Mule Ears Peaks

[cactus boy]

Just curious:  has anyone ever successfully climbed to the top of one or both of the Mule Ears Peaks?  I've read that the rock is very unstable and that climbing there would be very dangerous, and I have no intention of trying it myself.  I was just wondering if anyone had, and lived to tell the tale.

Is the cave that held prehistoric California condor bones on one of the peaks or nearby?

[01ACRViper]

i know of a woman who attempted it and fell to her death, but thats all i've heard. Picacho (member here) has climbed some craggly rock in colorado that is known for its instability and he won't touch those peaks with a 10 foot pole, if that tells you anything.

[Picacho]

I did a recon last year.  I certainly wouldn't touch it.  The rock is rediculously loose.  The two peaks have been climbed though, but it certainly wasn't easy.  It's too risky if you ask me because of the rockfall potential.  It is worth it to climb up in between the two though.  If you want a solid semi-technical climb, try Picacho Peak.

[Sanjuro82]

I too have scouted out Mule Ears for a potential summit.  My brother and I came back without an attempt, because of the potential for danger.

My advice....do not attempt it, it's not worth it.

[cactus boy]

I'm saving my climbing for more stable rock.  I was just curious.  I'll be hiking out that way in about a month, but I won't be doing any climbing.

[Big Bender]

I was reading the climbing guide to Big Bend last year and noted that the Conn's had climbed the peaks back in the 40's.  The guide didn't have any information on the routes or difficulty but they also climbed boot rock in the 40's.  Herb and Jan Conn are famous climbers that started climbing in the east around Washington DC during World War II.  They later did some very high quality first assents at Seneca Rocks in West Virigina which were real test pieces in the 40's with the available gear.  

They became climbing bums and traveled around the country climbing at many different locations.  I know them from their many first assents in the east.  

They then settled in the black hills and got involved in caving and started mapping Jewel Cave which is still one of the top ten longest caves in the world.  I understand that Herb had an EE degree and Jan was a teacher.  They live in a little house in the black hills.  I met them about 20 years ago at a caving convention in South Dakota where they talked about mapping the cave.  They wrote a book about it called the Jewel Cave adventure.

Great folks who certainly didn't buy into the current consumer culture.  Seems they were real adventurers and way ahead of their time.

Geary

[TheWildWestGuy]

Your going hiking out near Mule Ears Peaks in June or July?   It's going to be a  *#@*'ing  oven :!:  :!: .  I believe it was in June of 2005 when a fatality occured at Mule Ears when a lone hiker died in the small cave on the flank of MEP.  His remains were not found until the next year.   Cause of death was probably dehydration/heatstroke but hard to tell from only  skeletal remains.   I have climbed Mule's Head (between the two ears) from the West and it was rough, hard, and hot.   The route from the East is probably easier.  June and July are actually the hottest months in the Park so you better be prepared for temps well over 100 degree's and no shade... TWWG

[RedBuffalo]

Here's a link to my trek to the saddle back in March w/ a lot of help from Picacho's post.

http://www.bigbendchat.com/viewtopic.php?t=2758&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

I'm not a "climber" per se so this was quite an accomplishment for me.  Don't plan on ever doing it again.