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Trip Report    

Alpine Scramble - Dirty Harry's Peak to Dirtybox to Mailbox Traverse

Interesting close to home scramble not often done. Be prepared to use the existing rope that's located near Dirty Harry's Peak. Shuttle needed.

Susan Shih Susan Shih
September 23, 2024
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Discover Pass required for parking at the Mailbox and Dirty Harry Peak trailheads.   The drive between the 2 trailheads takes about 15 minutes.  The gpx track is on my Peakbagger's page.

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The 5 of us met at the Mailbox TH and consolidated into 1 car for the drive to the Dirty Harry's TH.  We left the Dirty Harry's TH at 8am and reached the summit about 2.5hrs later.  It took us a little time to find the existing ropes (actually 4) needed for the 70-80 feet descent.  We could not have done the descent without them.  No one in this experienced group needed a prusik.54014332306_7c6a111321_o.jpgOnce we were all down, we attempted to stay close to the ridge, but it quickly became apparent we couldn't.  I am not sure if we went the best way, but we had to drop below cliffs into brush several times only to have to climb back up.  At one point we dropped about 400' and reclimbed it soon after.  Not a lot of views to be had since we were mostly in the trees and brush, but we did come across this boulder field which offered a view.54013419497_d0ab95c66d_o.jpg54014328416_197e65c4cc_o.jpg

The route was spongy sod and moss and lichen covered and a little slippery due to all the duff, but there were lots of plants to pull on.54016295397_7f0dc2a0f8_o (1).jpgWe finally made it to the base of Dirtybox even though we were never on the ridge between DHP and Dirtybox.  Very disappointing as we were expecting fun scrambling and views from the ridge.54014655534_b5efafa5a2_o.jpgFrom here, we climbed to the summit of Dirtybox and ate lunch.  We got a little ridge scrambling right before reaching this summit.54014656354_b034166cee_o.jpg54017425228_4e49067689_o.jpg

From Dirtybox, it's an easy scramble to Mailbox which some of us had done before.  You can actually stay on the ridge more (if you chose to) from Dirtybox to Mailbox.54016295432_452d7b88b3_o.jpg

Mailbox in view and then the dreaded hike down.  Some chose the new trail, some did not.  54017201816_6819213961_o.jpg

This is probably an one and done route for us, but I think everyone was happy to do it once to see what it was all about.  At least it's close to home.  Doing it earlier season when the brush isn't as bad may be the way to go.  

Thanks, Jerry Stein for being my co-leader and providing many of these photos!  

I almost forgot to mention ALL the mushrooms we saw.  Some of us got a good porcini harvest out of this trip.54017526649_249d1f51ab_o.jpg