Mount Inyo and Keynot Peak

Inyo Mountains Wilderness, CA
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Trip info

Distance12 mi
Elevation gain7,500 ft
Route typeOut & back
Duration9.5 hr
CruxClass 2
Quality9/10

Peaks bagged

1
Mount Inyo
DPS
DPS★
Zdon
10,975 ft / Prom. 935 ft
2
Keynot Peak
DPS
Zdon
11,101 ft / Prom. 3,030 ft
DPS
Desert Peaks Section
DPS★
Desert Peaks Section Emblem Peaks
Zdon
Andy Zdon's Desert Summits

Trip report

The previous evening, I drove the 4WD road to an impassable washout at approximately 5,100 feet where I parked up for the night. To my surprise, there was some light rain from a storm system moving through Owens Valley.
The next morning, I started out on foot to the old trailhead at 5,500 feet.
View back at the alpenglow on the Sierra.
Starting up a ridge to the south of Union Wash.
Steep and loose.
The ridge follows Union Wash, left. Many choose to travel along the wash itself, then gain the ridge via a set of switchbacks.
View back.
The terrain becomes more stable after the first 1,500 vertical feet.
View from the top of the switchbacks on the standard approach.
Picking up a use trail through a flatter section.
View back.
The use trail ascends through these pinnacles.
Arriving at a saddle at 9,100 feet.
Continuing along the Union Wash through more forested terrain.
View back toward the saddle at 9,100 feet.
View back from Bedsprings Camp at around 9,400 feet.
Leaving the wash around 9,800 feet, headed north toward Mount Inyo.
View back toward the upper reaches of Union Wash. The saddle between Mount Inyo and Keynot Peak is on the left.
Dropping into a saddle to the south of Mount Inyo.
Starting up Mount Inyo's south slope.
The ridge levels out after about 600 feet of climbing.
Contouring the west slopes of Mount Inyo below a couple false summits.
Back on the ridge crest, starting up the final 200 vertical feet to the summit of Mount Inyo.
Fun Class 2.
View back toward the false summits along Mount Inyo's ridgeline.
Mount Inyo summit ahead.
Mount Inyo summit. View north.
View south toward Keynot Peak.
View east into Saline Valley.
View west into Owens Valley, the way I came.
Descending Mount Inyo toward Keynot Peak.
Approaching the saddle at the terminus of Union Wash.
Following a use trail along the ridgeline toward Keynot Peak.
View back toward Mount Inyo.
Another view back toward Mount Inyo.
Around 10,800 feet, the use trail contours the east slope of Keynot Peak.
Impeded by snow patches on the east slope, I crossed over the ridge to the west slope via Class 3 weakness in the cliff band.
Contouring the west slope of Keynot Peak, following sporadic cairns.
View back at a steep and loose section along the west slope of Keynot Peak.
Gaining the ridge just below the summit of Keynot Peak.
Back on the ridge, approaching the summit of Keynot Peak.
Keynot Peak summit. View south toward Voon Meng Leow Peak (far right) and New York Butte (center right).
View west into Owens Valley.
I retraced my route down the ridge, veering left toward Union Wash.
Arriving at the top of the switchbacks on the standard approach via Union Wash.
After several switchbacks, I began to directly descend the scree slope.
View back up.
Nearing Union Wash.
Inside Union Wash.
View back toward the headwall of Union Wash.
Descending Union Wash.
Rejoining the old road, almost back to the car.

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