Welcome to SP!  -   
 
 New features are here! - Read More... 
Areas & Ranges·Mountains & Rocks·Routes·Images·Articles·Trip Reports·Gear·Other·People·Plans & Partners·What's New·Forum

North Ridge
Route
Contribute 
 
Geography
Parents 
Routes
 

North Ridge

 
North Ridge

Page Type: Route

Location: California, United States, North America

Lat/Lon: 38.14900°N / 119.627°W

Route Type: Hike / Scramble

Time Required: One to two days

Difficulty: Class II

Route Quality: 
 - 1 Votes
 

 

Page By: Alpinist

Created/Edited: Jan 2, 2004 / Jan 3, 2004

Object ID: 159736

Hits: 931 

Page Score: 85.88% - 1 Votes 

Vote: Log in to vote

 

Approach


Bigelow Peak is located in a pretty remote area and can be reached from several different trailheads depending on your plans. Trailhead options are listed below.

1) From Kennedy Meadows Resort, follow the Huckleberry Trail past Relief Reservoir, then take the trail split to Brown Bear Pass. Continue on this trail until you reach Summit Meadow. Take the trail split south to Snow Lake. Continue on trail past the western shore of Snow Lake until you reach Biglow Lake. (20 miles total)

2) From the Leavitt Lake trailhead follow the Leavitt Pass trail south, up and over Big Sam, for 10 miles until you reach Emigrant Pass. Take the trail split to the south. Near Grizzly Meadow, take the trail SE towards Summit Meadow. From Summit Meadow, take the trail split south to Snow Lake. Continue on trail past the western shore of Snow Lake until you reach Biglow Lake. (16 miles total)

* Call well in advance to reserve horse and guide if you decide to pack in with either one of the pack stations.


Route Description


From the north end of Bigelow Lake, climb to the obvious saddle between Bigelow and Quartzite Peaks as shown in this photo. Follow the northern ridge to the summit.

Disclaimer: I've not climbed this route yet. However I've been on all sides of this mountain. From the photos I've taken and topo map, it looks like an easy class II ascent, with (at most) some possible class III sections near the summit.

Start elevation: 9,300'
Summit: 10,539'
Elevation gain: 1,239'
Distance: 1 mile

Essential Gear


There is no special equipment required for this climb during the summer months except for the usual overnight backcountry camping gear.

Miscellaneous Info


If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Images

View of Bigelow Peak from...



"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."   --Helen Keller   

© 2006-2012 SummitPost.org. All Rights Reserved.