind, and the temperature would be in the seventies. I’ve been to the trailhead a few times; it's a beautiful hour-long drive on dirt roads through an empty desert. Along the way, there is amazing Nevada desert landscape with mountains, valleys, rocks, plants, trees, animals, lizards, and many other fun things to see.

The trail starts off fairly welcoming with a wide dirt and shale path. It's a pleasant uphill hike among desert mountain trees. The path is wide enough that an ATV or maybe even a Jeep could crawl up. I did notice a tire track.

That comfortable wide path comes to an abrupt end as the trail diverts between the trees. Some have asked, "How far can someone follow the path on a motorized vehicle?" This is the spot. Not only does the path here narrow, but it also becomes rocky and steep. This is a difficult portion of the hike. However, taking rest stops along the way made the trek manageable.

I was thinking coming down would be easier, but that was another level of difficulty. The loose, rocky path is slippery and requires taking careful side steps to get down the mountain. Be careful here!

Soon, a beautiful scene opens up revealing a vast, wide-open valley. The path offers some relief at this point. It follows along the top of a mountain ledge, leading closer to Tikaboo Peak. Then the weather station tower comes into view, which is the final destination. It's bittersweet, as the end is near, but it is a steep climb.

The term "mountain peak" has new meaning here. Is someone taking a mountain peek at me? A surveillance camera is seen through the trees. I lost the trail during the final approach, which was not even close to as unnerving as it was when I lost the trail going back down! Thankfully, the app Gaia GPS got me back on track. This is a portion of the trail I need to know better. There was a swarm of ladybugs at the top, but that did not distract from the breathtaking view. That is how my first trek to Tikaboo Peak went. All good!

Next Second ascent to Tikaboo Peak, June 22, 2024.