13k and 14k peaks with easiest access in March, April.
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 5:20 am
Hello everyone!
I'm looking to climb Pik Lenin in Kyrgyzstan this summer (July). In order to practice and prepare, I would like to tackle some 13k and 14k peaks in California before then. I'm looking to start hiking these mountains in mid March. A lot of list of 13k or 14k mountains is available here and on various other resources, but all of them usually have a climbing season in summer (starting June etc). Assuming I have a 2WD normal car, I'm looking to find mountains which are accessible starting middle of March or April. I will have no problem with snow on the mountain, but would just like easy access to get to it. Here are the constraints =>
1. Easy access in a 2WD car in starting Mid March to end of May. (The most important thing).
2. Elevation gain of <= 5k feet. Round trip distance <= 15 miles. [This is what I consider reasonable for a day trip, I am not interested in camping on really long routes].
3. Class 1-3 (I have no issues with using crampons or snow shoes, but don't want to tackle technical climbing or heavily cravassed and glacieted mountains, also route founding should be generally straight-forward).
Here are some options that I know of ->
1. Mt. Shasta via avalanche gulch in early May.
2. Mt. whitney if I get a permit, maybe other 13k feet peaks around there (but the trailhead is not really accessible before summer).
3. White mountain (Not really accessible before June, because its a rather long walk to trailhead)
4. Mt. Langley (In winter the road is not plowed, so the access is too long).
Any ideas are highly appreciated. Thank you!
I'm looking to climb Pik Lenin in Kyrgyzstan this summer (July). In order to practice and prepare, I would like to tackle some 13k and 14k peaks in California before then. I'm looking to start hiking these mountains in mid March. A lot of list of 13k or 14k mountains is available here and on various other resources, but all of them usually have a climbing season in summer (starting June etc). Assuming I have a 2WD normal car, I'm looking to find mountains which are accessible starting middle of March or April. I will have no problem with snow on the mountain, but would just like easy access to get to it. Here are the constraints =>
1. Easy access in a 2WD car in starting Mid March to end of May. (The most important thing).
2. Elevation gain of <= 5k feet. Round trip distance <= 15 miles. [This is what I consider reasonable for a day trip, I am not interested in camping on really long routes].
3. Class 1-3 (I have no issues with using crampons or snow shoes, but don't want to tackle technical climbing or heavily cravassed and glacieted mountains, also route founding should be generally straight-forward).
Here are some options that I know of ->
1. Mt. Shasta via avalanche gulch in early May.
2. Mt. whitney if I get a permit, maybe other 13k feet peaks around there (but the trailhead is not really accessible before summer).
3. White mountain (Not really accessible before June, because its a rather long walk to trailhead)
4. Mt. Langley (In winter the road is not plowed, so the access is too long).
Any ideas are highly appreciated. Thank you!