High Sierra Topix

Been fighting webshots, so its been frustrating getting this album together. This is the best I've been able to "rearrange the photos", I'll try to fix it tonight.

Photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/470760281zSgEvA

Calhiker and I picked this peak on the drive Friday night. Tioga Pass was closed Thurs, so we heard it opened again Fri. We hiked on untracked snow (on the trail) and made our way up the ridge in 2" - 12" snow. The only tracks we saw were a gazzillion animal tracks. Great weather, and great views til the clouds came in later. We made it down before the clouds covered the peaks, and got out before dark. Met Randonee at Whoa Nellie Deli for closing weekend. Food was excellent as always!

Did you approach from the Tioga Pass area? I have been wanting to summit Gibbs. I have considered approaching via Mono Pass. How did the Mono Pass area look as far as snow cover on your hike?

Thanks.

Yes, we went over Tioga Pass and parked at the Mono Pass Trailhead.

Photo of Mono Pass: http://community.webshots.com/photo/470 ... 1477kQbime

Click on "View full size" and you can see that the pass is filled with snow

or a cropped shot: http://community.webshots.com/photo/470 ... 0742IhBHvD
(sorry, webshots is scrambling my pics)

What beautiful views you two saw! I love the one of sun light on Kuna crest. Calhiker does look a bit cold...but looks like he as a nice warm jacket on.
I remember when I did Dana years ago, the views from top are awesome I thought...you can look into Yosemite and then look towards the desert and Mono Lake..I just thought that was so cool...I loved the Dana plateau I think it is so unique. We saw so many cute Marmots that day on top and on the way up. Thanks for sharing SN! & supper at the Whoa Nellie too!! Did they have the cheesecake?

Yes, views are awesome from up there! We didn't see any animals, only paw prints! We followed the animal tracks all the way to the summit. The shelves were bare at Whoa Nellie Deli, no cheesecake either. I went back the following weekend and the windows were painted white (closed for the season).

Summited Gibbs from Walker Lake. Great day on the mountain, couldn't ask for better weather. Patchy snow was not an issue. Only downside: yet another sierra peak without a register. People who steal registers SUCK!

I should have posted that a register was not found when we were there.

Btw, I found the register on Sonora Peak buried in the snow.

Also, I met your friend tomcat this weekend in Death Valley.

Sierragator wrote:Summited Gibbs from Walker Lake. Great day on the mountain, couldn't ask for better weather. Patchy snow was not an issue. Only downside: yet another sierra peak without a register. People who steal registers SUCK!

I know it's been several years, but I am interested in the Walker Lake/Bloody Canyon approach to Gibbs and summiting via the east ridge. What do you remember about the route? How was the final section of the ridge towards the summit. Do you think it's a little less steep than the north ridge that connects to Mt. Dana?

Hi Flyzapper,

Welcome to HST! Since Sierragator hasn't posted since 2010, starting a new thread
may get you answers to your inquiry about that route.

I'm not sure what you might be calling the east ridge. But the south slope from Bloody is nice. If you travel slow and quiet you might see these guys.