Enjoyable climb. Williamson Bowl is gorgeous, and the gully was loose, but low-angle enough that it never felt uncomfortable. Snow was hard but fine with crampons. Headed up two wrong Class 3 chutes at the end before finding the correct one (not that it's hard to find - I'm just bad at route finding). In my opinion it's most straightforward to climb all the way to the top of the Class 2 gully, then traverse over, rather than trying to choose the correct moment to leave the gully.
Super Dave - Sep 3, 2016 9:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2016
West Face
Great climb with Boisedoc. Between the long approach, long gully slog, and challenging chimney scramble at the end, this summit was well earned. Trip Report
boisedoc - Aug 30, 2016 12:33 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2016
west face
the route description on summitpost is good. The main gully is a slog and not terribly fun. The chimney was thrilling enough for me- easy but awkward climbing with enough exposure to get your attention (class 3 Sierra but class 4 by most other states standards. great views and great weather
bcrowell2 - Aug 9, 2016 12:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2016
fun climb
Beautiful day of climbing with Michelle Gomes and Dave Krenik, Sierra Mountaineering Club.
Romain - Jul 15, 2016 2:15 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2010
SchwartzOn - Jul 15, 2016 12:37 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2016
Third time is a charm, and twice as nice
After one successful scout to Anvil camp, to get an idea of distance, and then being turned back by rain at the pass on my first real go, my third attempt was success. An early hike into the Williamson Bowl, followed by an early start made this an easy climb.
Stayed to the solid rock on the main chute, avoiding scree and loose schloss. Found the climbing to be similar to Middle Palisade, not much worse. Just not much of it. Happy for all the 2nd class. Climbed in cool shade, to pop out on the Summit of Williamson in Sun. Great views of George Creek, Mt. Whitney and Langley, and the Great Western Divide. Climbed the Second North Rib of Mt Tyndall the following day. Hardest route I could do. Plenty of good climbing on Tyndall, for any level.
Fairweather - Oct 14, 2015 12:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2012
From Anvil Camp in Whiteout
Uneventful outing up West Face until we reached the summit plateau. Then the storm moved in, and we were in a cloud, with rain and hail. The lighting held off until we were nearly at the top. With Todd, Devin, and Scott.
96avs01 - Oct 5, 2015 1:36 am Date Climbed: Oct 3, 2015
Never Again
Climbed the West Face route with David and Dennis. Holy cow this route is chossy, especially the 400ish feet prior to the chimney. It holds its own with Cascade volcano choss. If anyone asks if I'm interested in climbing the West Face of Williamson in the future, my simple answer is "Never Again". Now a winter spliboard descent of the East side might get my interest.
rossrleone - Jul 28, 2015 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2014
This is a burner
This beast is hard to access and a climb you'll remember and maybe even want to forget
The first of three great failed High Sierra dayhikes during the summer of 2013. Attempted as a dayhike via Shepherd Pass. Made it all the way through Williamson Bowl and up to about 13,500 before dizziness and fatigue forced me to make the wise decision to turn back. This was my very first time off trail in the High Sierra and I didn't know it yet but I was falling in love.
Did the journey with two friends. Trail Head to Shepherd Pass on day 1, Shepherd Pass to Summit and back on day 2, back to the car in 4 1/2 hours from SP to Trail Head the next morning.
The Chimney was something else, I'm not much of a rock climber myself so I had to have a friend spot me on the way down.
Registry seems in good shape, ran into about a dozen hikers on the 2 1/2 days. Lots of people staying in Anvil, probably about 6 on our way back down.
the easy class 3 chimney was a blast. camped at lake 3733 for an easy day.
citadel07 - May 13, 2014 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2013
Awesome Views
Solo up. Nice to get out of the smoke from the Yosemite fire burning up north. Shepherd Pass is amazing and worth the hike alone.
BobD3 - Feb 10, 2014 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2012
West face
Solo from camp at lake 3733. Perfect weather. Cloudy, cool, and calm. One of the Sierra's best, well worth the effort.
douggranger - Sep 12, 2013 8:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2011
West Face
Long approach, long boulder hop across the bowl. Short class 3 section was invigorating. W/ Andy.
orbitor - Aug 20, 2013 6:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2013
West Face from Shepherd Pass
Set up base camp at Shepherd Pass on 1st of 3-day trip. Went up Williamson on day 2. All landmarks were easy to find and navigation was less challenging than it is made out to be. Even the Bowl wasn't too bad. Chute is long and tedious, but eventually gives. Was ok going up the chimney; had to take my time on the way down. Exhilaration while standing on the summit taking in some sweet views. Aiming to do Tyndall on day 3, but storm had other plans and we hiked out instead.
slagerjon - Aug 18, 2013 4:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2013
Williamson/Tyndall dayhike
Ascended west face via chute (from hell) wish there was a chimney from toe to summit. I thoroughly enjoyed the chimney, by far the best stretch of the ascent! Easy class 3 with plenty of protection(if middle pal is 3, this is 2 at best). The chute was long and arduous, but that was after the approach, Tyndall and the bowl so perhaps with an advanced basecamp it would be more mild. Car to summit in just under 11 hrs. Car-to-Tyndall-to-Williamson-to-pointless flat switchbacks that never end-to-car ; 18 hrs.
CWessels - Aug 9, 2013 3:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Via West Face
All in one very long (19.5 hr) day from the trailhead. Though others have said the Williamson Bowl and the class 2 chute are hellacious and unpleasant, I actually enjoyed both; but the black stain direct and the chimney were definitely the highlights of the trip (if only those sections were longer!). Williamson is a gorgeous mountain and the views from the summit are absolutely stunning.
I'll add that the author of the route description for the West Face route was very thorough and accurate. A printout of it is the only beta I brought with me to the mountain, and never once did I feel lost or confused. Thank you Summitpost!
ljwoodw - Jul 10, 2017 6:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2017
West Face from Shepherd PassEnjoyable climb. Williamson Bowl is gorgeous, and the gully was loose, but low-angle enough that it never felt uncomfortable. Snow was hard but fine with crampons. Headed up two wrong Class 3 chutes at the end before finding the correct one (not that it's hard to find - I'm just bad at route finding). In my opinion it's most straightforward to climb all the way to the top of the Class 2 gully, then traverse over, rather than trying to choose the correct moment to leave the gully.
Super Dave - Sep 3, 2016 9:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2016
West FaceGreat climb with Boisedoc. Between the long approach, long gully slog, and challenging chimney scramble at the end, this summit was well earned. Trip Report
boisedoc - Aug 30, 2016 12:33 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2016
west facethe route description on summitpost is good. The main gully is a slog and not terribly fun. The chimney was thrilling enough for me- easy but awkward climbing with enough exposure to get your attention (class 3 Sierra but class 4 by most other states standards. great views and great weather
bcrowell2 - Aug 9, 2016 12:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2016
fun climbBeautiful day of climbing with Michelle Gomes and Dave Krenik, Sierra Mountaineering Club.
Romain - Jul 15, 2016 2:15 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2010
West FaceWith R. Renteria. Trip report
SchwartzOn - Jul 15, 2016 12:37 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2016
Third time is a charm, and twice as niceAfter one successful scout to Anvil camp, to get an idea of distance, and then being turned back by rain at the pass on my first real go, my third attempt was success. An early hike into the Williamson Bowl, followed by an early start made this an easy climb.
Stayed to the solid rock on the main chute, avoiding scree and loose schloss. Found the climbing to be similar to Middle Palisade, not much worse. Just not much of it. Happy for all the 2nd class. Climbed in cool shade, to pop out on the Summit of Williamson in Sun. Great views of George Creek, Mt. Whitney and Langley, and the Great Western Divide. Climbed the Second North Rib of Mt Tyndall the following day. Hardest route I could do. Plenty of good climbing on Tyndall, for any level.
Fairweather - Oct 14, 2015 12:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2012
From Anvil Camp in WhiteoutUneventful outing up West Face until we reached the summit plateau. Then the storm moved in, and we were in a cloud, with rain and hail. The lighting held off until we were nearly at the top. With Todd, Devin, and Scott.
96avs01 - Oct 5, 2015 1:36 am Date Climbed: Oct 3, 2015
Never AgainClimbed the West Face route with David and Dennis. Holy cow this route is chossy, especially the 400ish feet prior to the chimney. It holds its own with Cascade volcano choss. If anyone asks if I'm interested in climbing the West Face of Williamson in the future, my simple answer is "Never Again". Now a winter spliboard descent of the East side might get my interest.
rossrleone - Jul 28, 2015 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2014
This is a burnerThis beast is hard to access and a climb you'll remember and maybe even want to forget
jdmorehouse - Sep 23, 2014 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2014
List FinishThunderstorm at Sheperd Pass. Thick clouds on the summit. All told, a good day on the mountain.
RoryKuykendall - Sep 10, 2014 1:10 am
NopeJune 2013
The first of three great failed High Sierra dayhikes during the summer of 2013. Attempted as a dayhike via Shepherd Pass. Made it all the way through Williamson Bowl and up to about 13,500 before dizziness and fatigue forced me to make the wise decision to turn back. This was my very first time off trail in the High Sierra and I didn't know it yet but I was falling in love.
evoalex - Sep 7, 2014 9:21 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2014
West FaceDid the journey with two friends. Trail Head to Shepherd Pass on day 1, Shepherd Pass to Summit and back on day 2, back to the car in 4 1/2 hours from SP to Trail Head the next morning.
The Chimney was something else, I'm not much of a rock climber myself so I had to have a friend spot me on the way down.
Registry seems in good shape, ran into about a dozen hikers on the 2 1/2 days. Lots of people staying in Anvil, probably about 6 on our way back down.
DukeJH - Jul 14, 2014 2:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2014
via West Face from Lake 3733Cool climb and the Class 3 chimney is fun climbing with no more than 10 feet of exposure. Fun stuff.
brichardsson - Jul 13, 2014 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2014
great climbthe easy class 3 chimney was a blast. camped at lake 3733 for an easy day.
citadel07 - May 13, 2014 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2013
Awesome ViewsSolo up. Nice to get out of the smoke from the Yosemite fire burning up north. Shepherd Pass is amazing and worth the hike alone.
BobD3 - Feb 10, 2014 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2012
West faceSolo from camp at lake 3733. Perfect weather. Cloudy, cool, and calm. One of the Sierra's best, well worth the effort.
douggranger - Sep 12, 2013 8:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2011
West FaceLong approach, long boulder hop across the bowl. Short class 3 section was invigorating. W/ Andy.
orbitor - Aug 20, 2013 6:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2013
West Face from Shepherd PassSet up base camp at Shepherd Pass on 1st of 3-day trip. Went up Williamson on day 2. All landmarks were easy to find and navigation was less challenging than it is made out to be. Even the Bowl wasn't too bad. Chute is long and tedious, but eventually gives. Was ok going up the chimney; had to take my time on the way down. Exhilaration while standing on the summit taking in some sweet views. Aiming to do Tyndall on day 3, but storm had other plans and we hiked out instead.
slagerjon - Aug 18, 2013 4:21 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2013
Williamson/Tyndall dayhikeAscended west face via chute (from hell) wish there was a chimney from toe to summit. I thoroughly enjoyed the chimney, by far the best stretch of the ascent! Easy class 3 with plenty of protection(if middle pal is 3, this is 2 at best). The chute was long and arduous, but that was after the approach, Tyndall and the bowl so perhaps with an advanced basecamp it would be more mild. Car to summit in just under 11 hrs. Car-to-Tyndall-to-Williamson-to-pointless flat switchbacks that never end-to-car ; 18 hrs.
CWessels - Aug 9, 2013 3:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Via West FaceAll in one very long (19.5 hr) day from the trailhead. Though others have said the Williamson Bowl and the class 2 chute are hellacious and unpleasant, I actually enjoyed both; but the black stain direct and the chimney were definitely the highlights of the trip (if only those sections were longer!). Williamson is a gorgeous mountain and the views from the summit are absolutely stunning.
I'll add that the author of the route description for the West Face route was very thorough and accurate. A printout of it is the only beta I brought with me to the mountain, and never once did I feel lost or confused. Thank you Summitpost!