NorthPeak 07/15/08
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:19 pm
Hi, On 7/15/08 dayclimbed North Peak (12,200+) near Tioga pass.
On drive up on 120, at sunrise the Sierra crest was clouded over, and from May Lake on the ground was damp from recent storm(s), and near parker Pass trailhead, there was hail covering the ground. By the time I reached Saddlebag Lake, the sky was clearing, and no hail. A cool morning with some mosquitos at the start. Hiked along the west side of Saddlebag, reached the wet meadowy north end of lake, sky had cleared and the mosquitos increased greatly, reducing photostop times. Some wildflowers but not overwhelming. Headed up the trail to Conness Lakes past a nice cascade, intending to reach the scree slopes SW of North Peak, but while avoiding some pine thickets, worked up above the use trail, and rather than give back the altitude continued to traverse to below the middle chute then headed up over scree/talus/ledges then used the snow banks to reach the ridge. A short ascent over talus reached the summit.Air was still a little smokey/hazy but much better than 3 weeks ago, with some tall cumulus to the south. Mt.Conness dominates the view south. Wonderful view from Tenaya canyon to TowerPeak/SawtoothRidge, VirginiaPass area, 20 lakes basin, Mt.Dana, Ritter/Banner, Lyell/MacClure. . Descended by the S.W. slope over scree slopes then across talus fields to lakeside use trail. Saw no one beyond Greenstone lake, and actually passed no one the entire hike.
Photos:
On drive up on 120, at sunrise the Sierra crest was clouded over, and from May Lake on the ground was damp from recent storm(s), and near parker Pass trailhead, there was hail covering the ground. By the time I reached Saddlebag Lake, the sky was clearing, and no hail. A cool morning with some mosquitos at the start. Hiked along the west side of Saddlebag, reached the wet meadowy north end of lake, sky had cleared and the mosquitos increased greatly, reducing photostop times. Some wildflowers but not overwhelming. Headed up the trail to Conness Lakes past a nice cascade, intending to reach the scree slopes SW of North Peak, but while avoiding some pine thickets, worked up above the use trail, and rather than give back the altitude continued to traverse to below the middle chute then headed up over scree/talus/ledges then used the snow banks to reach the ridge. A short ascent over talus reached the summit.Air was still a little smokey/hazy but much better than 3 weeks ago, with some tall cumulus to the south. Mt.Conness dominates the view south. Wonderful view from Tenaya canyon to TowerPeak/SawtoothRidge, VirginiaPass area, 20 lakes basin, Mt.Dana, Ritter/Banner, Lyell/MacClure. . Descended by the S.W. slope over scree slopes then across talus fields to lakeside use trail. Saw no one beyond Greenstone lake, and actually passed no one the entire hike.
Photos:
