We camped between Steelhead and Cascade Lakes and summited via Conness Lakes. We took a shortcut near Wasco Lake going but stayed on trail past Greenstone Lake coming back. It was a busy but bluebird day on the summit!
philadendron - Aug 22, 2022 2:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2022
From Cascade Lake
Beautiful route up from our camp at Cascade Lake. Wasn't sure I could manage the scramble along the North ridge so played it safe and descended to Upper McCabe, then took the chute to Don't Be a Smart Pass and summitted. Descended into Conness Lakes and back to camp. GPS tracks
jonmeek16 - Jul 27, 2021 7:02 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2021
Success
Camped near Steelhead Lake. Straight forward scramble. Beautiful views of Conness.
naura - May 6, 2020 6:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2018
great hike and awesome views.... Saw a few hiker/climbers on the Connes ridge. Lotsa loose rocks/ scree and tough finding the trail midway thru the hike. Coming down was a challenge scrambling over boulders, in the end was well worth it and topped off with cold beer/pizza at Groveland.
Lots of snow, so much so that most of the area was covered in snow, including the East side of the lake trail. I followed the trail and at the end of the lakes I went straight uphill. Lots of snow on the slopes but I was able to stay on the rocks and I found a nice class 3 shaft to gain the upper side of the mountain. I have to admit that the views from this peak are among the best I've seen. Coming down I decided to go back on the West side of the Saddlebag Lake, and that was a complete pain; the snow was melting and the going required a lot of energy. I was pissed; I should've gone the other way around. With crampons and ice axes I kept slipping and falling a lot. It took all the pleasure out of my hike.
MattDaddy56 - Dec 7, 2018 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2018
Finally climbed North Peak NW Ridge
Solo of the NW Ridge, extremely windy and a bit cold. No one else up there.
ScarsPapa - Oct 1, 2018 9:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2018
111% (SE from Conness Lakes)
This was my first 12k summit.
Friend and I set out from Greenstone Lake, absolutely gourgeous scenery! Everytime we hit the top of another rise we were taken by the sheer beauty of Mt. Conness, the Conness Glacier and Lakes, North Peak's spires and surroundings.
The loose sand/scree sucked going up but was quick coming down.
Beautiful mountain, beautiful views.
Next time Conness.
God bless.
jdmorehouse - Sep 1, 2015 5:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2015
East Ridge/Face
I woke up and found a friend of mine parked nearly across from me at Saddlebag Lake. Coincidentally he was also going to climb North Peak, so we set off together. We found the east ridge up to the east face an excellent route. I went right up the face via some ledges full of loose rock, but climbable, while Jon went around the back of the pinnacles found up there and hit the ridge to the summit a little lower than I. Both ways up worked well. A chilly, windy day with a smoke from all the fires obscuring the views.
charitydominic - Oct 30, 2014 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
This and Conness, yay
What a fun peak. Easy walk up from Conness Lakes. Not so easy hike to the lakes though (long), starting from Lundy Canyon.
labgloves - Aug 25, 2014 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2014
2014 SC Day 10
On my way home, exhausted from the 2014 SC I hiked up the SW slope route. This was a wonderful hike through truly beautiful country.
calipidder - Aug 24, 2014 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2014
Great hike
The hike via Conness Lakes is just gorgeous. I could do without the sandy slog up the hill, but at least the descent is quick!
trexkerry - Aug 23, 2014 12:32 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2014
Standard route
Was driving to Mammoth for a weekend of peakbagging, decided to do Hoffman in the morning and North Peak in the afternoon to help acclimate for the weekend fun. Views from North Peak were grand. Trip report is HERE.
Day hike from Saddlebag Lake, a total of 7 hours. Up via a sandy slope above the highest of the Conness Lakes to the ridge line ("North Peak Pass" in Secor), then SW face to the summit. Down the steep, somewhat loose SE chute. There is still a patch of snow at the top of the chute, but it's easy to go around it.
mengbo - Jun 29, 2014 12:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2014
SW Face
This is the celebration day for SPS list finisher - Lisa Barboza. She finished the final 248th peak on this one. Total of 44 people joined this event. We took the easy 2nd class route to the summit. Total 7 peak finishers were on the summit today.
Congrats to Lisa!
Bill562 - May 27, 2014 2:22 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2014
SE Face ski
Solo from Saddlebag Lake. The last 200 vertical ft to the summit is no longer skiable this year. It was all about the summit for me though, so I persevered and had the summit to myself.
Marmaduke - Oct 28, 2013 2:15 am Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2013
Watched the Sunset
Watched a great sunset and then descended, the last 1 1/2 with headlamp. Really a wonderful area.
fedak - Aug 25, 2013 11:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
Modified SE Chute
Up the sandy SE slope and ascended a class 3 chute a bit to the right of the one described in the route section. Topped out on the ridge less than 100 yards from the summit.
The Rim Fire was raging off to the west- but the Saddlebag Lake area was crystal clear
Romain - May 12, 2023 3:56 pm Date Climbed: May 9, 2023
Southwest Slope on skisHad Twenty Lakes Basin entirely to ourselves for this 3-night ski outing. Trip report.
Alpinist - Sep 10, 2022 1:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2022
From Steelhead LakeWe camped between Steelhead and Cascade Lakes and summited via Conness Lakes. We took a shortcut near Wasco Lake going but stayed on trail past Greenstone Lake coming back. It was a busy but bluebird day on the summit!
philadendron - Aug 22, 2022 2:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2022
From Cascade LakeBeautiful route up from our camp at Cascade Lake. Wasn't sure I could manage the scramble along the North ridge so played it safe and descended to Upper McCabe, then took the chute to Don't Be a Smart Pass and summitted. Descended into Conness Lakes and back to camp. GPS tracks
jonmeek16 - Jul 27, 2021 7:02 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2021
SuccessCamped near Steelhead Lake. Straight forward scramble. Beautiful views of Conness.
naura - May 6, 2020 6:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2018
from Saddlebag LakeEasy hike, too bad about the smoke
rjob - Sep 30, 2019 3:38 pm
North Peakgreat hike and awesome views.... Saw a few hiker/climbers on the Connes ridge. Lotsa loose rocks/ scree and tough finding the trail midway thru the hike. Coming down was a challenge scrambling over boulders, in the end was well worth it and topped off with cold beer/pizza at Groveland.
Travissmith2251 - Aug 23, 2019 10:02 pm
SummitFun peak
Diesel - Jul 3, 2019 4:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2019
SnowparadeLots of snow, so much so that most of the area was covered in snow, including the East side of the lake trail. I followed the trail and at the end of the lakes I went straight uphill. Lots of snow on the slopes but I was able to stay on the rocks and I found a nice class 3 shaft to gain the upper side of the mountain. I have to admit that the views from this peak are among the best I've seen. Coming down I decided to go back on the West side of the Saddlebag Lake, and that was a complete pain; the snow was melting and the going required a lot of energy. I was pissed; I should've gone the other way around. With crampons and ice axes I kept slipping and falling a lot. It took all the pleasure out of my hike.
MattDaddy56 - Dec 7, 2018 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2018
Finally climbed North Peak NW RidgeSolo of the NW Ridge, extremely windy and a bit cold. No one else up there.
ScarsPapa - Oct 1, 2018 9:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2018
111% (SE from Conness Lakes)This was my first 12k summit.
Friend and I set out from Greenstone Lake, absolutely gourgeous scenery! Everytime we hit the top of another rise we were taken by the sheer beauty of Mt. Conness, the Conness Glacier and Lakes, North Peak's spires and surroundings.
The loose sand/scree sucked going up but was quick coming down.
Beautiful mountain, beautiful views.
Next time Conness.
God bless.
jdmorehouse - Sep 1, 2015 5:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2015
East Ridge/FaceI woke up and found a friend of mine parked nearly across from me at Saddlebag Lake. Coincidentally he was also going to climb North Peak, so we set off together. We found the east ridge up to the east face an excellent route. I went right up the face via some ledges full of loose rock, but climbable, while Jon went around the back of the pinnacles found up there and hit the ridge to the summit a little lower than I. Both ways up worked well. A chilly, windy day with a smoke from all the fires obscuring the views.
charitydominic - Oct 30, 2014 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
This and Conness, yayWhat a fun peak. Easy walk up from Conness Lakes. Not so easy hike to the lakes though (long), starting from Lundy Canyon.
labgloves - Aug 25, 2014 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2014
2014 SC Day 10On my way home, exhausted from the 2014 SC I hiked up the SW slope route. This was a wonderful hike through truly beautiful country.
calipidder - Aug 24, 2014 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2014
Great hikeThe hike via Conness Lakes is just gorgeous. I could do without the sandy slog up the hill, but at least the descent is quick!
trexkerry - Aug 23, 2014 12:32 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2014
Standard routeWas driving to Mammoth for a weekend of peakbagging, decided to do Hoffman in the morning and North Peak in the afternoon to help acclimate for the weekend fun. Views from North Peak were grand. Trip report is HERE.
xharv - Jul 25, 2014 3:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2014
SW face up, SE chute downDay hike from Saddlebag Lake, a total of 7 hours. Up via a sandy slope above the highest of the Conness Lakes to the ridge line ("North Peak Pass" in Secor), then SW face to the summit. Down the steep, somewhat loose SE chute. There is still a patch of snow at the top of the chute, but it's easy to go around it.
mengbo - Jun 29, 2014 12:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2014
SW FaceThis is the celebration day for SPS list finisher - Lisa Barboza. She finished the final 248th peak on this one. Total of 44 people joined this event. We took the easy 2nd class route to the summit. Total 7 peak finishers were on the summit today.
Congrats to Lisa!
Bill562 - May 27, 2014 2:22 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2014
SE Face skiSolo from Saddlebag Lake. The last 200 vertical ft to the summit is no longer skiable this year. It was all about the summit for me though, so I persevered and had the summit to myself.
Marmaduke - Oct 28, 2013 2:15 am Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2013
Watched the SunsetWatched a great sunset and then descended, the last 1 1/2 with headlamp. Really a wonderful area.
fedak - Aug 25, 2013 11:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2013
Modified SE ChuteUp the sandy SE slope and ascended a class 3 chute a bit to the right of the one described in the route section. Topped out on the ridge less than 100 yards from the summit.
The Rim Fire was raging off to the west- but the Saddlebag Lake area was crystal clear
Pics and commentary are here.