Windy Peak 

Is it reasonable to do the 90 minute approach and bivy, doing several routes in a couple of days? Is there any water in there?

I've never seen any water up there although this year it may be different. We've seen increased levels of water in every canyon recently, but I wouldn't bet on it. It would be a great place to bivy, up in the football field.

Approach update, 2006: The very beginning of the road where you turn off Route 160 is paved for a short distance, turning to dirt beyond the cattle guard. Continue on this road for about a mile and a half and make a left turn. Follow this road for about 2 miles as it wanders through the desert, eventually arriving at a 4-way crossroad. Make a right here. In a short distance the road dips down into a steep arroyo. Conservative drivers can park at this point; the rest continue west, then south, passing the first obvious parking area and go to the second turnout.

There is now a pretty good trail that leaves from this turnout. Hike down and across the main wash and pick up the trail on the opposite side. The trail goes west, not very directly, toward a fenced off spring in the area of some strange dark orange-brown outcrops. These outcrops are on the south side of the main Windy Canyon streambed. Shortly after passing the outcrops, go up the rounded ridge a few yards then drop into the streambed on the right. Go west on the right hand side (north side) of the wash following mostly good trails. After a while, a large sub-canyon on the right blocks progress. The easiest spot to cross this is at its left (downhill) side. This avoids the worst brush, boulders, and ticks. Cross the subcanyon and pick up a trail on its far side. Go up and right to a steep hillside that leads up to the Football Field. Go to the far (west) side of the Football Field, then head up slabs and trail fragments to the main face.

We drove in both ways and found the way that does not start on the Black Velvet road to be slightly easier as well as shorter. Either way is a little tough on a normal clearance car, but many had made it. We were lucky to rent a 2WD Jeep Patriot, which made it easy.

Larry's description of the approach is excellent!

This is a beautiful peak. The approach trail was well defined and not at all hard to follow. The hill on the second half is long and the trail is a bit loose in places.