Kevin, I have done Wildrose a couple of times, as well as Telescope Peak (summer). The last time I tried Wildrose in the winter (2008), it was a sheet of ice from the kilns upward. Corkscrew has never been on my radar. I generally use Digonnet's 3-pound guide to select hikes, but I don't recall Corkscrew being mentioned. I'll take a look this evening when I get home. Same for Surprise - sounds familiar, but I haven't done it. Is it in the northern part of the park? I typically camp at Texas Spring, but I'll drive any distance for a good hike.
On that subject Steve, distance is absolutely no object. I don't make this 5500-mile round-trip each year - or a couple of times, counting Whitney in the summer - to let a few miles stand between me and that great hike. This past August, while acclimating for Whitney and staying in Lone Pine, I shot up to Yosemite early one morning just to hike Mono Pass. As I recall, that was about 110 miles each way.
I should mention that the problems I've run into in DV are the 4WD/HC access roads. Lotta good hikes still in the park for me - I just can't get there cuz I'm always in a rental. Last year I got the Caddy I was driving (free upgrade - bad idea for DV) stuck on the Grotto Canyon road. That was fun. Wasted about 2 hours of valuable winter daylight rocking that SOB free.
So yeah, anything I can get to in a 2WD rental, I'll go for. Distance isn't an issue. 'Preciate it!
