Another addition to the WIMP ( Winter, Inyo, Mono, Peak ) List.
Yes, I Know, technically it is now spring. This is the peak SW of
Benton. From Benton we ( Lori, Toy, and Joe Kelsey ) drove west
on 120 to Benton Hot Springs. We drove south on Yellowjacket
road for 1.1 miles, initially paved, then excellent dirt to a poor
dirt road leading east toward our peak. We drove 100 yards and
parked. The road meandered across the flat and immediately
deteriorated into undriveability. It contoured, climbing, toward
the SE, across the west slope of our mountain. There are two
amazing retaining walls, one 18 feet high along this section.
The road turned east into a basin surrounded by round hills with
old mines and tailings everywhere. Toward the SE looked the
highest and after a bit we were on the summit. The Inyo NF map
shows a cluster of five named summits in this area. The view of
the White Mountains is terrific.
Round trip stats: 5 miles, 1500 feet, 2hrs 30 min