Where: Sierra Nevada, California
When: July 2005
Partners: Ryan McPhee
Route: North Rib (Class 3)
Mileage/Gain: 21/8,700
Mount Tyndall is one of California's fourteeners. It is buried in the Sierra Nevada above Shepherd Pass near Mount Williamson, California's third high peak. Ryan McPhee, still new into town from his life-long home in Washington, wanted to have an introduction to the Sierra, so I offered to do Tyndall with him.
Hiking up the long and hot Shepherd Pass Trail, we set camp at the pass. Rising early the next morning, we quickly made it to the base of the mountain and climbed the North Rib toward the summit. The North Rib doesn't look like much from its base, but it's a reasonably enjoyable route. Once atop the rib, one scrambles to the crest, then hangs a left for the summit.
Arriving much earlier than we'd anticipated, we found ourselves shivering in the chill of the pre-dawn summit. We stayed only a few minutes, during which I signed "Ernesto Guevara" in the register, then we dropped back down the rib and to our camp at the pass. Breaking camp, we hiked out to civilization, or, our car at the end of the bumpy dirt road to the trailhead.
*Photos courtesy of Rick Kent
Mount Tyndall (14,018 feet)
Mount Williamson (14,375 feet)
In 2005, my mother, an avid cyclist and former marathon runner, came into town and we decided to collect a couple friends for a backpack of Mount Williamson, California's 2nd highest peak. Rick Kent and my long-time friend Dimples signed on board.
Heading up the sloggy trail, the views improved as we climbed and we were soon setting camp at Anvil Camp, a lush, forested camp with remnant snowfields and gushing waterfalls nearby.
Starting early the next morning, Rick and I headed up to Shepherd Pass while my mom and Dimples stayed behind to hang in camp. Reaching the pass, Rick and I angled toward Mount Tyndall, where Rick broke off to climb Tyndall via its north rib. I was headed off solo to Williamson, so we wished each other farewell.
Crossing the Williamson Bowl and gaining the chute that would take me to the top, I made good time, running into Luba Leef, a friend of mine from Las Vegas who was also solo hiking the mountain. We climbed to the summit together and enjoyed the views.
Eventually leaving the mountain, we hiked back to Shepherd Pass together, where the rest of her party were enjoying a relaxing time in camp. I bid them goodbye and started back down the pass to meet up with my mom and Dimples at Anvil Camp.
After breaking camp the next morning, we found the hike out delightful, if a bit long, hot and boring. The company was great, and the Sierra is a magnificent mountain range.
*Photos courtesy of Rick Kent
