Where: Sierra Nevada, California
When: August 2009
Partners: Solo
I'd read that the class 4 northeast ridge of Trapezoid was a fun route to this semi-obscure peak in the Bishop Creek drainage. As it turned out, the ridge was indeed quite fun. And the views from the top were excellent. 5h10m car-to-car.
Showing posts with label Sierra Nevada (South Lake). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sierra Nevada (South Lake). Show all posts
Trapezoid Peak
Cloudripper & Vagabond Peak
Where: Sierra Nevada, California
When: August 2009
Partners: DB
I'd been meaning to get to Cloudripper for some 7 years. I finally made the time to tick it off. After ascending the enjoyable class 3 West Chute, we headed over to Vagabond Peak, ultimately descending that peak's awful class 2 West Chute.
Chocolate Peak
Chocolate Peak is a small, chocolate-colored peak nestled below the much larger and interesting Cloudripper, Mount Goode and Hurd Peak in the South Lake region of the Sierra Nevada near Bishop Pass. It is an easy hike that can readily be done in a third of a day. 
A few years ago, I took a buddy and his now-wife on a hike up this nice, little peak. With little experience in the mountains (much less the Sierra), it was the ideal outing for these mountain newbies.
The summit views, particularly those of nearby Cloudripper, and of the many lakes below, were terrific. I think we were all satisfied by our highly enjoyable day out.
TOPO
*Photos courtesy of Rick Kent
South Lake's Hurd Peak
Hurd Peak is the small, aesthetic peak hovering above South Lake in the Sierra Nevada outside of Bishop, California. Having stared up at the small beauty countless times on previous visits to the area, it was time to find a way up her.
Driving over early, early one morning from Las Vegas, Ryan McPhee and I started up the Bishop Pass Trail until we found ourselves on the east side of the peak. There, we left the trail, did a tricky stream crossing, then started directly up the face. The scrambling was easy all the way to the summit ridge. From the ridge, we simply scrambled south to the highpoint. It was Ryan's first Sierra peak.
*Photo courtesy of Rick Kent
Mount Goode (13,085 feet)
Mount Goode is a big, benign peak in the Bishop Pass area of the Sierra Nevada. With a short approach via trail, one eventually leaves the lakes and wildflowers and heads up a relentless sand and talus slope to the final boulders that lead to the precipitous summit.
With DB becoming somewhat of an experienced Sierra explorer, having tackled some peaks around Yosemite and South Lake, we wanted her to start working toward higher peaks in preparation for planned upcoming trips to both Mexico and the Andes. The 13,000-foot Goode seemed perfect.
As one might imagine, the views grow as one ascends. The summit was sublime. The experience was unforgettable. Whether a hike, scramble or a climb, I just can't seem to get enough of these mountains. And DB's catching the bug!
*Photos courtesy of Rick Kent
Picture Puzzle
With DB down with an injured knee, I snuck off early one morning for a scramble up Picture Puzzle with Rick Kent. Picture Puzzle is a 13,000+ foot peak that lies in the Sierra Nevada near South Lake outside of Bishop, California. Reportedly, there was a short, class 3 route up the north face.
What we found was indeed a short, class 3 route up the easy north face, complicated minimally by a cluster of aesthetic gendarmes and whatnot just below the top. Scrambling just east of the crest around a point false summit, we dropped down to a notch and then made the final scramble to the top.
Although we'd already signed the register that ski mountaineers had left just below the false summit we'd climbed around, we signed the one on the main summit as well. Now, it was time to return to DB.
Rick was to continue on to Gendarme and Aperture Peaks, so I dropped directly down the chute draining west from the notch just north of the summit. It went without difficulty, soon depositing me on the trail. I hiked back to civilization and hit the road...
*Photos courtesy of Rick Kent
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