Lyell is a great climb- a LONG dayhike, or not bad if a camp is set up somewhere on the way. Maybe 100' or so of 4th class from the Lyell-Maclure saddle. An amazing peak at any rate with phenomenal views.

The N face of Mt. Ritter from the Ritter-Banner col is quite stimulating, & the area is one of the most amazing in the Sierra. You could tag Banner the same day for a double. Camping at 1000 Island Lake is phenomenal.

Another suggestion, not as difficult as the suggestions recommended above, would be Parsons Peak. Hike up Lyell Canyon (same initial approach as Mt. Lyell), hang a R halfway up. Camping in Lyell Canyon would be sublime (check out permit restrictions, etc.). Views from the top of Parsons are breathtaking- some of THE best views of the Yosemite backcountry. Also, you'll spend considerably less driving than some of the other suggestions. http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock ... tpost.html

As also mentioned, ascent of Mt. Agassiz isn't too bad, & the views from the summit are spectacular. You could do this as a dayhike or set up camp en route, Bishop Pass or before.

When I hiked Parsons on a spur of the moment (imagine that) I descended toward Vogalsang and the high Sierra camp there.

On the way down I watched a godlen eagle first strike and then take a marmot. It then picked up that bad boy and flew to a point about 1000 feet below me on a little pocket glacier and began dining.

All was well, then I moved an arm or something. Instantly - eagle glare. She just stared at me for a few minutes. Neither of us moved. Then she picked up her marmot and flew away.

Later I came into the High Sierra camp just to check it out. I was hungery and tired and seeing all those well pampered campers - well it was one of the very few times in the back country I felt even a tinge of jealousy. I wisht I coulda STAYED!

That eagle marmot thing was COOL though.

DMT

You'll do well getting the latest version of Secor's High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails. You may do better yet by joining the Sierra Peaks Section out of Los Angeles, or at least visiting their website. You are welcome to visit mine, I'm adding stuff constantly from my deep past, with hundreds of trips and thousands of photos.

Lyell is a good peak, the highest peak in Yosemite, a classic. If possible with getting a permit, doing Whitney, CA's highest, is great this time of year, and gets that out of your blood. Don't know what you do in the Wasatch, but Middle Pal is a big bite for a Sierra newbie, mainly the route finding. Matterhorn is good, class 2, I'd say, from Horse Creek Pass.

To avoid the winter doldrums, get some snowshoes or skis, and prepare to enjoy the Northern Sierra. Plenty of peaks to bag during the snow season, though we never have Utah style powder, pretty much.

When are you going? I'm looking to do a trip soon...

another possibiliy (as if you don't have enough by now) is Mt. Gould. It is a Class 2 scramble from Kearsarge Pass with great views, and there is some great camping by the JMT at Kearsarge Lakes. Easy access via Onion Valley TH, but its a long haul from SF...

rhyang wrote:Johnson, near South Lake. Sounds like a nice day hike.

Johnson (via the north ridge) is an exceptional class 3 route. The NNE ridge of Trapezoid was good fun too.

holy crap, thanks guys this list just got me SO STOKED! This is a great list, I'm going to look through it and figure something out, prob the first week of oct (hoping no snow comes before then) Thanks again, i've loved researching these peaks/places so far, i can't wait

Dingus Milktoast wrote:There's a lot of class 3 on Matterhorn Peak? What route, I'm curious? The walkup is class 2 isn't it? Admittedly I have only walked down it but its just boulder hopping from my recall?
DMT

There's a lot of class 3 in the Sawtooth Ridge.

fossana wrote:Lyell's not worth the hike.

What do you expect from a chick who does a bunch of class 5 alpine free-soloing?

Fossana, you leave that Mt. Lyell trail to us old guys with canes.... and skis!

Look at all of the damn rubble. Better to be there in the spring when it's all covered with snow and you can ski in/out.

Nothing really beats these two closely connected places this time of the year.....





LOTS of Class 2 & 3 stuff that you will have all to yourself, guaranteed!

Holy crap! Where's that fine peak?

The Chief wrote:Nothing really beats these two closely connected places this time of the year.....

LOTS of Class 2 & 3 stuff that you will have all to yourself, guaranteed!

The OP is a self-proclaimed NOOB, so you should at least provide him the details (i.e. names/location). I haven't been there so I can't offer up the info personally. My $0.02

96avs01 wrote:

The Chief wrote:Nothing really beats these two closely connected places this time of the year.....

LOTS of Class 2 & 3 stuff that you will have all to yourself, guaranteed!

The OP is a self-proclaimed NOOB, so you should at least provide him the details (i.e. names/location). I haven't been there so I can't offer up the info personally. My $0.02

He can post up asking or PM me if interested....

They are quiet places for a reason.

Sierra Ledge Rat wrote:

Look at all of the damn rubble. Better to be there in the spring when it's all covered with snow and you can ski in/out.

Dude, that's the Palisade Glacial moraine - that rubble is sacred ground here in the Sierra!

PS I see from your profile you are into cave diving. I was cave diving 3 days a week when I lived back east, and pretty much stopped when I moved to CA (though I have done it a few trips since then) and took up technical climbing again. I think there must be conservation of dangerous sports participants. I have continued tech diving however.