Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Anyone know about "Old" Tehachapi Mtn.

Some geologist have argued that the Tehachapis are an extreme southwestern extension of the Sierra Neveda. Personally I don't agree with that but for today I will. Since it's the slow season I don't feel too bad about asking this somewhat off topic question (actually I rarely feel bad about anything) but I've been researching this issue for a while and have come to a dead end. I was hoping that someone in this vast board might have some background knowledge on this. I am trying to find the location of the "Old" Tehachapi Mountain. It can not be found on any recent map and my research has shown that the summit never had an official name that could be found on a map. I have narrowed the search to two peaks that are about one and a half miles and three miles southwest of the Liebre Twins along the same ridgeline. At one time "Old" Tehachapi Mtn. was an HPS peak but it has been delisted since before the time I was born. I would greatly appreciate any help or insight. Thanks.

Rafael...

Rafael, unless you are 60 years old, there are still people around from that era, in the HPS who might know.

If you ARE over 60, there still might be, but we're talking about a long time ago. Your best bet might be to go down to the Sierra Club chapter headquarters in LA, where they have a library that has, I think, all of the newsletters and publications of the chapter, since the beginning.
Although it may take some work, I would think that you should be able to find a description of the location.

G'luck!

I'm sure you have already looked at this, the HPS listing, but perhaps there are some clues:

The old mountain is in Tejon Ranch, and that might help you site it...also, the Ranch probably knows which one it is.

The change occurred is 1966, so there should definitely be records around on this, and whoever wrote this description probably knows, especially as this description was written in 2003.

==========================

Location: Los Angeles County, California

Name evolved from local Kawaiisu Indian word variously transcribed as tehichipi, tahichipi, thaeechaypah, and tahichipiu.

Name (and HPS code) moved from this original location [to "New" Tehachapi Mountain (7960')] when the Tehachapi South quad was printed (1966). This shift is not unusual, for example Mount Emma was similarly "reassigned". What is odd is that despite some unofficial trips and much talk of keeping this old location on the HPS List, readmission of this old location did not occur before the issue became a moot point-the owners [Tejon Ranch] restricted free access (1969).

Name first appears in this location with elevation 8056' (Wheeler Survey 1878).

Presently a use-name only.

Peak was on the original 1946 HPS Peak List.

From the Sierra Club:

<a href="http://angeles.sierraclub.org/wtc/ShowHPSPeak.asp?FeatureName=Tehachapi%20Mountain">Tehachapi Mountain</a>

I did a Google advanced search with "1946 HPS Peak List" in the "exact phrase" field and "Tehachapi" in the "all words" field above that. I think I clicked on the first "hit", which was a Sierra Club website with an extensive listing of peaks, including Tehachapi Mountain.

Here are some additional links and/or suggestions:

<a href="http://www.kerncountylibrary.org/HTML/about/bea/spcol/darling.html">Kern County Library, Curtis Darling Map Collection</a>

Search on "Tehachapi Mountain Park"

Contact Kern County Parks

Contact Sequoia National Park Historical Society

E-mail Tejon Ranch and ask them.

CaT

Thanks to both of you. I have already come across much of that information that you mentioned, Including an old trip archive to the Liebre Twins, and the 1946 HPS list. I even e-mailed a couple of Sierra club old timers. One never responded to my e-mail and the other one didn't know the location. I had thought about calling the Tejon Ranch and I will later this year. I'm not sure how willing they will be to giving me this information since they don't cater to hikers, but it would not hurt to ask. I have spoken to a ranger at Tehachapi Mountain park as well but he was not familiar with the mountains much beyond the New Tehachapi and Double mountain. I had not thought of looking at the county library or going to the Sierra Club headquarters but now I will when I have time in the Summer. Interestingly enough, the Tejon ranch has been talking about moving the section of the PCT that borders their land and moving it away from the desert floor to the Tehachapi mountains. The map that I saw of this seems to follow the ridgeline that I believe holds the location to the "Old" Tehachapi mountain. If and when this happens it will be a big benefit to PCT hikers since it will take them away from the desert floor for that part of their journey, but it could also open up access to the "Old" Tehachapi mountain. I hope it happens soon. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again, and I welcome any additional information that anyone else may have.

Rafael...

Don't think this helps but I'll post anyways.

I have fairly detailed 1897 So. Cal. map from an atlas. In this general area it shows Double Pk, Bear Pk., Frazier Mt., and the towns of Keene, Tehachapi, Cameron, Monterio, and Neenach,and several creeks.

No Tehachapi Mtn or Peak.

I had to access maps for work a couple of days ago and the U. of Texas has a fairly extensive online collection through their library. I went to the site and plugged in 'Tehachapi' and it didn't take me to a map but a doctoral thesis. Apparently geologists do make arguments that it is distinct based on the type of rock - see http://www.lib.utexas.edu/geo/thesis_dissertations/thesisabstracts2.html

This would suggest if you wanted to find more you might pursue maps targeted to mineral science, geology, etc.

I posted a great online European university source for maps of all types about 2 years ago. I'll see if I can find the reference.

Just from ambling around the U. of Texas map collection, came across this link to Cal State Chico library and a map that had the entire Tehachapi mountain range shown: Maps -1/11

I didn't want to download all the plug-ins to peruse it but it looks like this map covers the entire area and probably the peak you're looking for.

If that doesn't do it let me know and I'll keep looking for that Euro university site.

rafael, I'm not able to tell you where the "Old" Tehachapi Mountain is or was, but you can click <a href=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=135:3:2366121760449013753::NO::P3_FID:1661554>here</a> to see the USGS write-up on the current Tehachapi Mountain, if you haven't done so already. Bob R commented about the southernmost peak in the Sierras <a href=http://www.mt-whitney.info/viewtopic.php?t=984&highlight=>here</a>, which is north of Tehachapi Pass. About a week later after his posting, he went and climbed Pajuela Peak, which you can read about <a href=http://www.mt-whitney.info/viewtopic.php?t=1008&highlight=pajuela>here</a>. The peak is on a private wind farm, and Bob and his buddies got "busted" for their accomplishment. Looks like they had a lot of fun doing it, though.

Rafael, I've lived in Tehachapi since 1958 and enjoy hearing history of the area. Many of what I'd call Old-timers are gone but if you try contacting Jon Hammond through the Tehachapi News, he may be able to help you. Jon's family has lived in the area since the early 1900's or so and he's gathered a lot of info from the Old-timers while they were still living. He writes a column for the weekly paper about the area, history, flora and fauna, etc. If he can't help you, he can probably point you to someone who can.
Hope this helps.

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/StaticPage/601

Eureka! I found it!
Many thanks to all who responded.

GregF
Your map link was crucial. The old Tejon quadrangle showed the area where I suspected the peak to be in, just like the modern Tejon quads do. Neither old or modern maps name the summit. The reason is that according to the 1946 original HPS Sierra club list, the name of Tehachapi mountain had not been authenticated. In reality it is an unnamed summit and the highest point on a long ridgeline. Perhaps it was given the unofficial name by locals. The reason I was able to I.D. the peak is because on the original Sierra club 1946 HPS list it is listed with an altitude of 6743'. The modern topos don't show any peak with that altitude, but the topo that I looked at on the link from GregF is dated to 1903 and has slightly different altitudes for many of the peaks in the area. The old topo does indeed show an unnamed peak with altitude 6743' to be located around a mile and a half to the southwest of the Liebre Twins on the same ridgeline. The modern topos show this same peak with an altitude of 6803', and for that reason it was impossible to find the peak using a modern topo but the old topo did the trick. By looking at a Sierra club trip Archive to the Liebre Twins, I was able to guess at the two likely cantidates for Tehachapi Mountain since the peak was mentioned but not summited by that group back in 1969, two full years before I was even born. The newer topos were made after the original 1946 HPS list, therefore the HPS list would have shown the old altitude that is only found on the old maps. The current Tehachapi mountain which is just north of Double mountain and has an altitude of 7960+' was called Woody's peak way in the past and for that reason it never showed up on old maps under its current name. Like I said before, if this stretch of territory opens up for the PCT than it would be great to have access to that area again. If not this will become another one of my clandestine peaks to bag in the future, along with the Liebre Twins. I have to go. More info tomorrow.

Rafael...

If it is not identified on the map, how do you know that is "the one"? You must have more information.

And can you give the coordinates on a topozone map for us?

Steve, peak 6803 is at 34d 56.833n and 118d 35.405w, or UTM 11 354803E and 3868344N (WGS84 datum). And as Rafael and others have pointed out, it is deep in the privately/corporate owned Tejon Ranch.

A bit of a tangent, but I clicked on the Tehachapi News link provided above in maggies42's post. Among other things, there is a list of people under the "staff" heading, with the last person under that heading being a Mimi Whitney with an e-mail address of "mwhitney" at tehachapinews.com.

Interesting...

CaT

Steve:
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.9...size=l&s=50

Ok, I had fun with this...
Open the two links below in new browser windows, so you can refer to the text here.
Here is the peak in topozone:
Peak 6803 . Note the jeep road 1/2 mile north of the peak, following the ridge westward, then plunging down into the canyon between the O and U in "mountians". Also note the road in Little Oak Canyon in the next 1-mile section to the east.

Now, open this up in a new (maximized) browser window: Google map/satellite . In the center is the peak, and upper left and lower right are the two roads that I identified above.

Now zoom out on the Google Maps, and you can see where the mountain is in relation to Bakersfield, Mojave and Palmdale. As long as you don't use the mouse to click and move the map, you can zoom right back into the mountain.

Here is the rest of it.

Maggies42,
Sounds like you like the Tehachapis as much as I do. Let me know if you want to hike in that area in the future. I can be reached at
rafaelandtammy@aol.com Thanks for the link to Tehachapi News and Jon Hammond.

Ken and Wayne,
Thanks for finding the coordinates on Topozone. You both beat me to it.

Wayne,
From your links I gather that you are interested in Cache peak. I am as well, and I meant to climb it about a month ago but things didn't work out. I will try for it again late next fall, winter, or early spring. It could be done in the summer but the heat would make it a bit uncomfortable. If you are interested in joining me you are welcome to come. I have planned on doing it from the PCT as a two day trip. It would be 30-35 miles. It could also be done as a long one day trip with an alpine start. Around 25 miles if you were to take Lone Tree Canyon AKA Pine tree canyon. I know that BobR climbed it with some others via this route about 25 years ago. Much of it is flat desert hiking since you have to start near the old aqueduct due to a locked gate, but when you get to where the canyon forks into its north and west branch, almost 7 miles in, you come across some of the most beautiful hidden scenery that I have yet to see. By the way, according to an archive report of an exploratory hike to Cache Peak by the Sierra club back in 1969, the grave on top belongs to an old family patriarch of the owner of the land. I don't know if the land is still owned by that particular owner at this time but there are a lot of windmills all in that area. One could have a real Don Quixote moment up there.

Steve C
If you want to learn about and hike the Tehachapis, come on down and I'll show you around.

Rafael...

More interesting stuff, to me anyways. Closer inspection of the 1903 and the current Tejon quad revealed that the peak known as the Liebre Twins has two different locations! Current quads show it at an altitude of 6413'. The 1903 quad shows the Liebre Twins at another location which is a little over a mile and a half to the slight northeast of the current Liebre Twins and with an altitude of 6100'. On the modern quad, the old location shows two unnamed summits with one of them being labeled with an altitude of 6123' What the?! So now if I ever get to climb them I should do the Liebre Quadruplets! What's better than twins? Quadruplets! The 1946 Sierra HPS list list the Liebre Twins at an altitude of 6100' so clearly they are referring to the Old set of twins and not the current location. Furthermore an old 1969 trip archive states that Old Tehachapi mountain is about 3 miles away which is true only if you go by the old location of the Liebre Twins.

Doug Sr. maybe you can answer this question since I recall that you use to make maps for a living or do survey work.

Why would the location of the peaks be changed with a new edition of the map? Human error? Was it Friday or a few beers with lunch?

Rafael...

Hey, Rafael, here is a trip you might enjoy joining:

http://www.outdoorsclub.org/Calendar/Tri...13105&area=

I would love to join you Ken, but unfortunately I can't. My wife Tammy is having major surgery in the middle of April and I will need to be home as much as possible to take care of her during the 6-8 week recovery period. I was thinking of doing this hike with Double mountain in June. You might be interested. E-mail me and we can exchange numbers. I have info. on this hike which will help with the navigation. there are a slew of jeep trails that the maps don't show in this area. Some of the trails that the map does show don't exist or have simply vanished back into the forest due to lack of use.

Rafael...

Rafaelandtammy@aol.com