After more than eight years in California, I will be leaving the Golden State by the end of August.
As always before a major move, I am excited and sad at the same time. I will certainly miss California and I do not rule out a possible return, although it seems unlikely at the moment.
One of the places especially dear to me is, of course, Sierra Nevada. Upon leaving, I realize that did not spend enough time up there in the Range of Light. However, each hike and every mountain left a deep impression on me and will stay vivildy fresh in my memory.
I may have one or two opportunities to visit the Sierra before I leave. Of so many places where I still want to go I must choose only one or two. Where would you go if you were in my shoes?
What i enjoy most is reaching a summit of a mountain with gourgeous views having covered a lot of ground on a scenic approach. I am not really a climber but rather a hiker who likes scrambling. I prefer dayhikes, like snow and ridge climbs, would rather avoid choss piles and unstable slopes. I am fairly confident on class 3 and most of class 4 I came accross, can do a short section of low class 5 but would rather not have extreme exposure when making those moves.
I am thinking of doing one or two of the following, which would you recommend?
Abbott
Bear Creek Spire
Darwin (North Side)
Humphreys
North Palisade (which side?)
Sill
Williamson

Some of my favorite High Sierra summits are below:
Rock Route on Clyde Minaret
Whorl
Ritter and Banner
Lyell
Dana Couloir
East Vidette
Picture Peak

Other ones that I enjoyed although not as much:
Middle Palisade (loose chute)
Brewer (a bit too long)
Russell (did not enjoy approach much)
East Ridge of Conness (too short)
East Couloir on Matterhorn (loose couloir)
Cathedral + Echos (too short, no major summit)
Gould (too short, mostly class 1)

Thank you all!
Vlad.

If you prefer dayhikes I would look at your first four there. Those are all great. The other three are nice too but longer.

For Mount Russell a better approach is up Cleaver Col. You likely went up the slopes to the Russell/Carillon saddle eh?

+1 on Whorl being fantastic.

mrchad9 wrote:If you prefer dayhikes I would look at your first four there. Those are all great. The other three are nice too but longer.

For Mount Russell a better approach is up Cleaver Col. You likely went up the slopes to the Russell/Carillon saddle eh?

+1 on Whorl being fantastic.

Thanks Chad,
Yes I did Russell from Carillon saddle. Not a big fan of Whitney Portal area overall.

Lionel wrote:I vote you do Williamson, technical or otherwise. Even though it opened up, you can at least summit it now that it is open year round.

Thanks!
I am considering it together with Tyndall as an overnighter. Longer drive fo me than practically anything else. Unlikely to do a technical climb at this point.

+1 for Bear Creek Spire and Humphreys. Simply awesome peaks and FUN climbs!

Red and White Mt. Some amazing geology back there.
Mt. Winchell. Great approach past the lakes and wonderful views of the Palisades.

fatdad wrote:Mt. Winchell. Great approach past the lakes and wonderful views of the Palisades.

+1

MooseTracks wrote:+1 for Bear Creek Spire and Humphreys. Simply awesome peaks and FUN climbs!

Thanks! Might end up doing just those two. We'll see.

fatdad wrote:Red and White Mt. Some amazing geology back there.
Mt. Winchell. Great approach past the lakes and wonderful views of the Palisades.

Unexpected suggestions! Thanks.
Red and White may be too loose to my liking but Winchell may be a good dayhike alternative to North Pal or Sill. I'll definitely think over this one.

Sill has superb view of the Sierra in all directions because of its location and there are fourth class routes on both sides . The route across the Palisade Glacier is the most interesting.

Two relatively humble peaks with awesome views are Little Lakes Peak (which gives great views of the Little Lakes Valley) and Mt. Gayley (which provides awesome views of both sides of the Palisades).

I have day hiked Humphreys, Abbot, and North Pal via the Le Conte route. North Pal is my favorite by far.

BCL wrote:I have day hiked Humphreys, Abbot, and North Pal via the Le Conte route. North Pal is my favorite by far.

North Pal would be my number 1 choice. It may just be possible for me to do it as a dayhike if snow melts in Dusy Basin. How long did it take you car-to-car? Why did you choose Le Conte route as opposed to the chimney from the notch?

Suggesting a vote (1 point per person)! So far among the peaks I am interested in I have Winchell in the lead:

Abbot 0.25
BCS 0.75
Darwin 0.25
Humphreys 0.75
Winchell 1.25
North Pal 1.00
Sill 1.00
Williamson 1.00

Good to climb with you a few years ago on Alta. Hope your new location offers as many opportunities. Of the peaks you list, I would suggest ranking them as such:

North Palisade (which side?) - everything I've heard is that this is THE mountaineer's mountain.
Humphreys - Damned cool peak, prominently visible from so many places, and 4th class!
Williamson/Tyndall - I enjoyed this as a 3 day 2 night deal. The Rib on Tyndall was fantastically direct.
Bear Creek Spire - Love this peak, I did the North Arete, although you might come up from the col or take the NW Ridge
Sill - move this up if you do the Swiss Arete

. . .

Abbott - Would pick BCS over this. But, it is a relatively short, straightforward route, nice high peak, easy access.
Darwin (North Side) - don't know anything about this one, but if I were in the area, I'd say do Humphreys.