Can someone give me an idea of how many miles it is to go and check out the ice routes on North Peak? Also how difficult is the hike? The reason I ask is that I am planning a trip with the brother and law and he wanted to go out and check it out with me, but he has bad knees, so knowing that should he stay behind or do you think he has a chance, I am not worried about myself, just him and his weak knees. Thanks everyone for your input...

It's a little more than three miles, one way from Saddlebag Lake with 1,000ft of gain to the start of the routes.

doofus wrote:You can trim off a bit by taking the taxi, no?

Regarding the taxi, I've wanted to try that out 'cause it seems like a fun change from the routine hike along the lake. But I could never find a phone number to call the resort (the Contact Us page always has an error), thus it's not possible to tell what time periods it's available.
If anyone knows where to get that info...

When I was up there a few months ago, they were running the boat shuttle every 30. We took one over at 11 and caught one back at 630PM. They start around 8. We didn't need advance reservations or anything.

The three mile figure quoted above takes the taxi ride into account. Without the taxi, it's an extra hour of walking each way.

Also, my recollection is that the resort isn't open for much more than a couple weeks after Labor Day.

pjc30943 wrote:

doofus wrote:You can trim off a bit by taking the taxi, no?

Regarding the taxi, I've wanted to try that out 'cause it seems like a fun change from the routine hike along the lake. But I could never find a phone number to call the resort (the Contact Us page always has an error), thus it's not possible to tell what time periods it's available.
If anyone knows where to get that info...

http://www.saddlebaglakeresort.com/

Bob Burd wrote:It's a little more than three miles, one way from Saddlebag Lake with 1,000ft of gain to the start of the routes.

I believe the time/distance that Bob references is if the water taxi is utilized; is that correct Bob?

dyusem wrote:

Bob Burd wrote:It's a little more than three miles, one way from Saddlebag Lake with 1,000ft of gain to the start of the routes.

I believe the time/distance that Bob references is if the water taxi is utilized; is that correct Bob?

Not in my estimation. I was just up there two weeks ago, and it only took our group like 1.5 hours or so to get to the base of the NW ridge from the trailhead. It's very short.

cp0915 wrote:

dyusem wrote:

Bob Burd wrote:It's a little more than three miles, one way from Saddlebag Lake with 1,000ft of gain to the start of the routes.

I believe the time/distance that Bob references is if the water taxi is utilized; is that correct Bob?

Not in my estimation. I was just up there two weeks ago, and it only took our group like 1.5 hours or so to get to the base of the NW ridge from the trailhead. It's very short.

Regardless of whether it's three miles or four, there's very little elevation gain and x-country involved, so it feels really easy by Sierra standards.

One caveat, especially for the OP: The water taxi begins too late for an ice climb. You'll need to hike past the lake if you're getting an alpine start. But that "easy" mile along the lake is remarkably hard on bad knees or backs, because it traverses a debris slope made out of baseball-melon sized rocks. I would either arrange for the slower hiker to start later, take the taxi, and then meet you after the climb at steelhead lake; or else arrange for both of you to take the taxi back after.

dyusem wrote:

pjc30943 wrote:

doofus wrote:You can trim off a bit by taking the taxi, no?

Regarding the taxi, I've wanted to try that out 'cause it seems like a fun change from the routine hike along the lake. But I could never find a phone number to call the resort (the Contact Us page always has an error), thus it's not possible to tell what time periods it's available.
If anyone knows where to get that info...

http://www.saddlebaglakeresort.com/

But, again, the Contact Us page is dead. The website has no contact info.

pjc30943 wrote:

dyusem wrote:

pjc30943 wrote:

doofus wrote:You can trim off a bit by taking the taxi, no?

Regarding the taxi, I've wanted to try that out 'cause it seems like a fun change from the routine hike along the lake. But I could never find a phone number to call the resort (the Contact Us page always has an error), thus it's not possible to tell what time periods it's available.
If anyone knows where to get that info...

http://www.saddlebaglakeresort.com/

But, again, the Contact Us page is dead. The website has no contact info.

Oops...sorry, the only contact info that I can unearth is:

staff@saddlebaglakeresort.com

or

PO Box 303
Lee Vining, CA. 93541

You could always try 411 to get a telephone #

For those interested: As of yesterday the left couloir was all snow, and will probably not be ice this season; it is somewhat solid under the looser outer layer, and holds pickets well. The right couloir was in, and after the first twenty meters or so was all ice; the schrund is fairly easily passable on either side.

Just saw this on CC ..

http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthr ... Couloir_9_

Thanks everyone for the info, I guess I will cruise out there myself just to check it out, my bro in law I don't think can make it with his bad knees. Even though I wont have a chance to climb it, I will love to just take a look at the routes and take in my surroundings...