Oct 19, 2012 - Castle Peak & Beyond

This week, seven Geezers planned their hike to Castle Peak at the Boreal turnoff on I80. I called it "beyond" as we decided to ignore the usual steep return trail, instead, returning by way of bushwhacking down the very steep mountainside, crossing slippery shale, brush, rocks, boulders and streams to find our way into the lower valley. Once again, after this bushwhacking experience, we managed to miss the valley trail to Grubbs Hut. After a very short rest, we proceeded back up the hill out of the valley and back to our cars. The length of our hike was 6.5 miles with over 1800 vertical feet of ascending and descending. This hike was not for the faint hearted and with the brutal return route we took, it should be classified as strenuous or gruesome depending on who you ask. Once again, we missed our appointment with our ice cream stop but seven very exhausted Geezers were glad to make it back home all safer and sound.