We hiked HPS-proposed Backus Point and its adjoining western highpoint via a road
leading southwest from the Powers Well. [Note: I'm told that John Backus was a
remarkable fellow, and the worthy summit does seem apt for his moniker.]
Unfortunately, we also earned a citation for inadvertently straying into the
poorly marked Owens Peak Wilderness. We'd never driven across a wilderness
boundary in all our years of backcountry exploring, so this was distressing. It
was a chastening confrontation with the lauded 1995 Desert Protection Act in
practice.
The citation seemed particularly ironic after our long prior day in the desolate
Coso Range Wilderness, where we were scrupulous in observing the new red stakes
(Wilderness road closure markers). There we'd sauntered a five-peak loop in a
rugged and remote desert area, spying no footprints or tire tracks amongst the
pinyons, Joshua trees, and quartz monzonite boulders. We negotiated undulating
ridges and were treated to breathtaking views of the Sierra. We basked in the
winter sun and crunched through melting snow. Our only encounter was with a herd
of beautiful wild horses, led by an aggressively territorial stallion that was
unhappy to see us. We camped that night at Fossil Falls, a bright moon
complementing our modest campfire, good grub and drink.
The next morning we opted to climb the peaks from the north side. We left one
vehicle near Hwy 395. Near the Powers Well we discerned a fine high-clearance
dirt road heading southwest up towards the peaks. It was a well-traveled track
that led around a couple of 6-inch wood posts, with no boundary or closure signs
in evidence. Our topo and NFS maps made no mention of a wilderness designation.
Heeding an old, shot-up no-vehicle-entry posted spur, we stopped along the track
near its end at 4000'. We'd gained about a mile and 700' elevation from the
well. This would be an expensive mile.
We naively parked in open sight, and were thus later spotted by a BLM ranger from
the highway.
It was warm as we hiked southward. The slopes were mixed with sage, low brush,
and scattered Joshua trees. Several routes up to the ridge were available, all
of them sandy and highly aerobic. We moved left into a shaded gully to rocks
that provided better footing. There were a few welcome snow patches before we
intercepted at the ridge at 6400'. Now accompanied by a cool breeze and shady
pinyons, we turned left to the 6561' summit.
It provides one of the best panoramic views in the Southern Sierra, despite being
lower than nearby Morris, Jenkins, and Owens Pks. There are peaks and ranges in
all directions, with broad vistas of Indian Wells Valley. We continued our
adventure by following the connecting ridge northwest a mile to Point 6661',
which we pronounced "West Dead Dude Pk." This ridge was entertaining, with
outcrops that provided some easy rock scrambling which can mostly be avoided on
either side. The summit views are limited, but it was the nearby highpoint. We
placed a register in the barren cairn. A rapid direct descent soon had us
downing brews at Bob's truck.
But as we drove downhill, the said BLM Ranger Stan Kerlin suddenly appeared afoot
and ordered us to a halt. He was in a disagreeably heavy puffing (sucking?)
mood, as he'd had to scramble up from the well and first gone clear over to
School Rock looking for us. With hand on his holstered gun, he ordered us to
step out. After determining that we were unarmed and nonthreatening, he
confiscated Bob's license and registration and directed us to drive to a ranger
waiting at the well. Ranger Kerlin seemed downright relieved that we were wimp
hikers, rather than armed, menacing, Bud-swilling 4x4ers. But he still walked
down behind us after refusing the ride we graciously offered him.
We had a lively and heated discussion at the well. Ranger Kerlin was adamant in
his belief that we knowingly and deliberately drove into the Owens Peak
Wilderness. We were just as firm that we had seen no signs or indications of any
type that we had encroached on a wilderness area, or that there was even one in
the vicinity. He insisted on citing us ("Motorized Equipment in Wilderness
Area"), despite our avowed intentions. He pointed out two tiny signs on similar
short posts at road junctions to the east (corral) that we had neither
approached nor seen. We were informed that the earlier carsonite signs had been
removed by vandals. Hence we had no idea that we were crossing a wilderness
boundary. But it appears that ignorance is no defense. Ranger Reed Hopkins was
in attendance; he sympathized with our plight but to no avail. [By the way, the
two BLM rangers preoccupied with our weighty transgression represented fully a
third of the six-member SoCal field deployment. Silly and sad.] Neither of us
have the time to drive to Bakersfield to confer with the court magistrate, so we
mailed in the $150 fine. BLM wins the contest by default. So, lets now throw
another red stake on the barbee...
Statistics (via the legal way from Powers Well corral): 7 miles r.t., 3700' gain,
class 2.
