See the GETTING THERE section on the main page.

CAUTION: Once you descend into Tyndall Gorge, there is no trail and you must use your route finding skills while you are in the gorge. If you descend and find that you are not comfortable with your route finding abilities, return and climb out of the gorge the way you entered, as there is no other exit from the gorge once down in it.

IF YOU ARE NOT EXPERIENCED IN OFF TRAIL HIKING, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS ROUTE.

Route Description

Hallet Peak and Tyndall Gorge, looking west
Photo by SP member milamar

Ascend Flat Top mountain via the Flat Top mountain trail. Once on top, take the trail that bends southward. Step on the rocks when you can to lessen impact on the tundra as this is a popular place. Follow the trail south and back east to Hallet's summit cone. Scramble up Hallet (easy Class 2).

Return back around to Flat Top. As you do, look north across Tyndall Gorge. You'll see a sandy looking area mixed with tundra that leads south in a direct line into the gorge. This will be your descent route. Continue around the top of Tyndall Glacier to the north side of the gorge and descend down the loose soil and tundra. Near the bottom, your route will meet a boulder field to scramble through, or you can veer a bit left down steep tundra to get to more level ground.

Once in the gorge, turn left in an eastward direction and follow the gorge. The towering cliffs of Hallet Peak's east ridge will be to your right the entire time you are in the gorge.

There is no trail once you enter the gorge. Route finding skills are necessary. You will descend through a maze of rock, passing by the Pool of Jade, and then negotiate swamps dotted with rocky islands and penninsulas. An initial course south of the stream works well. Crossings are okay, but as you drop lower into marshy areas, stay on top of the rocks whenever you can. This terrain is typical for the lower half of Tyndall Gorge.

About half way down the gorge, some Class 2+ rock scrambling is required in close proximity to the main stream. Route finding is essential through this section, and you'll know it when you come to it. Good route choices will avoid Class 3 or harder terrain. If you are getting in exposed areas, look for easier options nearby.

Below this scramble, you'll be south (right) of the stream. A use trail may be evident at this point, directly below Hallet's great north face cliffs. The sketchy trail winds down through brush and intermittent rocks (Class 2).

THE RUBBLE PILE
Staying to the right side of the gorge will steer you clear of any further difficulties. Descend a huge rubble pile of rocks and boulders toward Emerald Lake once it is in view.

THE YAM WALL
A fun and challenging Class 4 option can also be encountered by following the stream and crossng it just before it tumbles down a waterfall. You will come to steep wall, about 50 feet high. Look for a narrow ledge that descends 15 feet at an angle, to about 1/3 down the face of this wall. Descent of this ledge is best done crouching so you can grab hand holds and scoot yourself along to a tiny corner where you can once again stand erect. Getting to this point, the ledge steepens to almost straight down and is about 6 inches wide, but there's plenty of hand holds to make this move.

The route then drops further, crossing the wall back toward the east at an easier angle about 20 feet off of the ground. This narrow crack ledge is about 6 inches wide at the most, but is solid and there are lots of hand holds. Descend down the ledge, staying high at first, then onto a slanting boulder back toward the waterfall. To gain ground, a descent of about 4 or five feet is required. You'll drop into a rocky and muddy basin where water courses through.

I call this portion of the route the "Yam Wall" because as you descend these ledges, you're going around a "yam" (as in sweet potato) as you do it. Be sure to see the picture uploaded in this section.

This difficult Class 4 section should not be attempted by anyone who has not had extensive Class 3 experience with exposure. It can easily be avoided by descending the rubble pile to Emerald Lake (see text above).

From here, a descent to Emerald Lake is straight forward. Either descending the rubble pile or Yam Wall, continuing around the south side of Emerald Lake gets you back to civilized trail hiking efficiently. Some Class 2 rock scrambling will be encountered along the lake.

From the east end and outlet of Emerald Lake, a strong and maintained trail returns you to the parking lot.

ELEVATION START: 9500 ft
GAIN: 3282 ft

MILEAGE
3.7 Flat Top summit 12,324 ft
4.4 Hallet Peak summit
5.0 Descent into Tyndall Gorge
5.5 Pool of Jade
6.1 Class 2 scramble along the stream
6.3 Begin rubble piledescent
6.4 Yam Wall Class 4 Obstacle
6.5 Emerald Lake
7.0 Dream Lake
7.6 Nymph Lake
8.2 Parking Lot

Essential Gear

Summer or fall: Standard day hike gear will do.

Spring or winter: Full winter gear, including snow shoes or skis required. Ice axe and crampons highly recommended.

When to Climb

A descent of Tyndall Gorge should be attempted in late summer and fall. Spring or early summer will likely mean cold encounters with rushing waters and stream crossings that may be impassable. Expect to get wet if you try this descent (or climb) in spring or summer.

Winter ascents have been done, primarliy by technical climbers climbing Hallet's north face cliffs. Be advised that two such climbers were caught in an avalanche and their bodies were not recovered for months. Tyndall Gorge is dangerous avalanche country. When an avalanche runs into the gorge, there is nowhere to go for cover.