The Least Climbed 14er in California | The Savage Beauty of Split Mountain

Split Mountain (14,064 ft) is one of California’s least climbed 14ers — a rugged and remote peak in the Eastern Sierra. Before the hike starts you must cross 12.5 miles of rough 4x4 road to the Red Lake trailhead, then climb about 7500 feet in just 7 miles from the desert floor to the summit of Split Mountain. On this trip, we backpacked to Red Lake, where Jen stayed at camp while I pushed for the summit. The route up Split Mountain is steep, loose, and mostly off-trail, with 3,500 feet of gain in just 2 miles, plus some 2nd and 3rd class scrambling and route-finding. The final stretch is a grind through endless scree, but the summit rewards you with views of nearly every 14er in the Sierra Nevada. Tough, hot, and brutal — but one of the most rewarding climbs I’ve ever done. This mountain requires some serious planning from knowing where your water sources are in the desert section, to driving a high clearance vehicle that can make it to the trailhead, to studying the route from Red Lake to the summit. While not the most technical 14er in the Sierra, it might be one of the toughest. #California14ers #SierraNevada #SplitMountain