Sep '24 The Obelisk

[c9h13no3]

This trip report is a result of Harlen nagging me, many times, to post more trip reports here. For example:

Hey Sam, You are holding out on us at HST

Yes, I am. I'm a day hiker, skier, peak bagger, and novice rock climber. None of those things are really big topics of discussion in the backpacking, fishing, photography world we inhabit here. If you want the play-by-play trip report, I wrote one on my site here. Maybe think of this as some author's notes for the main report.

Three pitches up, on the Chicken Head Highway.

Back in September of 2024, I climbed the Obelisk with my climbing partner Evan. We did it in a day, carried a rope. The day after I climbed this, I sorta assumed there wasn't much interest in this area for a backpacker. I posted a quick conditions update and left it at that. Looking back I do think this zone is a little under rated. We came upon a party with at least 3 tents camped at Lower Geraldine Lake, so clearly it wasn't hideous country. The lakes on the north side of Spanish Mountain are glacial, and reasonably scenic as a stop along the way somewhere else, if not worthy of a destination in their own right.

Middle Palisade left of Kings Canyon. Tehipite Dome looks much less impressive from this angle.

I still think backpacking is invented for people who live out of state. If you get on a plane, fly here, you wanna spend a larger amount of time. Backpacking ensures your lodging is reserved, you're carrying gear to handle any sort of weather so it doesn't matter that you planned it weeks in advance. But for those of us lucky enough to live close by, and we have a weekend not a week, the extra weight of the pack and the extra time picking up the permit aren't quite worth the upside. Weather is just handled by waiting a week.

Three pitches up, on the chicken head highway.

This is definitely the most remote I felt during the year. I think backpacking remoteness is a positive, but for me, rock climbing, it adds to the stress of the experience. Mountains on the East side of the Sierra strangely feel less remote, when you can see the lights of Bishop or Lone Pine in the valley at night. In the Western Sierra, once in a while you can see Fresno, but usually as far as the eye can see is nothing but mountains and trees.

The Sierra is a bit like an all you can eat buffet for me. I go in with a huge appetite, leave thinking I've done too much in too little time. I always swear I'll moderate more next time, and then end up with a headlamp on.

[limpingcrab]

Sweet! You're the only other person I know of that thought it was a good idea to day trip the Obelisk. Unfortunately on my attempt lightning pushed us off after 1.5 pitches.

It really is worth staying out there if you get the chance, there's a lot more to climb than the Obelisk!

[c9h13no3]

Unfortunately on my attempt lightning pushed us off after 1.5 pitches.

It really is worth staying out there if you get the chance, there's a lot more to climb than the Obelisk!

Ha! I found your info super helpful when trip planning. I think you had more register entries than anyone else.

I had fantasized about getting a couple days and climbing Kettle Dome, Tehipite, Hoffman, Finger, ect. But you know, kids, job, life.

[maverick]

I had fantasized about getting a couple days and climbing Kettle Dome, Tehipite, Hoffman, Finger, ect. But you know, kids, job, life.

Maybe if you consider attending the meetup, you could tick a few of those off your list, if, of course, you find the time.

[Harlen]

Hey Sam, there you are, pumping your Adrenaline up the crags. Good on you mate! I just returned myself from some crags, and saw your full report on your website. I asked there, and will post the question here too about another famous "Obelisk"? Wasn't Mount Clark in Yosemite also called that?

When reading your report I thought we shared the Obelisk interest-- and perhaps we do Sam, because I have always wanted to climb one of the airy routes on that "Obelisk," and I wouldn't be at all surprised if you feel the same draw to it, or that you have already climbed it?!

Thanks for posting a sketch of your climb, and for linking us to the fuller report. That sounds like a very long day. I believe there is a lot more interest here than meets the eye on the HST pages. Many of us old guys were rock climbers or peak baggers at one time, and even if not, I bet many of us have a passion for reading about climbing. I have at least 3 solid feet of bookshelf dedicated to climbing books, though I rarely climb other than walk-ups.

Cheers, Ian.

Here is the ghostly look of the famous crag that got away last week. Silky Smooth / Niko and I had high hopes, but instead, we got to see it in a cloak of new snow.

[creekfeet]

The Obelisk is such a defining feature of the field of view looking north from much of the whole Buck Rock/Jennie Lakes/Roaring River areas. It feels like a distant speck on the furthest reaches of the horizon, that you can never attain, so it's awesome seeing a TR from someone's whose actually set foot on it. I also agree with you 100% on the West vs. East side feeling of remoteness.

Likewise, I was once a marathon hiking day trip kinda guy, figuring if I could get somewhere and back in a day, why not do it. This was my philosophy my first season I worked in Sequoia, which supports your theory about those living near the mountains being more keen to do long day hikes. However, after an ill-advised day hike up Copper Creek to Granite Basin and back in a day, in which I got an 11:00 AM start, sprinted down to the basin to go for a dip before immediately sprinting back up, and wasn't back at my car until twelve hours later, I began to understand the merits of backpacking.

[Schleppy]

And on Sunday, he trapped the Cretan bull and cleaned the Augeian stables.

Seriously though, I'm tired just reading this report. Good night, Herakles!