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Hope to climb Crystal Crag this weekend, but I didn't realize that the approach may involve snow.....anyone been in that area lately?

Good luck, Deb. LOVE Crystal Crag!

I was up there this weekend. I didn't go to the crag, but there is a good amount of snow still. It didn't look accumulated on the rock but I bet there will be snow on the approach. The snow was plentiful on the north side of lake George, but patchy on south facing sides. Coldwater campground is still closed with lots of snow. Mammoth crest had lots of snow too. There were two guys that climbed the ridge and skied down one of the bowls above the lake. Nice temps, about 70 when we ended our hike at 2 pm.

What? The Queen Of Snow and Ice is asking about a bit of snow on the approach?

Absurd!

Dave Daly wrote:What? The Queen Of Snow and Ice is asking about a bit of snow on the approach?

Absurd!

There's always sunny sport climbs at Clark Canyon. Lord knows I need to even out my cyclist tan

I was looking at attempting Ritter this weekend, but I don't think I have it in me to deal with the snow/slush with how warm the temperatures are going to be. The Mammoth Ranger Station, they said the road to Agnew Meadows/Reds Meadow just opened today and Agnew Meadows is a wet mess with no parking. Here's a link to some photos taken by RicK H. on 6/28 looking toward Banner Peak and Ritter - he thought we were looking at doing Banner; so the emphasis is on Banner. https://picasaweb.google.com/SwmBikRun1 ... irectlink#

The pics aren't of Crystal, but they give some idea of conditions.

Deb...

Postholing from just above Lake George to the base of CC will be the order of both the approach and then the descent. I guarantee it.

There are still drifts of up to 6-8' feet above the 9K level in the trees and totally unavoidable.

I attempted a recon to the Crest to check on some routes last week. Turned around just below McLeod. Too much unconsolidated snow abounded.

This work situation is really messin with my recreation time

I'll be sure to wear short shorts and rubber boots.

That's hawt...

One of my fave climbs, Deb. Sorry I won't be around to meet up this weekend!

Thems was some good times -

We've been home for a couple of days from our Mammoth trip.
Conditions for Crsytal Crag were perfect on July 2. Nicely consolidated snow the entire way; our approach took an hour (I'm old and slow). We reached The Crystal in 2 pitches with some simu-climbing on the 2nd pitch; I really think we could have just left the gear in the parking lot. :/ Scrambled to summit un-roped and scrambled down to shoe-ski back to truck. CTC 5 hours
Skiing at Mammoth on the 3rd was a real treat; I found NO shitty snow but Climax was horrifyingly moguled.
Climbed Clark Canyon and Alpers Cyn on Mon - THAT was interesting! Haven't touched welded tuft in years and apparently no one touches that BS 5.8 route on Mind Dart Rock much either! Talk about mind "games." Very insecure route and a couple less holds now that Dave and I had our way with it.
Terrific weekend with my man and friends!