{"id":11073,"date":"2022-08-20T03:49:13","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T03:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehuntindaddy.com\/?page_id=11073"},"modified":"2022-08-20T03:49:16","modified_gmt":"2022-08-20T03:49:16","slug":"cady-peak","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thehuntindaddy.com\/index.php\/peak-bagging\/cady-peak\/","title":{"rendered":"Cady Peak"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outside of lucky sheep hunters that draw a coveted tag, the Cady Mountains are probably not well known. Unless you are also a peak Bagger. Then Cady Peak sits out in the Mojave with over 2,000 feet of prominence. That fact alone makes it a lightning rod for avid peak baggers.<\/p>\n

Getting There<\/h4>\n

Cady Peak lies in the Mojave Trails National Monument<\/a> north of I-40 and east of Barstow.<\/p>\n

After exiting into Route 66, you will follow the highway a few miles before turning left onto a dirt road. Follow this over some live railroad tracks and through a construction site.<\/p>\n

The dirt road definitely needs high clearance to reach the starting point. 4WD isn\u2019t necessary. I do not advise driving this road when it is wet.<\/p>\n

\"Mojave

Road into Cady Peak<\/p><\/div>\n

The Trail<\/h4>\n

After parking be the power lines, the hike is simple. Walk north across a wide wash and open desert.<\/p>\n

The vegetation is sparse with some cactus and even some coyote melons. Apparently, these are very awful and possibly toxic? At least that is what I have heard!<\/p>\n

For over two miles the hike leads deeper into the wash and Cady Peak sits there in plain view.<\/p>\n

\"Cady

Cady Peak comes into view.<\/p><\/div>\n

Once the wash narrows, a dryfall is stands in the way and acts as a gateway to the upper wash. This is an easy class 2 climb.<\/p>\n

\"Dryfall\"

The class 2\/3 dryfall.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cady

Looking down from the top of the dryfall.<\/p><\/div>\n

Even though it\u2019s tighter in the wash, the terrain is simple and very stable. You can make quick work of it. At a certain point, there are is a rock cairn and this is where to climb out to the left.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Cady

In the upper wash.<\/p><\/div>\n

The terrain going up is steep and slippery. There are some rock outcrops that you will need to bypass. However, nothing exceeds easy class 2.<\/p>\n

\"Cady

On the ridge heading towards the summit<\/p><\/div>\n

The Summit<\/h4>\n

Just before the summit you will see one more rock outcrop and a chute to the left. It\u2019s an easy climb up from here and the views at the top are wonderful!<\/p>\n

\"Cady

Ryan coming up the final stretch.<\/p><\/div>\n

You can see San Jacinto Peak, San Gorgonio, Charleston Peak, and so many others! The views are what you would expect from a 2,000-foot prominent peak in the middle of the desert.<\/p>\n

\"Cady

Cady Peak summit.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Sleeping

Summit views.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cady<\/h4>\n

The Final Word<\/h4>\n

For whatever reason, this peak failed to make the cut for the Desert Peaks List or Desert Summits Book. It\u2019s kind of a shame this one was passed over and a bunch of duds lie on those lists.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, we didn\u2019t see any sheep, however, we followed lots of sheep sign up the wash. We did find 4 Mylar balloons and an unspent .50 cal bullet with date stamping on it. It was manufactured at the St. Louis Armory in 1943.<\/p>\n

\".50

.50 Caliber Cartridge<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cady

Mylar balloons we collected.<\/p><\/div>\n

Another cool looking peak called Sleeping Beauty lies just south of Cady and would make a great bonus peak. Weather was coming in and we scrapped our plans to climb it.<\/p>\n

\"Cady

View to Sleeping Beauty.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Pisgah Crater and lava tubes are also off the same exit just south of I-40 and made a fun side excursion.<\/p>\n