Have you been to the Pinnacles area in the JM Wilderness?

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SSSdave
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Post by SSSdave »

So there aren't any other destinations over in those other areas of interest? So gee then the obvious route must be out of North Lake and up over Piute Pass. Any of those other routes are way way more vertical by thousands of feet. Besides its right on a way easy trail most of the way. And the 1600 foot crosscountry climb up from 9400 to Little Mocassin Lake looks easy on the topo.

...David
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JM21760
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Post by JM21760 »

We must all remember not to offend Dave SSS, as he is the expert on all routes, photography, cartography, geologic formations, flora and fauna. Even while living in the City. It's not a contest, or an Ego seeking endeavor. But, if you need unsolicited advice, ................
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hikerduane
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Post by hikerduane »

The last time (Sept. '04) I looked up to Little Mocassin Lake from Piute Creek, it looked pretty rocky. Gonna be hot there in August.

JM21670, thanks for the support. Yes, just asking to see what others have done, not asking how to do it. I was taking things for the best.

Just back from a trip to an area just south of the Lassen Park entrance, close to Mineral.
Piece of cake.
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SSSdave
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Post by SSSdave »

JM, you seem to be taking a perceived shot at me that goes quite a ways beyond this thread, else your exaggerated sarcasm would be more focused. I attempt to choose my words with a degree of measured caution when I post on the internet especially when it comes to advice. And at times in the terseness of the medium I can see how some will tend to inject a level of Dave" that know it all" into my statements. As a successful peon in the electronic engineering world I long have dealt with a great many individuals that technically both know considerable less and some that know considerable more than I.on a broad range of subjects. Around such brainy individuals, in order to be successful in groups and teams one must culture humilty and tact. Thus I've learned how to put forth information in a relative way that does not tend to imply anything more than I know. In a sense that means adding adjectives of relative limitation when appropriate. However for the sake of succinctness so as not to bore one's audience, one must also balance giving information with brevity. That is particularly true on the internet where one cannot read anothers facial expressions, tone of voice, or manners. Thus sometimes what I write will come across terse and I would hope others do not read in more than what is stated particularly in regard to having some kind of attitude. Most of us would refrain from the type of critism you gave me but apparently this has reached a threshold where you felt a need to communicate.

Please take another read of what I've posted. I would suggest you email or PM me directly if you wish to criticize anything specifically including anything you might find I've posted in the past that is giving you this perception.. However my skin is thick and I tend to be analytical and calm so go ahead and scold me in the future if you think I'm stepping over the line. Like everyone else I've managed to stick my foot in my mouth from time to time. I learn and just try to do better.

I'm on this forum because like many here I enjoy relaxed pleasant intelligent conversation on the many areas of the outdoors. ...David
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SSSdave
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Post by SSSdave »

hikerduane wrote:The last time (Sept. '04) I looked up to Little Mocassin Lake from Piute Creek, it looked pretty rocky. Gonna be hot there in August. ...
Hi Duane,

That slope is certainly steep and one ought not just start hiking up without a careful look at the topo. Excuse me for elaborating but for the sake of JM's comment I will expand a bit below since I already looked at this at the beginning of the thread. I've never been there so cannot do more than give an educated guess from what the map shows. I drew a couple routes I would likely look at if I were to do it myself.

http://www.davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/B ... _route.jpg

To get a sense of how steep this is, one might take a look at the North Palisade 7.5m topo and consider the gradient of the west facing slopes of Mt. Agassiz that a great many including myself have climbed. A slope with considerable talus. One will see this slope is not nearly as steep as that or the class 2 route over the crest in Rock Creek greatbrookie mentioned. Having negotiated quite a lot of such slopes, I would not hesitate to plan on climbing that myself even though I have a huge pack. Generally I back away from anything class 3 unless it is brief and certain. Glacially smoothed glacial rock needs to be approached more cautiously of course. Until actually visiting such places it is just an educated guess and therefore somewhat of a gamble. The route over from Three Island Lake per Sierra South is on the other hand known to be viable though that always requires taking the judicious route.

I immediately had a problem with the orange route despite the obvious lower incremental gradients along that route. That is because the topo shows steep cliffs above that area. That often means talus and scree below. And indeed when I brought up the orthophotoquad aerial image scree and talus shows up. The slope is of course monolithic glacial slabs with a number of joint cracks criss crossing the smooth face. At a certain gradient that smoothness makes climbing more difficult versus a more irregular face that might have ledges, ramps, and footholds. At the left edge of the talus, one can see how the talus has overflowed the bedrock across the steep step at elevation 10200 and created a lower gradient. That area is also darkish likely because of turf, moss, and some scrubby trees since outflow seepage from the talus appears to drain down that section. It is there that I'm guessing one might surmount that one steepish band most easily.

http://www.davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/B ... _scree.jpg

The red route looks more probable because there is often some amount of vegetation going over the bedrock in such areas so as to provide less a friction climb, step ladders of soil, and things to grab onto if necessary. Deer tend to follow such routes so I would expect some sign of their tracks going up that stream. However the topo shows the top of the creek to be steeper than the slope off to its right. There are also two joints one might follow. I like the one on the right which looks more the ramp. Note below that area the map shows a more steepish area to avoid. There is also a small lens of talus showing left of the creek as there is a small steep face above that spot. ...David

http://www.davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/B ... _creek.jpg
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hikerduane
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Post by hikerduane »

Thanks for the leg work Dave. I work with a bunch of women and when I was a temp I just helped everyone as much as I could. As a regular employee now, I need to change my attitude and be a little more assertive and not get pushed around or taken advantage of. They just amaze me on how fast they are on computers. Hundreds of people in the building, so I smile a lot and everyone has the same attitude or focus, teamwork.

Question, after a short time, the image you link to shrinks. How do I keep it at the regular size so I can study it? Catch you tonight, off to CC.
Piece of cake.
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