Route Climbed: Ridge traverse from Armstrong Pass Date Climbed: 23-Jan-2005
Started from Road 051 on snowshoes, camped at 9200' on ridge above Armstrong Pass, then headed up ridge and traversed to summit, avoiding the rock towers enroute.
Early morning steep snow was hard enough that I used aluminum crampons and an ice axe, but by 10am it was soft enough to kick steps in most places (where there was still snow)
Fantastic weather - almost windless, no clouds to speak of. Only downside was that Lake Tahoe was socked in by fog.
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: August 21, 2004
Took the Oneidas road to Fountain Place and climbed up the steep trail to the east and the saddle with the TRT. Followed a blue ribbon route to the peak. Then we took the use trail to Job's Sister and then descended the ridge line to Star Lake where we swam. From there we took the TRT back to the saddle and back to the cars. On the way back out the gate was locked and we had to wait to have it opened. The owner of the private land was unhappy with us for tresspassing. See my addition on getting there.
Route Climbed: Armstrong Pass, South Slope Date Climbed: 7/10/04
Hiked from 89, hooked up w/ Tahoe Rim trail (hairpin left just after the second bridge, trail turns to single track, then another right at a triple juncture), over Armstrong Pass to the saddle, then right up sand to the summit. Decended the south side to Horse Meadow and out on the road. Have a feeling I should not have been walking down the south slope because of an endangered flower. It was a lot quicker though. Ooops....
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: April 11th, 2004
Great hike with excellent views of Tahoe and the high Sierras to the south. Summited with rgreen and tsteine. The hike was extended from five to 14 miles with the gate being closed - it made for a long day. The head of the gulley steepens quite a bit and although an ice axe and crampons weren't absolutely necessary, I did use mine and it made for a quicker approach. We saved some pride by summiting a bit before Grettel the summit dog. Enjoyed some nice glissades down. Great peak, can't wait to do it again.
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: 11 April 2004
Climbed with blmcclain and tsteine for a nice spring Easter trip. It's been warm so snow levels were way up; I had snowshoes and ice axe and didn't use either - the snow we ran into (and there was a bunch) wasn't so deep or icy to need them. The gate was still closed (rumor has it that it's usually closed until May 1), so that added another 4.5 miles of slogging up to the road before the trailhead. Nice views, clear day, and warm (but a bit windy) at the top. CA COHP #18.
Route Climbed: Armstrong Pass - TRT Date Climbed: Sep 02
Took Forest Service road off Hyw 89 up Willow Creek. Several miles in a turn to the left took me to the Armstrong Pass trail. From there it was a simple hike - up over Armstrong Pass to a junction with the Tahoe Rim Trail. Once at the top of the pass on the TRT, I found a use trail heading up and right of steep drop offs. Soon the summit was visable and it was just a scree walk at that point. A quick traverse E / NE from the summit took me over to Jobs Sister. For the fastest decent I just headed S / SW down steep scree from the W saddle between Freel and Jobs Sister until back at Willow Creek road.
Route Climbed: From the South - off Highway 89 Date Climbed: July 30, 2003
Did both Freel Peak and Job's Sister on the same day (planned to do Job's Peak as well, but the chance of thunderstorms later in the afternoon scarred me off). Had intended to go up via the old trailhead off of Pioneer Trail (in the Tahoe Basin). However, the Forest Service Road that begin at the end of Oneidas Street was closed from 7/30 through 9/15/03. Instead, I drove south on US 50 to CA 89 (heading east) and onto a Forest Service road .8 on a mile from the intersection on highway 89 and highway 88. The book I had said the trail started at the end of the road, but I never found a trailhead. However, the road ends right at the base of the Job's Peak/Job's Sister/Freel Peak formation, so it's relatively easy to make your way to the saddle between peaks. A relatively short but strenous scramble up the loose scree to the saddle, and from there to Job's Sister. A well defined trail descends from Job's Sister to another saddle and up to Freel Peak. Beautiful views of Lake Tahoe and the western Sierra.
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: July 28, 2003
After a short distance past the gate from Fountain Place a couple driving out informed me I was trespassing and should have taken the Armstrong Pass TH near the gate. They kindly let me continue. Climbed up the steep, sandy slope to the TRT to the saddle then headed SE to Freel. Took the longer route back to stay legal and it was lovely.
Eric L - Jan 28, 2005 8:45 pm
Route Climbed: Horse Meadow to Armstrong Pass Date Climbed: 25 September 2004Nice hike with great views all most the whole way to the top. Me and my dog(Ginger) did it in an hour and a half.
rhyang - Jan 25, 2005 12:46 am
Route Climbed: Ridge traverse from Armstrong Pass Date Climbed: 23-Jan-2005Started from Road 051 on snowshoes, camped at 9200' on ridge above Armstrong Pass, then headed up ridge and traversed to summit, avoiding the rock towers enroute.
Early morning steep snow was hard enough that I used aluminum crampons and an ice axe, but by 10am it was soft enough to kick steps in most places (where there was still snow)
Fantastic weather - almost windless, no clouds to speak of. Only downside was that Lake Tahoe was socked in by fog.
Wallylongridge - Oct 18, 2004 4:49 pm
Route Climbed: South side(trail) Date Climbed: Oct.11, 2004Did Freel, Job's Sister and Job's peak. That was a fun day of peakbagging
DaveWillmott - Aug 22, 2004 1:19 pm
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: August 21, 2004Took the Oneidas road to Fountain Place and climbed up the steep trail to the east and the saddle with the TRT. Followed a blue ribbon route to the peak. Then we took the use trail to Job's Sister and then descended the ridge line to Star Lake where we swam. From there we took the TRT back to the saddle and back to the cars. On the way back out the gate was locked and we had to wait to have it opened. The owner of the private land was unhappy with us for tresspassing. See my addition on getting there.
hyperbolictans - Jul 18, 2004 1:58 pm
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: 18th july 2004Climbed with some friends. Memorable.
Samantha - Jul 12, 2004 12:14 pm
Route Climbed: Armstrong Pass, South Slope Date Climbed: 7/10/04Hiked from 89, hooked up w/ Tahoe Rim trail (hairpin left just after the second bridge, trail turns to single track, then another right at a triple juncture), over Armstrong Pass to the saddle, then right up sand to the summit. Decended the south side to Horse Meadow and out on the road. Have a feeling I should not have been walking down the south slope because of an endangered flower. It was a lot quicker though. Ooops....
derbilly - Jul 6, 2004 7:34 pm
Route Climbed: South side Date Climbed: June 30, 2004Did a triple peak bag with Jobs Sister and Jobs Peak amidst darkening clouds, rain, snow and lightning nearby.
balajisv - May 27, 2004 1:42 am
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: May 23 2004Second time on Freel. Took the longer (Tahoe Rim trail) the last time and didn't reach the true summit. Great views from the top.
Bob Burd - May 11, 2004 3:08 pm
Route Climbed: from SR89 via Horse Meadow Date Climbed: April 3, 2004What Matthew said below. Trip Report
Matthew Holliman - Apr 29, 2004 9:18 pm
Route Climbed: from SR 89 via Horse Meadow Date Climbed: Apr 3, 2004Freel-Jobs Sister-Jobs dayhike with Bob. Another SPS peak and county highpoint ticked off the list--a productive day...
blmcclain - Apr 13, 2004 1:07 pm
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: April 11th, 2004Great hike with excellent views of Tahoe and the high Sierras to the south. Summited with rgreen and tsteine. The hike was extended from five to 14 miles with the gate being closed - it made for a long day. The head of the gulley steepens quite a bit and although an ice axe and crampons weren't absolutely necessary, I did use mine and it made for a quicker approach. We saved some pride by summiting a bit before Grettel the summit dog. Enjoyed some nice glissades down. Great peak, can't wait to do it again.
rgreene - Apr 12, 2004 1:24 pm
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: 11 April 2004Climbed with blmcclain and tsteine for a nice spring Easter trip. It's been warm so snow levels were way up; I had snowshoes and ice axe and didn't use either - the snow we ran into (and there was a bunch) wasn't so deep or icy to need them. The gate was still closed (rumor has it that it's usually closed until May 1), so that added another 4.5 miles of slogging up to the road before the trailhead. Nice views, clear day, and warm (but a bit windy) at the top. CA COHP #18.
Lippo - Nov 22, 2003 7:27 am
Date Climbed: October 30 2002My first 10. Did Freel, Job's and Job's Sister day hike. Excellent hike, terrible headache.
TDRoberts - Oct 20, 2003 9:01 am
Route Climbed: Armstrong Pass - TRT Date Climbed: Sep 02Took Forest Service road off Hyw 89 up Willow Creek. Several miles in a turn to the left took me to the Armstrong Pass trail. From there it was a simple hike - up over Armstrong Pass to a junction with the Tahoe Rim Trail. Once at the top of the pass on the TRT, I found a use trail heading up and right of steep drop offs. Soon the summit was visable and it was just a scree walk at that point. A quick traverse E / NE from the summit took me over to Jobs Sister. For the fastest decent I just headed S / SW down steep scree from the W saddle between Freel and Jobs Sister until back at Willow Creek road.
jstrolin - Aug 18, 2003 7:04 pm
Route Climbed: From the South - off Highway 89 Date Climbed: July 30, 2003Did both Freel Peak and Job's Sister on the same day (planned to do Job's Peak as well, but the chance of thunderstorms later in the afternoon scarred me off). Had intended to go up via the old trailhead off of Pioneer Trail (in the Tahoe Basin). However, the Forest Service Road that begin at the end of Oneidas Street was closed from 7/30 through 9/15/03. Instead, I drove south on US 50 to CA 89 (heading east) and onto a Forest Service road .8 on a mile from the intersection on highway 89 and highway 88. The book I had said the trail started at the end of the road, but I never found a trailhead. However, the road ends right at the base of the Job's Peak/Job's Sister/Freel Peak formation, so it's relatively easy to make your way to the saddle between peaks. A relatively short but strenous scramble up the loose scree to the saddle, and from there to Job's Sister. A well defined trail descends from Job's Sister to another saddle and up to Freel Peak. Beautiful views of Lake Tahoe and the western Sierra.
trekrbear - Aug 7, 2003 5:14 pm
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: July 28, 2003After a short distance past the gate from Fountain Place a couple driving out informed me I was trespassing and should have taken the Armstrong Pass TH near the gate. They kindly let me continue. Climbed up the steep, sandy slope to the TRT to the saddle then headed SE to Freel. Took the longer route back to stay legal and it was lovely.
winzeler - Jul 28, 2003 3:03 pm
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: July 26, 2003Late afternoon hike at 4:30... reaching the top at 7:45 and descending in the dark. See my report for the full story on why I left so late.
thenunz - Nov 12, 2002 3:20 pm
Route Climbed: From Hope Valley Date Climbed: 11/10/2000Nice hike. All three peaks in the area make for a long day.
Bob Burd - Nov 12, 2002 11:53 am
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: Jun 20, 1998A fine half day hike with great views. Surprising amount of snow still left at the upper elevations. Trip Report
Dave K - Nov 11, 2002 11:35 pm
Route Climbed: Trout Creek Date Climbed: November, 2002I summited Freel on a clear, crisp fall day with my friends Mark and Neva. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the great views.