With clear and dry weather predicted for yet another January weekend, Zach and I wanted to find another high peak to climb. We had been to the Lost River Range in Eastern Idaho the weekend before and that is where I was thinking about returning. However, Zach came up with the idea to climb McAfee Peak, a peak in northern Nevada.

McAfee Peak has 4190' of prominence and is the range highpoint of the Independence Mountains. In addition, the peak is a 3-hour drive from Boise (if you choose the correct driving route).

We left Boise at 5am on a second straight weekend. The forecast was for winds 15-18 mph and a high in the 30's near the summit.

We arrived at the trailhead and the winds were already blowing. It was cold, but the sky was deep blue. We made it to the trailhead (Jack Creek Summit) at 7836'.

From the pass, we gained 500 quick feet on a 4x4 drive. From 8300' we could now see the route before us. We basically wanted to angle southeast across the face of the mountain to the highpoint of the peak at 10460'.

At first the snow was only an inch or two deep. Eventually we stopped and put on snowshoes. Between 9000' and 9800' the terrain was horrible for traveling. We were crossing boulder fields that would have been easy if dry or with several feet of snow, but with only 6 inches on them were very challenging. The wind was also making itself known, especially at the saddle at 9900'.

At the saddle, we bundled up. With only 500' to go, we prepared for the wind and cold that was waiting for us above. Sure enough, the wind was roaring once on the summit ridge. We were enduring spin drift and winds knocking us off balance, but it was fun and challenging.

Once on top, we hunkered down about 10 feet below the top and it was actually quite enjoyable out of the wind and sitting in the sun. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the views were great! We rejoiced in another high peak in January and sat on top for quite a while. Reading the summit logs, we saw some familiar names. It was also neat seeing that someone else had just climbed the peak in December.

The views were great. With its basin and range geography, Nevada mountains have excellent views in all directions and McAfee was no exception.

The way down wasn't particularly interesting. Zach left his snowshoes on the entire way down. I left my off the entire way down. The sun and the mountains made for another great day!

On the way home, we made the drive in exactly 3 hours.

If coming in from the north, take NV 225 south from Owyhee, through Mountain City, past Wild Horse Reservoir. 5 miles south of the tiny Wild Horse resort is the turn off for CH-732. Follow CH-732 west in the mountains on a improved road suitable for sedans to Jack Creek Summit at 11.5 miles.

From the pass, head due south up the jeep trail leaving the pass. Once on top of the ridge you can now see the peak. We chose to angle southeast through the trees to the summit. There is a road the can be followed to nearly 9000', but we eventually left it when it dropped some elevation.