by ClimbingCooneys » Tue Jul 23, 2013 7:38 am
Climbed Precarious Peak and others in the area over July 10 - 12. Used the SW couloir approach to Precarious. We did not think the couloir was that bad as far as those can go. We've seen worse. The traverse on the north slopes to avoid a minor notch was worse. A short rope and some sling/webbing might be a better way to dispatch with the notch.
As for camping in Rustler Gulch, here's is what we found. To get across the East River, you could either wade or use a 4WD vehicle. The road down to the crossing is rocky. Just after fording the river, there is a nice camp area. Beyond there, the road climbs steeply for a short distance then levels out some and passes in short order, about two more camp spots where you could make do for the night. The 4WD drive road continues from the river crossing about a mile through meadows to a gate that marks the beginning of the Rustler trail. It's possible for a few vehicles to park here. Packing on up the gulch, we did not see any more very good and/or well-used campsites. When the trail fords the main creek, be prepared to get your feet wet or follow a bypass upstream for a couple hundred yards to an easier crossing.
As the trail passes through open meadows filled with wildflowers, it will begin to turn to the east and SE. Shortly after making that turn, and just above where the creek tumbles down some cascades, there are some trees across the creek to the south that come down near to the creek. Cross the creek above the cascade and locate a somewhat used trail that meanders through the willows going upslope and then turning back west into the trees above the creek. There is a small campsite located in here with an old firering and enough tent space for two, two-man tents. From here, the beginning of the climb up Precarious is about 1.5 miles away. The flowers in this gulch are extraordinary!
Beaten paths are for beaten men.