High Sierra Topix

Hi All,
Could anyone share first-hand experiences climbing Kennedy Peak via Soda Canyon? This weekend I'm planning to backpack to Kennedy Lake, setup a basecamp, and climb some local peaks (with snowshoes, crampons, and ice axe). Kennedy Peak seems like a good option, but I can't find much route information online, except Bob Burd's Report.

I have been up Soda Creek to about 8800. I am not sure which bowl I hiked to, the one under Molo Mountain or the easier one under Kennedy Pk. I wrote a trip report so maybe you can look that up. I did this 5/12/ 2012 which may be similar to this year early June, but with all the late snow up there I would expect some of the new snow not yet melted. Here are some photos. First you have to cross the creek, which was wading, but not bad. I crossed where it branched into several channels. You can also see some cornices on the ridge that forms the edge of the upper bowl.

My wife and I did this in May of last year. She really doesn't like to get home late after a weekend trip, so we decided to just hike up to the saddle to the south of the peak for a view over the ridge, and go back.

Getting up the east wall of Soda Canyon is a tedious affair, but totally within your skills. It's a wonderful area early season, with lots of waterfalls running into Soda Canyon. I think you'll have a great time, late June will probably be about the same as what we did a year ago.