Sw Ridge : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

From Upper Bench Lake head west to gain the ridge and follow this up. The way is easy going to just above 6000 ft. where a section of rock outcrops dots the ridgeline and the eastern slope steepens. At this point drop off the ridge to the West side and down a 100 ft or so and traverse a small basin. After passing the rocky pinnacles regain the ridge and head up till the way is blocked by a series of ribs (see main photo). Traverse eastward going uphill where possible(class 3) until reaching a steep gully that is just west of the summit. Follow this gully up(class 2) to the notch in the ridge and drop over onto the North side of the peak. Traverse East (class 3),slightly gaining elevation to reach the East Ridge about 20 ft below the summit. A few solid class 3 moves with some minor exposure puts you on top.

Essential Gear

This Route is basically just a scramble that requires nothing more that your standard hiking equiptment. However, if done early in the season or if there is a late summer, an ice axe and crampons would be advised. There could be steep snow in the summit gully or on the N slope. On my visit there were some lingering, icy, snow patches that had to be bypassed. Rockfall is not a problem on this route for you large parties. When in doubt take the equiptment. It would be a shame to come all that way and be turned back just a few hundred feet from the summit.

Miscellaneous Info

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