wordlessnature - May 22, 2022 7:47 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2022
From Chicken Spring Lake
Climbed on a beautiful cool spring day, along with Trailmaster Peak and the unnamed pile of rocks between them. Wonderfully arid part of the Sierra.
Romain - Jun 30, 2020 12:03 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2020
From New Army Pass
Uneventful, on the way to climb peaks in the Miter Basin. Trip report.
cascadescrambler - Aug 2, 2019 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 1992
All in day's work
Climbed along with Langley while on backpack to Whitney
T. White - Nov 5, 2017 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2016
Missed summit
Didn't start early enough from Horseshoe and was blasted by wind as soon as I left the protection of New Army Pass. Couldn't even hold a camera straight... decided to cut my losses after half an hour of trudging along the ridge. Outstanding clear views from my go-around spot, though. Still worth it, but after summitting Peak 12417 I doubt I'll make another try for Cirque.
From the PCT aimed for the saddle east of Cirque peak, it takes you to a real nice overlook of Cirque Lake. From there headed towards a noticeable rock formation on the ridge then to the peak. Met a nice ranger at the top who took a pic of us!
Ruvicha - Sep 5, 2016 8:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2016
Weird terrain
Climbed this with Ambret and another friend, who somehow managed to start up toward the wrong peak before righting himself after some worried calls on our walkie-talkies (to avoid this mistake, stay fairly close to the east rim as you head toward the summit). Once you attain New Army Pass, the slope to Cirque rises gently across a strange landscape of large, flat boulders riddled with perfectly round holes or pocked with tiny, flat-topped formations that resemble miniature mesas. The views from the summit are magnificent, extending all the way to Horseshoe Meadows and the southernmost reaches of the Sierra Nevada.
Ambret - Sep 4, 2016 11:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2016
Cirque Peak
HIked Cirque Peak via New Army Pass from our campsite at Long Lake, day after summiting Mt Langley. Nice hike to cap two weeks in the Sierra.
Not bagging this peak two years ago when I hiked Langley bugged me. For that day I planned Mount Tyndall but a lot of reasoning made me push Tyndall for next year. Therefore I wanted instead a peak easy on my knees, with a long distance to travel, that could fill the whole day. Cirque Peak fit the bill. I was planning to go up New Army Pass and down Old Army Pass. I also knew of another loop, up NAP and down to Chicken Spring Lake where I'd take the PCT to Cottonwood Pass and than down to Horseshoe Meadow parking lot. I chose this loop since, besides the excitement of seeing a new route and bagging Cirque, I'd also bagge Peaks 12524 (which has a class 4, 15 ft high climb to make the summit), 12417 (which is really just a walk over keeping the elevatin from 12525), and 12336 (a class 2 easy bolder hopping hike to the summit, also nicknamed the Trail Master). This loop also turned out to be 3 miles shorter than my initial New Army - Old Army combination. However, the Cottonwood Pass seems like an arduous hike going up. I didn't like it going down and I don't even want to know how it is the other way around. The whole deal was 17.75 miles and lasted 8 hours and 35 minutes.
Re: Loop up NAP, down Chicken Spring Lake and PCT.
I walked up Cottonwood Pass from Horseshoe Meadows and over the ridge to 12417 on 10/28/17. The hike from carpark to the pass didn't seem that arduous (and I'm not exactly Superman), but I concede that there were more switchbacks than I anticipated... frustratingly so!
Views from 12417 to Chicken Spring and the Southern Sierra were outstanding. Outcrops near the pass were better for the Great Western Divide and Kaweahs. I wish I'd taken the direct ridge route instead of trying for a shallower incline further west, but the mistake did lead to my first SN Bighorn sighting!
CameronGround - Jul 13, 2016 2:10 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2011
Via New Army Pass
My first Sierra peak, a nice day in the mountains with grandpa.
Guydents - Jul 5, 2016 12:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2016
Storm Chasin'
South East approach leaving Horseshoe meadows at 9:30AM and making summit at 1:15PM. Came up the mountain on the ridge in between Chicken springs and Cirque Lake. Beautiful views all around.
charitydominic - Oct 30, 2014 6:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2014
My Favorite So Far
Second visit to this awesome peak. First visit was from Cirque Lake, from which the scramble is a bit closer to 3rd class here and there, but on the finest, most consistent talus I've see in the Sierras. This time, started at Checkin Spring Lake and its just a hike really until the last bit. Not as elegant or scenic, but so much easier! Trail to Checkin reminded me of hikes out of Idyllwild. Will happily do this one again and again.
Mike, Brooke and I went to the top of this mountain via Cottonwood Lakes. We were telling the stories of our lives while going up and down so I don't remember too much of that hike except for the sunshine and snow. There was still snow left on the top of the mountain. Beautiful view of the Sierras from the summit!
Easy sidetrip last day of a backpacking trip to the Rock Creek area. Summited with Shannon Pallone and Wes Tanner. Spooked some bighorn sheep on the way back to the pass.
labgloves - Aug 25, 2014 8:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2014
Day 8 2014 SC
I felt like cruising on a nice trail vs the cross country planned for the day, so I changed plans and hiked cirque from the PCT.
SkyPilot84 - Jun 20, 2014 1:31 am Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2014
Dayhike from Horseshoe Meadows
Up via Cottonwood lakes and back via the old South Fork Trail.
irrationalist - Jan 31, 2014 11:06 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2013
An awesome first outing into high altitude
I had long started at this peak while at the Cottonwood Lakes and just had to climb it. Took my buddy from San Diego up with me. We both had a good time, but I got to saw my first case of altitude sickness. My poor buddy was ill all the way back to the valley.
RaymondShevsky - Dec 19, 2013 2:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2013
Leg-stretcher
Started from Horseshoe Meadows trailhead by moonlight, booked it up New Army Pass and picked my way over to the summit before the weather rolled in...good thing I brought my poncho for those last few, rain-drenched miles!
Spent the night at Big Whitney Meadow after doing a long loop during a three day trip to Muah, Cartago, Kern Peak, and Cirque. Got some unexpected snow overnight which melted off by about noon. Easy trek up to Siberian Pass (except for losing the faint trail several times) and then down via Cottonwood Pass.
wordlessnature - May 22, 2022 7:47 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2022
From Chicken Spring LakeClimbed on a beautiful cool spring day, along with Trailmaster Peak and the unnamed pile of rocks between them. Wonderfully arid part of the Sierra.
Romain - Jun 30, 2020 12:03 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2020
From New Army PassUneventful, on the way to climb peaks in the Miter Basin. Trip report.
cascadescrambler - Aug 2, 2019 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 1992
All in day's workClimbed along with Langley while on backpack to Whitney
T. White - Nov 5, 2017 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2016
Missed summitDidn't start early enough from Horseshoe and was blasted by wind as soon as I left the protection of New Army Pass. Couldn't even hold a camera straight... decided to cut my losses after half an hour of trudging along the ridge. Outstanding clear views from my go-around spot, though. Still worth it, but after summitting Peak 12417 I doubt I'll make another try for Cirque.
socalpeakbagger - Jul 29, 2017 11:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2017
Via PCT South FaceFrom the PCT aimed for the saddle east of Cirque peak, it takes you to a real nice overlook of Cirque Lake. From there headed towards a noticeable rock formation on the ridge then to the peak. Met a nice ranger at the top who took a pic of us!
Ruvicha - Sep 5, 2016 8:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2016
Weird terrainClimbed this with Ambret and another friend, who somehow managed to start up toward the wrong peak before righting himself after some worried calls on our walkie-talkies (to avoid this mistake, stay fairly close to the east rim as you head toward the summit). Once you attain New Army Pass, the slope to Cirque rises gently across a strange landscape of large, flat boulders riddled with perfectly round holes or pocked with tiny, flat-topped formations that resemble miniature mesas. The views from the summit are magnificent, extending all the way to Horseshoe Meadows and the southernmost reaches of the Sierra Nevada.
Ambret - Sep 4, 2016 11:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2016
Cirque PeakHIked Cirque Peak via New Army Pass from our campsite at Long Lake, day after summiting Mt Langley. Nice hike to cap two weeks in the Sierra.
Diesel - Jul 22, 2016 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2016
Loop up NAP, down Chicken Spring Lake and PCT.Not bagging this peak two years ago when I hiked Langley bugged me. For that day I planned Mount Tyndall but a lot of reasoning made me push Tyndall for next year. Therefore I wanted instead a peak easy on my knees, with a long distance to travel, that could fill the whole day. Cirque Peak fit the bill. I was planning to go up New Army Pass and down Old Army Pass. I also knew of another loop, up NAP and down to Chicken Spring Lake where I'd take the PCT to Cottonwood Pass and than down to Horseshoe Meadow parking lot. I chose this loop since, besides the excitement of seeing a new route and bagging Cirque, I'd also bagge Peaks 12524 (which has a class 4, 15 ft high climb to make the summit), 12417 (which is really just a walk over keeping the elevatin from 12525), and 12336 (a class 2 easy bolder hopping hike to the summit, also nicknamed the Trail Master). This loop also turned out to be 3 miles shorter than my initial New Army - Old Army combination. However, the Cottonwood Pass seems like an arduous hike going up. I didn't like it going down and I don't even want to know how it is the other way around. The whole deal was 17.75 miles and lasted 8 hours and 35 minutes.
T. White - Nov 5, 2017 9:37 pm
Re: Loop up NAP, down Chicken Spring Lake and PCT.I walked up Cottonwood Pass from Horseshoe Meadows and over the ridge to 12417 on 10/28/17. The hike from carpark to the pass didn't seem that arduous (and I'm not exactly Superman), but I concede that there were more switchbacks than I anticipated... frustratingly so!
Views from 12417 to Chicken Spring and the Southern Sierra were outstanding. Outcrops near the pass were better for the Great Western Divide and Kaweahs. I wish I'd taken the direct ridge route instead of trying for a shallower incline further west, but the mistake did lead to my first SN Bighorn sighting!
CameronGround - Jul 13, 2016 2:10 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2011
Via New Army PassMy first Sierra peak, a nice day in the mountains with grandpa.
Guydents - Jul 5, 2016 12:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2016
Storm Chasin'South East approach leaving Horseshoe meadows at 9:30AM and making summit at 1:15PM. Came up the mountain on the ridge in between Chicken springs and Cirque Lake. Beautiful views all around.
charitydominic - Oct 30, 2014 6:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2014
My Favorite So FarSecond visit to this awesome peak. First visit was from Cirque Lake, from which the scramble is a bit closer to 3rd class here and there, but on the finest, most consistent talus I've see in the Sierras. This time, started at Checkin Spring Lake and its just a hike really until the last bit. Not as elegant or scenic, but so much easier! Trail to Checkin reminded me of hikes out of Idyllwild. Will happily do this one again and again.
Dalian - Oct 9, 2014 8:24 pm
Beautiful Day with Friends!Mike, Brooke and I went to the top of this mountain via Cottonwood Lakes. We were telling the stories of our lives while going up and down so I don't remember too much of that hike except for the sunshine and snow. There was still snow left on the top of the mountain. Beautiful view of the Sierras from the summit!
bechtt - Sep 3, 2014 8:32 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2014
From New Army PassEasy sidetrip last day of a backpacking trip to the Rock Creek area. Summited with Shannon Pallone and Wes Tanner. Spooked some bighorn sheep on the way back to the pass.
labgloves - Aug 25, 2014 8:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2014
Day 8 2014 SCI felt like cruising on a nice trail vs the cross country planned for the day, so I changed plans and hiked cirque from the PCT.
SkyPilot84 - Jun 20, 2014 1:31 am Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2014
Dayhike from Horseshoe MeadowsUp via Cottonwood lakes and back via the old South Fork Trail.
irrationalist - Jan 31, 2014 11:06 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2013
An awesome first outing into high altitudeI had long started at this peak while at the Cottonwood Lakes and just had to climb it. Took my buddy from San Diego up with me. We both had a good time, but I got to saw my first case of altitude sickness. My poor buddy was ill all the way back to the valley.
RaymondShevsky - Dec 19, 2013 2:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2013
Leg-stretcherStarted from Horseshoe Meadows trailhead by moonlight, booked it up New Army Pass and picked my way over to the summit before the weather rolled in...good thing I brought my poncho for those last few, rain-drenched miles!
mrchad9 - Sep 25, 2013 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2013
Siberian PassSpent the night at Big Whitney Meadow after doing a long loop during a three day trip to Muah, Cartago, Kern Peak, and Cirque. Got some unexpected snow overnight which melted off by about noon. Easy trek up to Siberian Pass (except for losing the faint trail several times) and then down via Cottonwood Pass.
mjp20k - Sep 9, 2013 1:48 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2013
Via New Army PassDid the Cirque Peak Traverse and added Peak 11,620' from Cottonwood Pass.