Tahquitz Peak
Tahquitz Peak | |
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U.S.
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Parent range | San Jacinto Mountains |
Topo map | San Jacinto Peak |
Tahquitz Peak (pronounced
The
Description
Tahquitz Peak can be reached from one of several trails, and is only a half-mile deviation from the
Tahquitz Peak is used as a fire lookout in the late spring to mid fall, using a two-man ranger station with 270-degree panoramic views.
History
The area was named after the legendary luminous spirit-demon of the
Two nearby rock climbing locations are Tahquitz Rock and Suicide Rock.
Tahquitz Rock (also known as Lily Rock) is 0.45 miles (0.72 km) to the northwest of the summit of Tahquitz Peak. It is said[by whom?] to have a lily-white appearance,[citation needed] which might account for the “Lily” name. Another theory is that it was named for Lily Eastman who was the daughter of Dr. Sanford Eastman, the first Secretary and a Director of the "Southern California Colony Association" which later became the city of Riverside.[6]
Suicide Rock is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) to the northwest. Over three hundred climbing routes have been described there.
In 2018, the Cranston Fire burned up the south face of Tahquitz Peak and threatened the fire lookout.
Climbing history
In the 1930s, the Rock Climbing Section (RCS) of the
By 1940, about a dozen routes had been established. World War II slowed down development, but activity soon picked back up and fresh faces were seen at Tahquitz. Royal Robbins, a prominent member of the RCS, led the new surge in Tahquitz development in the 1950s. This new group of climbers eschewed some of the time-honored safety techniques of the past, which led to harder and harder climbs being developed, culminating with "The Vampire" in 1959. Though Robbins and Dave Rearick climbed it via aid technique (5.9 A3/4), it was free climbed in 1973 (5.11a) by John Long et al. and is now considered one of the best free climbs in southern California.[8]
With the help of new climbing shoe designs, route development in the 1960s jumped well into 5.10 territory. Nearby Suicide Rock also started to be developed, resulting in another southern California classic, "Valhalla" (5.11a) in November 1970.[9]
The
In 1967, Bob Kamps and Mark Powell established "Chingadera" one of the first 5.11 in the country and setting a new standard in rock climbing.[12]
Most climbers, after the 1970s, considered the area "climbed out" in terms of potential new first ascents. Still, new and quality climbs continued to be added on Tahquitz as well as the smaller rock outcrops nearby, Bob Gaines having established many of them.
The Idyllwild Area Historical Society museum contains a wealth of information about the early climbing history of Tahquitz and Suicide Rock.
Natural history
The plant Ivesia callida is endemic to the San Jacinto Range and is known by the common name Tahquitz mousetail.[13][14]
See also
- Tahquitz (spirit), the Cahuilla spirit the Peak was named for.
Climber Casualties
2022:
- Gavin Escobar and Chelsea Walsh, September 28, 2022 [15]
References
- ^ a b "Tahquitz Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ^ "Tahquitz Peak (LO)". Hundred Peaks Section List. Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ^ a b "Tahquitz Peak Lookout". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ^ "Tahquitz Peak via Devil's Slide Trail Hike (2019)". HikingGuy.com. 2019-07-29. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
- ^ "Summit Signature: 28B Tahquitz Peak (LO)". Hundred Peaks Section, Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ^ "Summit Signature: 28A Lily Rock". Hundred Peaks Section, Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ISBN 0-934641-31-5. P. 15-16, 172.
- ISBN 1-58592-087-8. P. 80.
- ISBN 0-934641-31-5. P. 16-22, 171.
- ISBN 0-89886-426-7. P. 550.
- ISBN 0-934641-31-5. P. 18-19.
- ^ Bob Kamps Climbing Database
- ^ Jepson Manual: I. callida
- ^ USDA Plants: I callida
- ^ Ritchie, Erika (September 30, 2022). "Huntington Beach climbers who died at Tahquitz Peak brought out the best in people". San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
Further reading
- Wilts, Chuck, ed. (1979). Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks. New York: The American Alpine Club. ISBN 0-930410-07-6.