Desolate Peaks
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Desolate Peaks
Desolate Peaks is a low‑support, peak‑bagging event in the Desolation Wilderness near South Lake Tahoe, California. Participants navigate a sequence of mountain summits by their own route planning and route finding. The route is unmarked and is largely off trail, including talus fields of broken rock, granite ledges, hands-and-feet scrambling, and creek crossings. The event follows a fat-ass style with drop bag support at Echo Lakes parking and a documented bailout option at the Fallen Leaf trailhead.
There are three course options:
- 21 Peaks - original 17 plus 4 additional peaks (Lucifer’s Frolic)
- 17 Peaks - the original beast
- 11 Peak “Fun Run” - shuttle back from Fallen Leaf, skips peaks 12–17
Peaks on the circuit include Mount Price, Agassiz, Pyramid Peak, Cracked Crag, Keith’s Dome, Ralston Peak, Talking Mountain, Becker Peak, Flagpole Peak, Echo Peak, Angora Peak, Cathedral Peak, Mount Tallac, Peak 9579, Dick’s Peak, Jack’s Peak, and Little Pyramid, plus several named segments of Lucifer’s Frolic. Only one person has completed the full 21 Peaks course to date. The event is intended for people with significant off‑trail navigation and mountain travel experience and is not designed for learning those skills during the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
