
Slide Mountain
Usa, north-america
N/A
2,928 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, so Slide Mountain in Nevada is seriously epic! We're talking about a summit sitting at a whopping 9,606 feet! As the name suggests, expect some rocky terrain – it's known for its, well, rock slides.
You'll find this adventure in the Carson Range, and the road to the top is all gravel and rocks – think ski-station service road meets chairlift access trail. Be warned, it's STEEP, with grades hitting up to 30% in places. Loose stones underfoot make for a challenging climb, especially higher up.
Timing is everything! Your window of opportunity is super narrow – aim for late August. The summit is a hub for communication towers (TV, radio, emergency services, you name it!). And hold on to your hat – the wind is relentless up there. Even in summer, you might get snow! Winter? Forget about it – brutally cold.
But the views! Oh man, the views! Lake Tahoe shimmering to the west, the Virginia Range sprawling to the east, Mount Rose and the Carson Range to the north, and the Sierras stretching south... it's a vista that'll blow your mind.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Max Elevation
- 2,928 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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