Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Golden State. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the California Climbing Partners forum.
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dshoshone

 
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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by dshoshone » Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:07 pm

Snow..Snow.. Snow

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fluxlib

 
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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by fluxlib » Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:42 pm

Figured as much, but it don't hurt to ask. Thanks!

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FalseHope

 
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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by FalseHope » Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:24 pm

Anybody have an updated report?

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rajeshkh

 
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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by rajeshkh » Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:55 pm

Piute Pass is passable if you have the snow gear. We went to the base of the pass and decided not to cross it because not everyone in our group was capable of going up the snow with a back pac . But we met several people who were either going up the pass or returning via the pass. All of them had crampons and ice axe with the. At the pass I don't think the snow is going to completely melt for another month. Up till Loch Leven you have trail. Only bits and pieces of it are covered in snow. From Loch Leven to the base of the pass, it is fast melting snow. Some places you can see the trail, but most of it is snow. Once at the base of the pass, (the last 300 - 500 feet) it is full of snow. Hope this helps.

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FalseHope

 
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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by FalseHope » Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:26 pm

Thanks Rajesh. If you didn't cross Piute, where'd you end up going?

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biz

 
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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by biz » Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:37 pm

There was snow from about 10k or 10,500k up to the pass. I carried crampons and an ice axe but managed to make it to the pass and back without them. There is a lot of exposed rock and running water at the pass. I was able to find a great sheltered place to camp there. Summit lake is still frozen as of 7/4/11 and there is a lot of snow on the west side of piute pass. I hiked over to and climbed Humphreys. If you intend to head into Humphreys basin, leave early and hope that it's cold that night so the snow freezes as much as possible. There are a lot of rock islands exposed to make travel a little easier.

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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by HikeSFH » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:20 pm

Any chance you (or anyone else on this string) been up there more recently? My wife and I have a trip planned for July 20-25. I don't have mountaineering equipment. I'm hoping it will be much more passable by the 20th, at least enough that we can get over the pass and into the Basin. Also, you mention that there is " a lot of snow" on the west side of Piute, which is where we were headed. Anyone have recent updates?

biz wrote:There was snow from about 10k or 10,500k up to the pass. I carried crampons and an ice axe but managed to make it to the pass and back without them. There is a lot of exposed rock and running water at the pass. I was able to find a great sheltered place to camp there. Summit lake is still frozen as of 7/4/11 and there is a lot of snow on the west side of piute pass. I hiked over to and climbed Humphreys. If you intend to head into Humphreys basin, leave early and hope that it's cold that night so the snow freezes as much as possible. There are a lot of rock islands exposed to make travel a little easier.

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mlca

 
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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by mlca » Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:54 am

Here's what the Sierra looks like from the top of Mt. Agassiz, 13,893, yesterday July 13th.

Looking North at Bishop Pass, Mt Humphreys, Mt. Tom, etc.

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West towards Dusy Basin and LeConte Canyon

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East, Big Pine Lakes

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The Palisades

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South

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North West towards Darwin, the Evolution Basin

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Still lots of snow but it's going quick.

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Fredd C Dobbs, johnr, mrchad9

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South Lake over pass into Dusey Basin

by dmjette » Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:19 pm

South Lake over the pass into Dusey Basin/Evolution Valley, Goddard Canyon - does anyone have any trip info to share such as the conditions, snow levels, etc? Planning on going in a week.

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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by mlca » Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:31 pm

I brought an axe for safety and glissading. It was helpful getting up the snowfield just below the couloir. From there you skirt the snow and walk up the rock. We were at the base around 11am and had no issues kicking steps and following the sun cups. If you go early crampons would be nice so you could boot right up avoiding the loose rock.

Bring a new summit register. The ammo can doesn't have a lid.

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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by EasternSierra » Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:07 pm

Does anyone have any updated conditions on the South Lake to North Lake Loop (Bishop Pass, Muir Pass, and Piute Pass)? Or any of the creek crossing in Evolution Valley/Le Conte Canyon? I'm planning a trip for early September, so I imagine everything will be melted by then, but I'm just curious how things are now that's it's August.

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Re: Piute Pass - Bishop Pass Condition

by mrchad9 » Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:19 pm

EasternSierra wrote:Does anyone have any updated conditions on the South Lake to North Lake Loop (Bishop Pass, Muir Pass, and Piute Pass)? Or any of the creek crossing in Evolution Valley/Le Conte Canyon? I'm planning a trip for early September, so I imagine everything will be melted by then, but I'm just curious how things are now that's it's August.

Yesterday Piute Pass had nothing but a small inconsequential snowfield just below the east side of the pass. Nothing to be concerned about there. Lakes above 11,500 feet were still partially frozen.

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