Clipper Mountains highpoint, 4606 ft., Clip BM, EU1231

This peak is a mountain range highpoint and is also one of the peaks in California with over 2000 ft. of prominence.

Getting to the peak: On Interstate 40 about 100 miles east of Barstow take the Essex Road exit and go north. After 2.3 miles turn left onto a good dirt road heading west. Drive west on this road for 0.8 miles to a fork and turn left (south). About a mile south this road has a rough, sandy wash crossing where four-wheel drive is required. Follow this road as it goes under the Interstate and then passes by some abandoned buildings. Stay with the road for 2.1 miles and park at a broad rise. UTM here is: 648730E, 3851030N, Zone 11 (NAD27). DO NOT continue and descend into a wash up ahead. This area would make a suitable camp spot if needed with only moderate freeway noise.

Maps: West of Blind Hills, and Blind Hills, CA. Both are 1:24,000 scale topo maps dated 1984.

Hike details: Start the hike by going into the wash and turn right following the wash, which was the old road up to the Goldhammer Mine. After about a half-mile leave the wash on your right following the road. There are some wilderness boundary markers near here. The road goes up a broad valley to the mine after about a mile and in places is badly eroded. Just before the mine go right up to a graded bench and then up to a shoulder below a rock prominence. Sidehill west over some slippery terrain, staying about level, until you reach a wash and then turn left and follow this south up to a saddle at about 3525ft. (1075 meters). UTM here is: 648400E, 3848000N. Go south dropping into the next wash and then go southwest and then south again up the canyon which has many rocky ribs to a high crest. From here it an easy 0.1 miles west up to the summit with a large cairn at the highpoint. Allow about 3 hours for the ascent and about 2 ½ hours going down. Elevation gain is about 2400 ft.