Kid Mountain

Overview

 R.J. Secor author of The High Sierra Peaks Passes and Trails called Kid Mountain "the second biggest pile of rubble in the Sierra." Mount Alice across Big Pine Creek drainage from it being "the biggest". I can attest to that claim having slogged the 4,000' north slope from Glacier Lodge and emptying enough sand from my boots on the descent to build a small beach!
Of course the question is why bother?
Well, there are a few reasons to climb Kid Mountain.
The north slope is a good ski run featured in John Moynier's book Back Country Skiing California's High Sierra and the view of the southern part of the Palisades is excellent. Not all of the mountain is a sand trap. There are relatively stable routes up the ridgelines of the north slope. Also it's on the way to Peak 3,994m. a mile north of The Thumb. This was my goal. I didn't go there because it was cold and windy and I was in shorts so I settled for Kid.

Getting There

 From the town of Big Pine along Hwy. 395 in Owens Valley go west on Crocker St. (the Glacier Lodge Road) and drive 11 miles to Glacier Lodge. The class 2 north slope looms above the lodge to the south.
The class 2 west slope can also be climbed from about a mile up the Brainerd Lake Trail which heads south .2 miles past the bridge to Glacier Lodge on the Glacier Lodge Road. I have a hunch this route could be a nasty screefest.

Red Tape

 


This peak is in the Inyo National Forest and no permits are required for a day hike.

Camping

 There are several campgrounds along the Glacier Lodge Road by Big Pine Creek below the north slope of Kid Mountain.
Sage Flat and Upper Sage Flat, Palisade Group and Big Pine all between 7,300' and 7,700' elevation.

Weather forecast for the Big Pine Creek area

 For the weather forecast click here.

Images

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