I spend another cold night and wake up with almost another extra hour of sleep. As I lay in the R-pod, I realize I don't hear a thing. I check my phone and the current time is after 6:00 am. At home, I usually wake up around 5:00 am to the sounds of civilization also waking up. Vehicle noise in the neighborhood, dogs barking, and even though we live two miles from the freeway, one can hear the increased traffic that comes with daylight. Not here. Nothing. The sound of silence in the cold morning air is immensely refreshing.

I still have not seen another living soul since arriving yesterday. I pack my bags and load the quad for another big day of hiking. I have my sights on the most prominent peak in the quadrangle; UNP6180. Peak 6180 carries a whopping rise of 960 feet, over 423 additional feet than my hike of UNP5797 yesterday.

The ATV track is due west of my campsite, and I park the quad at the base of a small hill. This location is the spot marked by another GPS track I am following. Following yesterday's GPS track was a disappointment, and cresting the small ridge, I conclude that if I am going to use another person's GPS track in the backcountry, I need to verify their age or the actual topography. The large ravine on the other side of this rise is more than I want to tackle on this long hike. At age 20, I might run down and back up the other side; at 62, I am more about energy conservation with my arthritic knees.

From my vantage point on the slight rise, I can see the summit cairn of UNP5748 and a faint ATV track leading up the tiny valley to the south of my current position. I hike back to my ATV and travel to the base of UNP5748. From this position, it is a straight shot up the eastern face to the summit.

Another large summit cairn sits atop UNP5748. I love cairns, and these summit markings remind me of mountain tops in Europe. From the top of the peak, I can make out summit cairns on four surrounding peaks. It is a beautiful sight to behold. I can't find a summit registration, but I add a stone to the top of the cairn and lean my hiking poles against the mound of rock for reference. My poles are 45 inches in length. Just shy of 4 feet. Against the cairn, I estimate it to be nearly 7 feet in height on the low side of the mound. Impressive.

Hiking down the hillside, I take the time to map out a route to the top of UNP6180. If I start further south, I can avoid the ravine and hike the ridgeline to the summit. Another massive summit cairn that I can see from this vantage spot awaits me there as well.

Unnamed Peak 6180 is a long, sprawling hillside as I round the first saddle and begin the ridgeline hike. A gentle breeze is blowing, and I'm grateful as the heat of the day is beginning. Mostly dirt, with a few minor rocky bands, provides a straightforward hike. I crest the rise and marvel at this summit cairn. It looks like a chimney. Boxy and straight up. I stand at 6 feet tall, and I can barely reach the top to place my rock in place. The only problem is this is a false summit. The actual summit rest at the northern edge of this elongated peak. I move on, hiking the summit ridge to the slight rise marking the mountain peak.

False summit cairn with actual UNP6180 summit in background

I take a long lunch break and enjoy the views. At 6,180 feet above sea level, I am higher than most of the surrounding mountain tops. I have to look north to Cricket Peak of Headlight Mountain to find another rise above me. That's impressive. When I look to the west, the range drops steeply to the dry lake bed of Sevier at an elevation of 4,528'. Desert views are stunning, but one can see a very long way when standing 1,652' feet above anything else.

I search the surrounding roads and valleys. No campers, no dust clouds to mark a traveling car. I haven’t seen another hint of humanity for 46-hours. If it wasn't for my constant connection with my beautiful wife via text and GPS, I could picture myself alone in the world.

UNP6180 summit view looking south at UNP5748 and UNP5797

Back at the trailer, it is time to pack and get ready to head for home. I load the quad and connect the trailer. Everything is buttoned-down, and as I get in the truck, a lone car comes into view around the corner of the road. The timing couldn't be better.