By Sharon Marie Wilcox
Gray skies and a slight drizzle couldn’t convince us to cancel the re-scheduled April 23rd trip to Kumiva Peak. Five hikers, Lu Belancio, Larry Grant, Eric Morrill, Bob Morrill, and Sharon Marie Wilcox kumivaheaded for the trail in uncertain weather conditions accepting the fact that after a drive to the Selenite Range a downpour might greet us. Still, we agreed there was the possibility of missing the storm.
Heading north on NV Highway 447, we spotted a Golden Eagle and an antelope. When the Selenite Range came into view, Mount Limbo and Purgatory were visible on the south end of the range, however, Kumiva, to the north was hidden by clouds. Kumiva Peak is the high point of the Selenite Range. This range was named in reference to deposits of crystallized gypsum or selenite that outcrop along its western border.
We parked 3.1 miles from the highway turnoff and hiked along Jenny Creek following the path of least Kumivaresistance around rock outcrops, brush, aspen and snow banks as we ascended.
Our gray day started without precipitation, but added a light spitting snow after we crossed Jenny Creek. The clouds thickened and dropped more snow as we neared the summit. On the summit (8237’), we quickly ate lunch, snapped photos, and signed the register.
As we descended, the snow stopped, but a light rain drizzled the remainder of the hike. In the end, we enjoyed another interesting day of variable weather and hiking in the Great Basin. The only things we missed on this trip were sun and great summit views!
April 23, 2011 by Sharon Marie Wilcox