^^^I've been thinking I need to get to WY/MT, but the Sierra and other CA ranges keep distracting me. Maybe I can hold off even longer based on that descriptor.
I might suffer a bit too much if not in shape, but imagining them up there in the High Sierra 10 days in a row, dayhiking 10-30 miles with 3,000-10,000+ feet of gain always makes me a bit jealous. The timing generally falls during the busiest few weeks for work schedules in my household. I was thinking of making it for the weekends this year, but....
The Challenge is starting exactly six weeks after I had planned to dayhike Crown Point. I didn't do that hike as I broke my ankle on the warm up hike the day before. After waiting over a week and a half for surgery, I won't be healed by next weekend (hopefully by Labor Day), but I'll be looking forward to living vicariously through the reports and pics.
Ze and
Deb, you probably know this--the parking lot would be the same, but you'd be on a different trail than for Crown Point from the outset. You could choose to make
Matterhorn more exciting, but the normal class 2 route up the SE slope from Horse Creek Pass is mostly a scree slog at the end. Heading up the ridge as close to the pass as is reasonable makes for slightly firmer ground. The overall hike is interesting and scenic along the creek and falls most of the way, eventually passing through some rugged use-trail terrain, with great views at the top. If you cut up toward the peak early, crossing Horse Creek and heading west/up (from east/northeast of the peak), you'll find even better scenery, but I'd guess the east couloir would be sloggy this year...there are use trails to the couloir and climbing routes. You might be able to manage
Whorl on the same hike. It is the same approach via Horse Creek Pass as Matterhorn, similar views, and might be more right up your alley as far as having fun on solid rock rather than scree and talus.
Have fun!