Hi,
I live in Vermont. I am planning on joining some friends who are hiking the entire JMT north to south this month. They are on the trail as I write this. I join them (and I am their resupply officer as well) at Onion Valley, and will be doing the last segments of the JMT with them, exiting at Whitney portal.
I am planning an acclimatization hike hike out of Onion Valley on the day before I meet my group, Sat Aug 20. I am considering Mt Gould or University peak. Any recommendations ? I have read several trip reports on line found with google. The tip top of Gould looks hairy, I could not find a picture of someone climbing it to see if the crux is something I am likely to chicken out on or not. University looks shorter, but more vertical and more route finding. I am also curious if the high snow fall in the Sierra this year is still a factor on the routes to these peaks out of Onion valley. Are the gullies to University pass ice covered ? I would guess Gould is snow free since it is a ridge walk from Kearsarge pass. True ? I do not plan on bringing crampons or ice axe. I will have trekking poles.
Background: I am an experienced hiker both in the east and out west and (done a half dozen CO 13ers & 14ers, been to Rainier Crater Rim, Iztaccihuatl summit ridge, and done 2 high altitude treks in the Himalayan region, but have not been to Sierra), point being I have altitude experience as well. Sea level fitness should not be an issue.I find some routes that are called class 3 fun when they are in good shape and route finding is straight forward. I plan to sleep in Lone Pine the night before and after this acclimatization climb.
Thank you for your thoughts.