The forecast for the Mojave Desert predicted uncharacteristically cool weather for May, so I decided seize the opportunity and visit the Ord Mountains – an area I had yet to explore – to climb its three namesake peaks: East Ord Mountain, Ord Mountain, and West Ord Mountain. The first peak of the day, East Ord Mountain, would be the most technical.
To get to the trailhead, I drove north on Camp Rock Road from Lucerne Valley and turned left near a pair of transmissions towers onto an unnamed road. I followed this road for about a mile before turning right at a fork, after which the road deteriorated significantly. I parked a few miles up the road in a flat, open area next an old concrete foundation, marked "Guzzler" on the USGS topo.
