The Drum Mountains is a forgotten range out in the Western Desert. The summit receives visitors from peakbaggers on average every 3 years. This secluded range has a network of old roads from mining activities, including one that goes to the base of the highpoint.
Drum Mountains Highpoint
Distance: 1 mile (4WD) 2.5 miles (2WD)
Elevation Gain: 1,300+ feet
Summit Elevation: 7,298 feet
Access: Level 2 and 4
From Highway 6 between Delta and Lynndyl, get onto the Brush Highway #174. Follow it west for 31 miles. Turn left on an unsigned dirt road. Follow it for 2.8 miles to a T intersection. Turn right, go 0.2 miles then look for a faint left turn onto a rougher road. 2WD cars can follow this road at least a mile before they will need to park. A high clearance vehicle can go 2.8 miles on this rougher road, then 0.4 more on a spur at the base of the mountain. (mileages shown on map below).
Access:
Route:
Easy terrain. Walk up the west ridge to a saddle (shown on picture to right). From the saddle, traverse below a false summit to the main ridge and walk to the top. If you have extra energy, the dashed yellow line shows a route I took to the second highest mountain in the Drum Mountains.
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From the 4WD start to the saddle, below the summit
Summit of the Drum Mountains from the saddle seen from the 4WD start
Snow on Notch Peak and Swasey Peak
Looking west as the last of the morning clouds push away
Peak 7233 "Middle Drum"
Drum Mountains HP from a second summit that is almost as high
This is Drum Benchmark, another mountain in the range to the southwest
Drum Mountains HP from route up "Middle Drum"
Summit of "Middle Drum" I placed a register for the few that come later
Looking NW to Lady Laird Peak and a distant Deep Creek Range
Looking back at "Middle Drum" in route to the 4WD trailhead
A cairn near the Drum Mountains HP, which looks higher but isn't
Morning light on the Drum Mountins HP
Drum Mountains HP From the Brush Highway