Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: March 22, 2004
Am I the first one to climb this route on summitpost?
Gorgeous route, LOTS of elevation gain. There was only about 10% snow cover beginning at 12,000 ft. It should be a fun route to do with more snow cover!
P.S. I disagree with Stephen Porcella's class 2 rating in his "Climbing California's Fourteeners" book. The ridgeline along the +13,000 ft peak before reaching the final slope is definitely class 3 (see my photos) unless one drops below it about one thousand feet and does a traverse on steep slopes!!
In May or June 2003, having never been to the White Mountains before, I headed up there to do an exploratory of the area. After hiking up Sheep Mountain and Piute Mountain, as well as another unnamed 12er in the area, I fell in love with the lunar feel of the place. Pretty trippy spot.
I decided that I'd like to come back and do White Mountain.
Week or two later, I headed up to the Whites again and camped at the gate the night before heading off to the mountain. Started at 0330 and reached the summit a few hours later. It was a wonderful sight to see the sun rising against the Sierra.
A very special place...lots of marmots along the old road.
Route Climbed: Research Station Road Date Climbed: September 2, 2003
A great trip to the Sierras, Death Valley and Bristlecone Pine Forest. Camped in parking lot at gate to research station road (12,000 ft.) night before climb. Looming thunderstorms over in the Sierras, but never seemed to reach us as we climbed. Interesting flock of sheep at research station....saw yellow bellied marmots that felt the need to cackle at us as we ascended. Saw a family of foxes at 13,000 ft. Great view of Sierras and thunderclouds from the summit. Dark clouds moving our way made for a quick descent on our part. A great high-elevation climb! Wish I could say I was jogging it like two other guys we saw who were training for Whitney....
Route Climbed: White Mountain Road Date Climbed: October 19, 2003
My first successful summit of a 14er! Not technically difficult, but it sure is a long slog in one day. Saw a pack of Bighorn Sheep rams near the summit. Another single ram got within 50 feet of us. That was probably more exciting than the summit itself.
Regarding the road to the trailhead - we navigated it in a Subaru Outback Sport (4WD, moderate to low clearance). Passed as least one truck with a flat tire. It's much more about the driver than the vehicle. Make sure you have good tire pressure and check your spare as well. Take it slow, and you'll be fine.
Route Climbed: Road Date Climbed: Sept. 13th, 2003
Drove up the night before to TH for acclimation at 12K, left car at 515 am and reached summit at 815 am, car to car, 5 hours .Nice views of the Sierras and the Owens Valley . 2 cars blew their tires on the gravel road so go slow on the last 17 miles to TH. Wanted to summit a 14er with levis and cotton clothing so I picked this one ! Summited again with 14 yo daughter, 8-9-04, awesome !
Route Climbed: The road Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2003
I was supposed to be climbing Mt. Sill today as part of the 2003 Sierra Challenge, but I'd slightly strained one of my quads on the descent from Red and White a couple of days before, and found I needed a rest day. I drove up here for the first time (itself a bit more exciting than I'd have liked), had a leisurely stroll up to the peak and back in 5 hours, and went to check out the bristlecone pines--an awesome experience. Most of the excitement came in dodging the mountain bikers on the way down.
This was the first day that week that actually felt like part of a vacation!
Although the hike was on a fire road the altitude made it a challenge. Acclimating at Grandview CC really helped. There's a very serene beauty about the area. Really enjoyed the hike.
Route Climbed: Southroute Date Climbed: July 26 2003
Started at 3:30pm, on foot alone, passed many exhusted folks along the way. At the summit I was surprised to find 2 SUV's parked, about 10 people were having a party! Lots of lightning and a growing storm. The partiers warned me about the dangers of lightning but denied me entrance to the "research station"-nice folks! Anyway I watched a fantastic sunset
over the Sierra and left the summit as the snow started to fly. Returned to the car at 10pm, wet, cold, tired, hungry and happy. This is a worthwhile summit. Go do it!!! PEACE
Route Climbed: Normal route Date Climbed: 06 July 2003
First 14er! It really was a great hike and I was very happy that i had spent the night befor at grandview camp (good aclimitization.) made it to the to in 4hr20min got back down in 3hr flat.
Route Climbed: Standard Route Date Climbed: 6/21/03
It was a rather cold and windy day. Started up in the afternoon and was just about the last person to reach the peak that day. Drove out shortly before sunset and climbed Cirque Peak the following day. This was my 3rd 14er. Did Whitney and Langley last year. This one was a bit more strenuous than I expected but was still easier than Whitney and Langley. Lack of aclimation didn't help.
Route Climbed: Trail Date Climbed: August 11, 2000
Ran most of the roundtrip from the gate, in order to summit quickly and catch a plane home. The drive to the gate is almost as enjoyable as the climb itself!
Route Climbed: White Mountain Road Date Climbed: August 4, 2002
Started from the Barcroft Lab parking lot on the only day the locked gate is open to the public each year. Thin air slowed me down near the summit, but low winds and relatively warm temperatures made for a pleasant day. Smoke from the fire in the southern Sierra severely limited visibility over the Owens Valley.
PellucidWombat - Mar 26, 2004 3:08 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: March 22, 2004Am I the first one to climb this route on summitpost?
Gorgeous route, LOTS of elevation gain. There was only about 10% snow cover beginning at 12,000 ft. It should be a fun route to do with more snow cover!
P.S. I disagree with Stephen Porcella's class 2 rating in his "Climbing California's Fourteeners" book. The ridgeline along the +13,000 ft peak before reaching the final slope is definitely class 3 (see my photos) unless one drops below it about one thousand feet and does a traverse on steep slopes!!
cp0915 - Feb 18, 2004 10:21 am
Route Climbed: Date Climbed: June 2003In May or June 2003, having never been to the White Mountains before, I headed up there to do an exploratory of the area. After hiking up Sheep Mountain and Piute Mountain, as well as another unnamed 12er in the area, I fell in love with the lunar feel of the place. Pretty trippy spot.
I decided that I'd like to come back and do White Mountain.
Week or two later, I headed up to the Whites again and camped at the gate the night before heading off to the mountain. Started at 0330 and reached the summit a few hours later. It was a wonderful sight to see the sun rising against the Sierra.
A very special place...lots of marmots along the old road.
amochka - Feb 17, 2004 11:07 pm
Route Climbed: Research Station Road Date Climbed: September 2, 2003A great trip to the Sierras, Death Valley and Bristlecone Pine Forest. Camped in parking lot at gate to research station road (12,000 ft.) night before climb. Looming thunderstorms over in the Sierras, but never seemed to reach us as we climbed. Interesting flock of sheep at research station....saw yellow bellied marmots that felt the need to cackle at us as we ascended. Saw a family of foxes at 13,000 ft. Great view of Sierras and thunderclouds from the summit. Dark clouds moving our way made for a quick descent on our part. A great high-elevation climb! Wish I could say I was jogging it like two other guys we saw who were training for Whitney....
mtnfoto - Jan 27, 2004 10:50 am
Route Climbed: The Road Date Climbed: Labor day 2003Some snow and hail, but all and all a pretty nice day. This was my wife's first 14000 foot peak.
thenunz - Oct 26, 2003 1:23 pm
Route Climbed: Jeep Trail Date Climbed: 10/17/03Best view of the Sierra's ever. Worth the slog, but bring a mountain bike!
mgp5000 - Oct 20, 2003 12:12 pm
Route Climbed: White Mountain Road Date Climbed: October 19, 2003My first successful summit of a 14er! Not technically difficult, but it sure is a long slog in one day. Saw a pack of Bighorn Sheep rams near the summit. Another single ram got within 50 feet of us. That was probably more exciting than the summit itself.
Regarding the road to the trailhead - we navigated it in a Subaru Outback Sport (4WD, moderate to low clearance). Passed as least one truck with a flat tire. It's much more about the driver than the vehicle. Make sure you have good tire pressure and check your spare as well. Take it slow, and you'll be fine.
TDRoberts - Oct 20, 2003 9:18 am
Route Climbed: White Mountain Road Date Climbed: Sep 20 '03Easiest 14er - road goes right to the top - though elevation is appearent on the endless switchbacks up summit.
rgreene - Sep 29, 2003 11:17 pm
Route Climbed: The Dirt Road Route Date Climbed: 16 August 2003Poor acclimitization led to a miserable descent, but the summit was tres cool. Trip Report and Pictures
mtndave - Sep 17, 2003 1:10 am
Route Climbed: Road Date Climbed: Sept. 13th, 2003Drove up the night before to TH for acclimation at 12K, left car at 515 am and reached summit at 815 am, car to car, 5 hours .Nice views of the Sierras and the Owens Valley . 2 cars blew their tires on the gravel road so go slow on the last 17 miles to TH. Wanted to summit a 14er with levis and cotton clothing so I picked this one ! Summited again with 14 yo daughter, 8-9-04, awesome !
lidijagrazulis - Sep 16, 2003 12:48 pm
Route Climbed: Road Date Climbed: September 13, 2002Drove up on Friday night, summited on Saturday. Stunning moon-like landscapes!
rgmackie - Sep 4, 2003 2:59 am
Route Climbed: Road Date Climbed: September 2, 2003Rain and hail fell on the Sierra to the west, but it was a fairly nice day across the valley on White. A leisurely hike that took 4:15 round trip.
Matthew Holliman - Aug 19, 2003 6:23 pm
Route Climbed: The road Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2003I was supposed to be climbing Mt. Sill today as part of the 2003 Sierra Challenge, but I'd slightly strained one of my quads on the descent from Red and White a couple of days before, and found I needed a rest day. I drove up here for the first time (itself a bit more exciting than I'd have liked), had a leisurely stroll up to the peak and back in 5 hours, and went to check out the bristlecone pines--an awesome experience. Most of the excitement came in dodging the mountain bikers on the way down.
This was the first day that week that actually felt like part of a vacation!
Guilty - Aug 18, 2003 2:23 am
Route Climbed: Road Date Climbed: August 11, 03 and May 25, 02The day was nice with a little wind. Made the round-trip in 4 1/2 hours, with time for lunch on top.
The road looks great for mountain biking. Last year when I was up here Gallen Rowell sign in the day before. I wish I could of climbed with him.
trekrbear - Aug 7, 2003 5:25 pm
Date Climbed: July 1, 2003Although the hike was on a fire road the altitude made it a challenge. Acclimating at Grandview CC really helped. There's a very serene beauty about the area. Really enjoyed the hike.
Guyzo - Aug 7, 2003 12:45 pm
Route Climbed: Southroute Date Climbed: July 26 2003Started at 3:30pm, on foot alone, passed many exhusted folks along the way. At the summit I was surprised to find 2 SUV's parked, about 10 people were having a party! Lots of lightning and a growing storm. The partiers warned me about the dangers of lightning but denied me entrance to the "research station"-nice folks! Anyway I watched a fantastic sunset
over the Sierra and left the summit as the snow started to fly. Returned to the car at 10pm, wet, cold, tired, hungry and happy. This is a worthwhile summit. Go do it!!! PEACE
stephenz - Jul 8, 2003 8:30 pm
Route Climbed: Normal route Date Climbed: 06 July 2003First 14er! It really was a great hike and I was very happy that i had spent the night befor at grandview camp (good aclimitization.) made it to the to in 4hr20min got back down in 3hr flat.
Rick Kent - Jul 2, 2003 8:21 am
Route Climbed: Standard Route Date Climbed: 6/21/03It was a rather cold and windy day. Started up in the afternoon and was just about the last person to reach the peak that day. Drove out shortly before sunset and climbed Cirque Peak the following day. This was my 3rd 14er. Did Whitney and Langley last year. This one was a bit more strenuous than I expected but was still easier than Whitney and Langley. Lack of aclimation didn't help.
mike ricketts - Jun 30, 2003 5:58 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: June 29th 2003Did White a few days after Glass Mtn to the NW. Very mild and pleasant on the summit.
Paul Spraycar - Jun 29, 2003 3:36 pm
Route Climbed: Trail Date Climbed: August 11, 2000Ran most of the roundtrip from the gate, in order to summit quickly and catch a plane home. The drive to the gate is almost as enjoyable as the climb itself!
dkantola - Jun 29, 2003 12:38 am
Route Climbed: White Mountain Road Date Climbed: August 4, 2002Started from the Barcroft Lab parking lot on the only day the locked gate is open to the public each year. Thin air slowed me down near the summit, but low winds and relatively warm temperatures made for a pleasant day. Smoke from the fire in the southern Sierra severely limited visibility over the Owens Valley.