[Bloated Chipmunk]

Cliff BM is the dark, pyramid-shaped mtn. viewed from southbound S-1 just north of the 8. It also looms high above the Buckman Springs area border checkpoint, giving a bird's eye view down to all those patiently waiting in line on the freeway. MM had pointed out this pk. some time ago & was intrigued. So, after some mapsturbating I figured out which one it was & how to approach it. From the Buckman Springs rest area, continue east up a dirt rd. that angles up the hill....how far you can make it depends on what type of car you have. I drove up a little ways but then it got too humpy so I backtracked to a good pullout & parked.

Where I parked

I began the rd. walk, easily getting winded w/the incline & the warm morning temperature. Possible t-storms were forecasted for later, so I had hoped to beat the worst of it. But for now it was sunny & hot.

Rd. goes up through that gap

It didn't take long before I was spotted by border patrol. I looked back & saw one of their SUVs slowly creeping up the rd. I expected them to catch up w/me & ask some questions, but it appeared they turned around shortly after passing my car. Later one of their sedans appeared & parked itself closer to the beginning of the dirt rd., perhaps laying in wait for my return.

Horse Canyon

View eastish

Looking back down @ Buckman Springs area

1st sight of Cliff BM

I walked up the rd. until it basically ended & gave way to a smaller/older rd. I continued on this as it headed north toward the peak. Just before this troad turned east & dropped a bit in elevation, I left it & bushwhacked up the remainder of the ridge to the peak. There was some remnants of a trail here & there, but o/w I was pushing thru bushes.

Where the trail leaves the rd.

Some parts of the bushwhack were easy

Looking back @ the rd.

Gettin' close now

The last bit got a little steeper but was still easy. Atop the summit was the BM & a register.

Summit register

Cliff BM

The latter part of my route

I snapped a few summit pics, keeping an eye on the approaching clouds & knowing my time was limited...

5 labels

Summit pano

11 labels

Summit pano

Long Valley Pk. across the freeway

6 labels

View SW

View south

View SE

Storm cloud

5 labels

View NW

Zoom of border check point below

The ridge I came up

BC atop Cliff BM

I left the summit not a moment too soon. A few minutes after coming down, the rumbles began & the rain fell. Aware of being on an exposed ridge, I quickened my pace & focused on getting lower down before worrying about putting on my rain jacket. Meanwhile of course I got soaked. When I finally did crouch down to pull it from my pack & put it on, my wet arms just made it all wet inside. D'oh! But thankfully I wore my usual quick-dry pants, & I figured the storm would soon pass & the sun would come back out & dry things out. This was true, but until then I had some lightening bolts & thunder a little too close for comfort. I chided myself for not getting an earlier start, but also remembered that (supposedly) the chances of getting struck by lightening are pretty slim. But then again, I always wonder if they're slim only b/c most people are not outdoors hiking on exposed ridgelines with lightening close by.

Looking back @ the thundercloud

Buckman Springs area

By the time I made it back to the main rd., the storm had passed. I removed my rain jacket & carried it in the breeze as I walked. In due time my pants dried out & it was hot again. The border patrol car was still sitting in the same spot below, but no one questioned me upon my return. Perhaps their binoculars & drive-by of my car gave 'em the info they needed.

Last look @ thunderclouds to the N/NW

[Ski]

nobody else up there in twelve years?!? or maybe they just didn't find the register? or border patrol spooked 'em off?

[Bloated Chipmunk]

Oh, that was just when it was placed. I usually don't take a pic of the last entry, but from what I remember it wasn't too long ago (w/in the last yr. or 2). As a side note, a funny thing about the border patrol I've noticed is that when the weather turns bad (or just semi-bad) w/rain or very cold temperatures (like, 30s), the checkpoint closes up shop & you can just whiz right through. So, when I drove out it was closed even though by that point the storm had passed... I wonder if the border crossers have figured this out yet, & if stealth activity picks up during bad weather.