Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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34.06972°N / 116.85771°W |
Route Type:
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Mountaineering |
Season:
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Spring, Winter |
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Time Required:
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Most of a day |
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Difficulty:
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50 degree snow/ice |
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Overview
Getting There
Park at the Vivian Creek parking lot. The road and/or parking lot might not be plowed after a snow storm.Route Description
From the Vivian Creek parking lot, walk up Mill Creek Canyon for 1.5 miles until you can look south (right) and see the couloir. The characteristic feature of the couloir is a narrow rock constriction (which I call "the gauntlet") more than halfway up.
Turn south (right) up a drainage and follow it south for a few hundred feet before bearing southeast for several hundred feet. After rounding an island of trees, the bulk of the couloir (including most notably "the gauntlet") will come into view.
Climb the 35-50 degree couloir for roughly 1500 more vertical feet to the crest of Yucaipa Ridge. To get to Galena Peak, which is half a mile east, ascend and descend as needed on the south side of the ridge. From Galena Peak, descend the standard route via Mill Creek Jumpoff.
Essential Gear
Ice axeCrampons
Helmet