I joined hiking book author Scott Turner (coauthor of Afoot and Afield in San Diego County and author of Hike The Parks Mountaineers Books: https://www.mountaineers.org/members/scott-turner-1) and John Graham (all around good guy) to explore the Pyramid Peak, Rosa Point, and Mile High Mountain area. Always great to team up with these guys and I'd never been to this area. We pretty much stuck to our intended route, though we cut off the NW out and back to the actual high point of Mile High Mountain for lack of time. Sometimes it's good to leave a little unfinished business and avoid descending ridges in the dark. :)
Heading up Palo Verde wash.
Climbing toward Pyramid.
Scott and John climbing towards Pyramid
Coolidge from Pyramid. The bench mark and peak itself lie in Imperial County on the Torres Martinez Reservation (http://www.torresmartinez.org/) while the western 1/3 of the mountain is in ABDSP in San Diego Co.
Pyramid Peak from the NW during descent.
Rosa Point from the west.
Villager and Rabbit
View towards Coyote Mtn.
Another view to SW from near Mile High.
Pinyon Pine and Coyote Mtn.
Group photo giving the false appearance of control. We looked less organized and confident by the end.
Pretty sure this is the Borrego Desertsnail. Found high up between Rosa Point and Mile High Mountain.
View north from west side of Palo Verde Wash during descent. Sometimes the descent was not fun due to the loose scree.
Nice bobcat track in Palo Verde wash near the end of the hike.
14+ miles, 5600' gain, some tough loose scree slopes on the descent west of Palo Verde Wash.
