i was planning to head out to do Mt. Tallac & Pyramid Peak this weekend but, i was hoping there would be still snow on these mountains...anybody know the current conditions on these mountains or is it just a pile of rocks and running water by now? any help or info. would be much appreciated...please fee free to post up here + pics or shoot me PM. thank you.

As of yesterday, via Rocky Canyon, there is solid snow coverage from about the halfway point to the final scree slopes. I did not use snow shoes and never post-holed.

4 - 5 days ago../.

greg: thanks for the latest info. on the snow conditions on pyramid peak...so it was pretty much soft/slushy snow and no other gear needed? are there wilderness permits at this trailhead??

rdesota: sweetttt pic! did u end up climbing tallac...if so how was the snow conditions and which route?

i was hoping to get in some snow climbing practice w/ the snowshoes/axe/crampons on either or both of these mtns.

thank you.

From Sunday:

Pyramid/Agassiz/Price in the rear.
Waterhouse in the foreground. Taken from Pickett.



Full Size:
http://www.fedak.net/modules/Gallery/albums/HawkinsPickett/IMG_0707.jpg

http://www.fedak.net/photos/HawkinsPick ... ndard.html

You can pick up your day permit at the ranger station in Freshpond or at the Mt Ralston trailhead, both self serve kiosks so any time is fine. Also, if you're going up Pyramid via Horsetail Falls, you will find a permit kiosk at the Wilderness boundary.

There are plenty of places to use your crampons/axe on both mountains depending on which route you choose.

it was taken from my house. I've been up about 6 times this year on skis always from spring creek and on skins/skis. I did not go up recently. Heading up the cross on Tallac is cool practice for ice axes and crampons, but I'm not sure on the approach right now with it being melted out. looks as though you can have about half the moutain/climb on snow and the lower half not. get a really early start. pyramid might also be good practice, but it's a bit more of an apporach to get there. Have a great time!

greg: thanks for the info. on the wilderness permits. what mt. tallac route would you recommend w/ the current conditions that's best to practice w/ axe & crampons on?

rdesota: wow...that's an amazing view from the house! which route is that your describing on tallac going up the cross? yeah i was planning an early start on either mtn. since i know the sun is gonna hit fast and its gonna be a slush fest by the afternoon.

thank you.

maybe start at Spring Creek. The cross is the the snow cross in the picture (east facing) the cross member being slanted downward left to right. You can head up toward it and get on snow then head right toward the pinch in the cross. It is pretty cool. It can get steep toward the top but totally doable. People ski it all the time. I'm sorry about being somewhat vague in the approach as I've only done it on skis and on snow, not without snow. I'll see if i can draw a line on the photo...if you want it...

thanks for the info, I am planning on going up Tallac on saturday, hopefully some snow left? Is that cross pretty safe for a solo beginner? (i have had 2 mountaineering classes on Shasta)

that's a tough one to tell you whether its safe. That is a personal choice and I wouldn't want to feel responsible for getting you in trouble. If it is too steep toward the top you can retreat simply back down the upper cross, but there are places right near the top that if you fell it would be bad. Still plenty of snow in the cross as well. go early. Have fun. It is pretty cool.

Don't know if this helps, these are from this past Saturday 6/26

thank you for the input. I will check it out, not worried too much about climbing the whole route, just to play with my axe and crampons a little. Wife would hate for to ruin the vacation being at the bottom of a snow slide

desmo13 wrote:thank you for the input. I will check it out, not worried too much about climbing the whole route, just to play with my axe and crampons a little. Wife would hate for to ruin the vacation being at the bottom of a snow slide

Sorry, not sure what I did wrong pictures should have been posted. I guess go to my profile for the photos. Troy

good photos, looks like plenty of room to play and work on skills. how did the "cross" section mentioned look?