What an epic day in the mountains! I set out at 6:53 AM with 4 liters of water, a few bars and goo packs, and expecting a well-defined trail for the entire route.
The adventure kicked off with a rude awakening: the “trail” up Harris Peak was anything but established. I found myself thrashing through dense bushes and navigating fallen trees. After a grueling 2000 vertical foot ascent, I descended into the saddle between Harris and Griffith, where I finally rejoined a proper trail. From there, the path led me smoothly to the summits of Griffith and Charleston Peaks.
A couple of miles past Charleston, I veered off-trail again to tag Lee Summit and followed the rugged ridgeline toward Mummy Peak. The descent off Mummy was the most technical section of the day—down climbing broken limestone cliff bands, traversing steep scree slopes, and even glissading down a snow-filled gully.
Despite rationing my water, my bottles were bone-dry by the time I reached Fletcher Peak. I was parched and pushing through dehydration. Knowing I was likely within minutes of the FKT set by the route creators I jogged most of the final 4 miles back to my car. I rolled in at 6:25 PM, sore, dehydrated, and utterly exhilarated after an 11-hour, 31-minute solo, unsupported push. (My AllTrails app clocked it at 11:26 due to a couple of accidental watch pauses.) Having only summited Charleston via the well groomed South Trail before, this was a massive step up—and an unforgettable adventure.
Lessons Learned & Tips for Success: bring way more than 4 liters of water—think 6-8 liters, especially in the dry, high-altitude desert of the Spring Mountains. Scouting the off-trail sections beforehand would be game-changer: the steep bushwhack to Harris, the descent into the Harris-Griffith saddle, the ridge from Lee to Mummy, and especially the technical descent off Mummy toward Fletcher. Familiarity with these stretches will save time and energy.