North Slopes

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 38.20580°N / 119.7091°W
Additional Information Route Type: Hiking, Scrambling
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Additional Information Time Required: Less than two hours
Additional Information Difficulty: Class 2-5
Sign the Climber's Log

Approach

Follow the trail from Kennedy Meadows past Relief Reservoir, on past the small (and barely recognizable) Saucer Meadow to Lunch Meadow, an open sagebrush-covered expanse.

Route Description

Pete Yamagata's Northern Sierra Peaks Guide contains a detailed description of a class 2 route up the north ridge of the peak. This might be the most direct route up the peak, at least from the Lunch Meadow area--if you can identify the ridge to which he refers.

One can also follow a broad hanging valley up from the vicinity of Sheep Camp in Lunch Meadow, heading first SW and then angling south to pass high above Lewis Lakes on their east side, before climbing the peak by its NW slope (an easy walk-up that may be anticlimatic after the climbing/route-finding to reach this point). This route roughly follows a small stream, and features some moderate bushwhacking in the lower portions before coming to a succession of granite slabs and cliffs. If the terrain looks like a confusing jumble of slabs, boulders, and cliffs, that's because it is. The route-finding to keep this to class 3 or less may be easier in climbing the route; as a descent route, the way is not so obvious.

As you might guess, I didn't take careful notes when I descended this route. If you head this way, please be sure to post any additions/corrections here!

The north slopes are straightforward in early spring, when they make for an easy snow climb.

Essential Gear

Nothing in summer. Unless you have good route-finding abilities, or enough patience to search around for the easiest route, rock shoes or good approach shoes might be helpful in places for a descent. Without care, it is very easy when descending to find oneself on class 4-5 slabs.


Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.