I summited Saline Peak on January 23, 2026 as part of my quest to hit the high point of each of the top 15 mountain ranges in and around Death Valley National Park.
My entry would be the last one to fit in the original summit log, placed by George Barnes during the first recorded climb on March 18, 1973. A second log was already present in the coffee tin, so I added an entry there as well and carefully stowed the original for transport back to camp. These logs - which provide a historic insight - are collected by the NPS as they fill up, and I planned to deliver it to Jeremy (who places many of the new replacement logs) when I had a chance.
Below, I've archived each page of the log for anyone interested. If you have summited Saline Peak, or know someone who has, I'd love to hear your story in the comments!
Saline Peak
7045 ft.
FIRST RECORDED CLIMB BY GEORGE BARNES ET AL
March 18, 1973
SALINE PEAK
7063
15 JANUARY 1977 - Register placed by Wes Shelberg
Names copied from a waterlogged book on 16 Dec 78
on 15 Jan. 77 I found a decrepit register with a few scraps of paper. Only Elliot Snyders name could be made out.
6 NOV 1977 - HI DESERT OR SIERRA CLUB
DICK BANNER LEADER
GORDON MACLEOD
BILL SANDERS
WES SHELBERG
BARRARN LILLEY
JACK GRAMS
BOB EMERCK
RICKARD AKAWIE
16 DEC 1978
WES SHELBERG - SOLO - SAN DIEGO - DPS
January 14, 1978
Scheduled DPS Trip
Up from 3600' contour
Ron Jones Ldr, Trona
Campy Asst.
Greg Vernon DPS Guest yeti
Kitty Jones
Ferland Paulsen
Mary Sue Jones
Marian Cox
Date?
Scheduled DPS Climb from 3200' contour
Dry Mtn. tommorrow if it doesn't snow
Ron Jones Ldr - Trona 2nd Ascent
John McCully
HOWARD YEE
MARK HURST
MARLIN CLARK
BILL BRADLEY
Barbara Reher
Dry tommorrow
Scheduled DPS Exploritory Climb
December 11, 1982
Ron Jones x3
MARK VALKAY
Igor Mamedalin
Bob Rogers
Vic Henney
Sue Wyman
Don Weiss
Don Weiss II
Adrienne Knute
Delores Holladay
2-20-83
JOHN VITZ
Chuck McQuillan
DONNA ☺
BARB FINK
Dick Sheets
4-2-83
Jerry Keating
Walt Whitman
DESERT SURVIVORS
"WHITE CLIFFS"/SALINE PEAK
BACKPACK 3/13-15/93
AMAZING WHITE PUMICE CANYONS ON WAY UP - SUPPORT 1872 MINING LAW REFORM - INCREASE PROTECTION OF WHITE CLIFES PETROGLYPHS
Bob Ellis
NANCY NORDENSTER
LOYD HOPPER, Kevin Lam
Ingrid Crickmore
Brad Krebs
Armstrong Wong
DAN PANKRATZ
MAY 9, 1983 - Up from east - This is largest proposed BLM wilderness in Calif. Desert. Beautiful view. Still snow on Dry Mtn., Hunter, Nelson.
Cleaned out Marble Bath this a.m.
• Richard (Steve) Smith - DPS
Bruce Albert BLM Ranger
24 May 1983
Derham Giuliani
Steven Foster
School of Lost Borders
Big Pine, CA
"The world is charged with the grandeur of God." - G.M. Hopkins
12-29-83
ERIC SCHUMACHER
JOAN HACK
5 FEB 84
Camey (2X), LAST ON 1/14/78
Jim Stroh 5/5/85 also on 4/9/80. Just found register - I hiked here will be back again.
3/26/86 Hi again, said I would be back. love it! Jim Stroh, Olympia, WA
3/26/86 - WALTER Niknike - OLYMPIA WA.
Here with this CRAZY geologist named Jim Stroh. Will be back
2/15/87- Scheduled DPS Trip. Backpack from Eureka Dunes via the corridor. Onto Saline H.S. tomorrow
Ron Jones x4
• Richard (Steve) Smith 2x
ERIC SCHUMACHER
Walt Whitman 2x
David Kiil
Bob Tomlinson
DESERT SURVIVORS - 1704 hours, 14 April 1987
Dove Kari - Morgan Irby
Light cloudiness, Winds 20 from S 55° F., In here in 32 hours on traverse from Jack Ass Flat's via USGS VABM Zinc and foreground peak at 8'o'clock from White Mtn. Peak (henceforth Known as Eureka Peak). On to Black Top and the descent tomorrow.
No wonder of it, Sheer plod makes plow down sillion. And blue, bleak embers, Ah my Dear, (?) Fall, Gall themselves, and gold vermillion. -Gerard Manley Hopkins
10/30/87 - Jan Yancey, Olympia, WA. Solo
4/5/88 - Kirk V Hastings - Point Reyes Station, Ca. Solo from corridor. Register full of ladybugs - gave them the heave-ho. Had Upper Warm Spring to myself. last night. Soaking in a spring with bats drinking on the wing not inches from your face is something else.
17 Sept. 1988 Jim Stroh, Olympia WA. Well; back again. Lots of haze & smoke from forest fires. Lady bugs still are enjoying camping in the can and under some of the flat rocks. At least this register is good for something. Will be back next spring.
26 Nov 88 - Bay Chapter Wilderness Trip sub-committee
Vicky Hoover, SPS DPS
Dennis Burge
Gena Coan
Eric Wilson
Sally Collins
STAN ABINANTI
Dornie Steele
Bob McLaughlin - Friends of Alan Carlton - East Bay Arm
Therese Runijaku ditto on FOAC-EBA
Linda Santon
Gary Guenther - 3-11-89 Solo
VERY STRONG WINDS - CAN'T SEE SALINE VALLEY AT ALL - COULD BE RAIN.
KEITH & MARLIS SNEDEN - 3/25/89
Nov-10-90 Dave W Clorian
BENT CLAUSEN
↓
3-10-90 - DPS private climb and S.D. chapter climb
windly, fourly clear & pleasant day!
Gail Hanna
11/18/89 - NICE PEAK
DON PALMER MINDEN, NV
TIRED OF HEARING LOW FLYING JETS ALL DAY!
Louise R. Baldwin 12:15 pm Saturday March 10, 1990
Thanx to the Lord Jesus who gives me strength & my friends: But, Dave & Gail who taught me the 10 essentials. Louise R. Baldwin
Oct 18, 1990 - Wendell Moyer Atherton, CA Solo up from Petroglyph Canyon.
JAN. 27 '91 1130 (SUPER BOWL SUNDAY)
This was better than the stupid foot ball game!
♡ Homer! & BRO bun Carol Broberg
Robert E Maurer Jr. "Bird Bob" Ocean City - Ibid on the above viewpoint. Beautiful clear warm day. No wind!
3-26-91 (Tues?) Paul A. Mitchell, Readley CA
2:11 P.m. Cold, windy, all The peaks around socked in with clouds, Snow patches on North side from 6000 up.
4-19-91 - Jim Stroh, Olympia WA. 6th trip up here - just happened to be in the neighborhood.
MAY 18, 1991 - GEORGE BELLE AU BRIDGEPORT, CALIF.
15 March 92 - cool, breezy, clear. Up a great canyon from the east. Started from Steel Pass road at ~ 4000'
Christine Mitchell
Ron Bartell
Susan Leverta
Nov. 12, 1992 8:58 AM - JOHN REHMER SOLO - Member: American Alpine Club Ogden (Alta), Utah Club Parker, COLO.
I love Saline - Mtn. Biked 3,500' 11 mi. up corridor 11/11, the 2 1/2 hr. to here
5 Star View - SNOWY SIERRAS
2/14/93. Scheduled DPS Exploratory Up from White Cliff Canyon
Ron Jones 5x
Bob Emerick 2x
Ron Gray
Pat Acheson
Evelyn Chadwell '77 Texas A&M
Doan Acheson
JOHN C. GIBBA
March 11, 1993 - Ted Cowden - 13:00 - 3hr hike from East + Uwe + George
MARCH 13, 1993
MARK SPENCER & Shirley Spencer
Tollhouse, CA (pop. 36)
(where they make the cookies!) From the east... enjoyed the unusual blue lichens.
April 10, 1993 - 20th anniversary (plus 3 weeks) of first recorded ascent.
George Barnes
Joanne Barnes
BOB GREER - 11-26-93 - LAS VEGAS
DPS
Bill Celwa - 3/27/94
Under 3 hrs from car. with Larry Tielbase & Judy Ware. List Finish on Nelson yesterday.
APRIL 3, 1994 - EASTER SUNDAY
RICHARD SHAFFER & KIRA VOLZ FROM SEATTLE, WASHINGTON PARTLY CLOUDY W/ SHOWERS, ACTUALLY SURROUNDED BY THEM. COOL, WINDY, SNOW FLURRIES FOR A MOMENT. BEAUTIFUL! GIVE THANKS!
21 Dec 1994 - SOLO PETER HOWORTH, LATROBE, CA. Beautiful DAY! ABBEY would APPROVE of all this
April 9, 1996 - Robert W. Davis without his boys, Robert and Laurence, who sit in a hot pool.
Peter Morrisette - Victor, ID - April 9, 1996 - A Great Day to be on Top
April 13, 1996
Vic Newby [X2]
Sue Wyman Hehner [X2]
Evelyn Reher [X3]
Phil Reher [X1]
Nov 19, 1996 After 34 14,000+ peaks in Col, my first 7000+ peak in Calif. After 18 years at the hot springs, my first ascent of Saline Peak
Warren Wieboldt
10 Dec 96 Dickes & Budlong, Top of the world, this is!
APRIL 26 1997
- Mark Adrian DPS - 130 CA HP
- SAN DIEGO CA
- UP FROM ROAD TO E, 3.5hr
- BEUATIFUL DAY, GOOD VIEW
Richard L Carey
San Diego
Ken Olson DPS
8 JAN 98 - DORI CANN, BIG PANE
MARTIN FREEMAN
TIM FORSELL, LONE PINE
OVERNIGHTER UP PETROGLYPH
4-20-98
Lynn Foss, Oly. WA
Wanting to come here for 3 years ±. Love it here and the springs.
26 APR 98 - Doug Bear - nice climb with my buddy, from Saline Valley. Dry Mtn. yesterday. Non-stop wind for two days!
Doug, Saline Valley, CA
(Doug Mantle)
MARCH 20 1999 - Up from Steel Pass route
Daniel Pritchett - Bishop, Ca
Winter isn't giving up easy.
Sally Manning, Bishop, CA
APRIL 3, 1999 0930 - ERIK SIERING
WESTCHESTER, CA
- DID WARM PT YESTERDAY -
Bob Sumner
Indian Village, NV
"ROCK ON 99" PETE LOWERY & MIKE EGGZ
Nov. 14, 1999 - WILL CROWENKO - JOHN DIETLI
Nov 21, 1999 - This is the only safe place to be on "ky 2" (I wished Fred & Michelle continued on) - Let's see you make it up here Lumpy!) "El Raton" XX AKA Kevin Conway
NOV. 26, 1999 - THE FLETCHER EXBIDITION
JOHN HEBER SF
Sissel B. Heber, San Fran
????? Le???? SF
Barb Wismer SF
Kimberly Fosterling SF
Kim Woody Mtn View CA
Anthony Davion Kentfield CA
Nathalie Bera S.F.
May 4, 2001 - Jennifer Roach - Boulder, Colo. ♡ G & J ♡ An incredible desert summit
NOV 6 2002 - MITCH CASTEEL - CARSON CITY NV
THERE IS A STORM COMMING, IF YOU WERE PLANNING ON LEAVING TOMORROW YOU SHOULD LEAVE TODAY
Nov 19, 2002 - RICK WHEELER BDOC...
LARRY HOBBS BDOC + SOLB
Hello Mark Spencer!
Dingus Milktoast
May 2003
30 year old registry - cool.
Southern Yosemite Rock!
GREG HAVERSTOCK - BISHOP - FEB. 17, 2005 - FROM EUREKA DUNES
17-FEB-05 - JOE LANE - Bishop, CA
13 APRIL 05 - TIM FORSELL - LONE PINE
FROM EUNEKA DUNES - LAST HERUE JAN 98
May 15, 2005 2:30 PM - Candace Skalet Vacaville, CA
Hiked up from the 4wd road (east of here). This could be my last DVNP peak for a long time - I'm moving overseas this fall. If you see this message email me at: CSSKALET@YAHOO.COM
P.S. I was trying to follow Zidan's route!
Greg Diggett
Pollock Pines, CA
November 11? 2005
summitpost.org
Sept. 25, 2006 - Luen Miller, Santa Cruz, CA
Walked from a couple of miles north of the Dunes across the Flats to the Saline Range and then mostly down the crest. Easy to see why there are no roads here. No water, no game, (at least nowadays), no minerals. No sign of humans except for arrowheads in the upper passes. Spent the night north of peak, walking back today. Up here in early morning, crystal clear, warm, mountains. all blue.
(cont) everything perfect except for my poor aching knee that has a 12 mile return hike to finish. lumiller@dachell.net LM
PS. I was actually disappointed to find a box. At least there isn't a stinking geocache.
Feb 2, 2007 - Saw my shadow Today.
Rob McGovern - Bishop CA
March 20-something - 2007 - Good weather for hiking. Windy. Hiked up from the south side of Steel Pass, car camped at about 4,000 feet - got really stoned - time to return to the tubs -
Dave Huebner
Homeless on the Eastside
11.19.07
Todd Calfee - Bishop
Dave Huebner - Irchwon, CA
same hike... still stoned...
11.19.07 - THE THREE SUMITEERS STRIKE AGAIN!
03/08/08 - DAVID PERCAK - FINE DAY!
March 26, 2005 - Marble canyon - Eureka dunes - Saline Peak - Jackass flats and out
Clear skys the whole trip. It has been a great spring break. Ben Brest-Mokie
Rugged. Beauty. Corey Heimlich, Mammoth, CA
EVAN RASMUSSEN WAS HERE AT 10:20 AM 19 APR '08
3/12/09 - Michèle Slaton, NPS Botanist. Perfect.
4/17/09 - Sam Strimling, Age 16
I made it!
Robert W Davis - 4/17/09 - 48th Birthday. Also See April 9, 1996. Boys Still in hot pool, along with Clara, Ellen, Emilie, and Susan.
4/17/09 - Christopher & Trudi Seiwald. 18 years at Palm Springs, 1st time on The Peak!
4/17/09 - Caedman Iriar half way to shower and beer
4/29/2010 - Dave Podhorsky - San Luis Obispo - From Eureka Dunes - Day hike
4-29-2010 - Great hike with great friends - Christi Symens - San Luis Obispo
4/29/2010 - David DeBra - San Luis Obispo - WINDY
10/22/10 - COLORADO MIKE AND WASHINTON DAN - VERY GREATFUL INDEED. MOSTLY CLEAR, LITTLE OR NO WIND ☺
10/26/2012 - Bob Reynolds - Happy 50th b-day! Seattle, WA
10/26/2012 - Stacy Goss - Santa Clara, CA
2/18/2013 - Mike McDonugh - From palm springs
12-30-2013 - Walked from town of Big Pine via Jackass Flats. On to Steel Pass Rd., then we'll see. Two years ago today had a wild time on Volcán Tajumulco, Guatemala, highest in Central America, with 4 outsiders and 500-1,000 Mam Maya. Today, just a Gringuito Perdido.
Chris Libby
Mammoth Lakes
P.S. Lots of snow still on Telescope, Inyos, White, Dry, Hunter from November & other fall storms. Lots of snowbanks on N. side here. Patches down to 4800'.
11/14/2014
PATRICK KIRCHMANN - WOODSIDE, CA
THE FREEDOM OF THE HILLS
4/4/2015 - Bishop, CA - Came up great canyon from the east.
Steve White
Sara Steck
Roy Gillen
Jane Gillan
5/23/15 - beautiful cloudy day. Making a loop from Steele Pass Rd. Already hit Black Top Peak, and now I'm on my way back down.
-Jeremy Stoltzfus
Cow Creek, CA
4.10.16
GREGORY FRUX - BROOKLYN N.Y.
RON BEMEL LA, CA.
BEAUTIFUL CLIMB 4 3/4 HOURS CLOUDS OVER INYOS, VERGA
PERFECT DAY
12/27/2016 Patrick Kindmann & Heike Pfan CA
Sunshine, Holiday climb, Summil Goose
4-20-2017
BRIAN French, N.H., Live free or Die
w/ rex bag it tag it.
Mtn biked from Ddk, narrows over Saline view pks good day
4.20.2017 BOB BURD - TOM BECHT
420 Brian French 2x Live Free or Die
11-6-17 - Adam Walker - Gimpilator
11-4-25 - Adam Walker - Gimpilator
2-20-18 - Matthew Lamar - Berryville, VA - Cold!
Very cold!
Tom Arnold.
Cow Creek, CA
Todd Vogel, Bishop
From Eureka Dunes 2/18/19 - 26°F
Snow Flurries
Saline Peak 7,095'
Sunny Sunday, 12/08/2019
Johnny Hsin, Chino Hills, CA
God bless America & My family! Good Luck to Jenny!
December 2, 2020 - great hike!
Mel & Nick - Wisconsin
Teryn & Alex - LA, CA
Molly & Asheem CA
Megan & Gabe - Guemes, WA
12-23-20 - Jonathan Bourne
Mammoth Lakes day outing from home. More driving than hiking - Storms on The Way - It's Great to live in the mountains
"A penny for you thoughts"
12-27-20 - Mike Reynolds
FURNACE CREEK, CA
Snowing!
SALINE PEAK - 24 APRIL 2021 - Mihai Giurgiulescu FOR ROMANIA!
KEVIN TRIEU for FSM!
First ascent of the year. Awesome views up here!
NOV-16 2021 - Rachel Farrand, Bishop CA
MICHAEL ST. JOHN, MARIN SAR, FAIRKAX, CA
Bob Gehlen - MARIN SAR - LUCAS VALLEY CA "STRONG LIKE WATER"
TOBY FRAY - MARIN SAR
MADELINE DAVIS - OAKLAND, CA
23-Feb-2022 - Another week, another Peak. Super cold & windy, but still worth it.
Joe LANE - Bishop CA
2-20-2023 - Phill Kiddoo
GREAT BASIN ECO REGION
3-4-2022 - Hey, I know these guys! ↑
A "nut" finds himself in the desert. It is a bit cold still.
Bishop, CA -- Pinenut
Josh GRANT - 12/31/22
Cold & incoming storm gotta rush down soon. Love You All! @JDE5G
22 APR 2023 = DANIEL PETTIT
HIKERDAN.COM (FB) (IG) 360° photos
Perfect Day. Snow from Telescope to White and almsost everything inbetween. Hot springs looked like Spring break in Florida. No thank you, lol.
60°F overnight at TH. Spring is here.
04/29/2024 - IT'S A PERFECT DAY, WARM SUNSHINE, COOL BREEZE, TONS OF FLOWERS OF ALL KINDS, SNOW ON THE PANAMINTS AND THE WHITES. ITS A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GREAT DAY!
⋆ IF YOU ARE GOING TO BLACK TOP NEXT PLEASE BRING ONE OF THE PENCILS. I ACCIDENTALLY TOOK IT AND I FEEL REALLY BAD.⋆
MICHELLE CLARK
ELYSCIA LETTERMAN
11/5/24 - 30+ MPH wind
Amazing views
Clear day
Zachary S, Castro Valley CA
3/19/25 - BRILE W
3-20-25
Keith Christensen
Kathy Rich Zdon Desert List 277
01/17/2026
CHRIS KERTH
ROSEVILLE, CA
11-4-25 - Frances Barbar ♡♡♡
1--23-2026 - Left camp just after the first two jest of the morning and arrived around 10:30 to the sound of more!
Love it out here!
D - AdventureTaco.com
Off to Black Top next
Oh my, what beautiful memories you’ve stirred. Steve Smith, the first BLM Ranger, Mike Reynolds’s (isn’t he the Sup now?) and my dear friend Derham Giuliani with whom I spent dozens of days and nights exploring our beloved Saline. He was genius in many ways crossed with a bighorn sheep for climbing and a desert beetle for insight. Thanks you Dan
Happy to have shared a few of those with you Larry! Mike is the superintendent now, and in every interaction I've had with him, a wonderful guy. He's still very active getting out to various peaks and cabins as well; his name - along with Jeremy Stoltzfus - shows up everywhere.
Wes Shelburg was an originator of the Desert Peaks Section. He hiked into his older years to just before he passed. He carried full size 7.5 Minute topo maps in a tube on his pack. A true legend. I'm proud to say that I met him.
Re: "10 Dec 96 Dickes & Bud Long, Top of the world, this is!"
These two are Marty Dickes (female) and Tom Budlong.
Marty has worked over the years in various local government and for the Park Service, if my memory is correct.
Tom Budlong was heavily involved in the creation of the Lonesome Miner Trail in the Inyos. He was also heavily involved with the Center for BioDiversity.
Tom, if still alive, would be well into his 90s by now. I don't know Marty's age, but she is likely near 80.
I've been involved with both in my historical researching and exploring efforts during this time period that they posted. I have much more info on both in my notes if you wish. Just email me.
Awesome, thanks Dave, I updated the archive text. I'm always interested to hear more about folks, but I don't want to impose at all.
No imposition. I'll go through my research notes and correspondence. Tom and I corresponded a lot during the 1990s until I was doing research into county documents regarding Surprise Canyon patented land and mines and Tom got involved with the Center for BioDiversity, a conflict of interest to say the least.
I'll piecemeal additional info as time and circumstances allow.
Note: Steve Smith at this time was an employee with the Ridgecrest office of the BLM. On March 29, 1996 I took Tom Budlong and Steve Smith to Lookout. I was between 4WD vehicles at the time, so rented a Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. It was difficult but it made the trip, though badly pinstriped and a little beat up underneath.
Tom Budlong
Marty Dickes