Twice I drove up from the Bay Area to climb Unicorn. Twice I got to the exposed Class 4 move. Twice I turned back. My wife and I returned later to make the false summit and take in awesome views.
Not difficult. Left TH past 5:30pm and scrambled up it along with Althuski. Only one real class 4 part. Not hard, but you want to be comfortable trusting both hands to the same rock edge to shimmy a little.
Celebrated the evening of the fourth of July with my cousin Aaron on the summit of Unicorn Peak. Headed up past Elizabeth Lake and then up to the ridge between Cockscomb and Unicorn, then north along the ridge to the Unicorn. All three summits are nice though the northernmost is a classic. The vantage point is exceptional looking down on the Meadows. I wanted to cast off and soar down to the Tuolumne River like a pterodactyl, but didn't.
Fun little scramble up the far right (north) edge of the East Face, then a short traverse south to the summit. We continued on to Cockscomb, which was also a fun scramble.
fossana - Jun 20, 2008 2:38 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2008
last peak on the cathedral traverse
The talus heap on the way from Cockscomb wasn't as bad as it looked. Nice views to complete the traverse.
I was only 9 and my brother 7 but I still made it quite a way up the east slope. Stopped few 600-700 feet below the top. We were not ever intending to get very far past Elizabeth Lake.
Janell - Nov 24, 2007 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2007
Bittersweet
A fantastic hike at the end of a crappy day...I looked at this peak all summer and am glad i finally got up there!
Dave S - Jun 21, 2007 2:31 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
Good finish to a 10 hour day spent traversing from Cathedral, Eichorn, Echo ridge, Cockscomb and Unicorn.
colinr - Aug 12, 2006 12:48 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
A fun scramble!
Hiked up from our campsite in Tuolomne Meadows via Elizabeth Lake with Brian, Amaryah, and Chase. Outstanding views and a good work out scrambling up form the lake. A great way to adjust to the altitude and the exposure to heights before several other hikes to follow during our stay. In fact, the exposure dissuaded me from attempting the crux. Next time.
Bill Kish - May 24, 2006 7:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2004
Route Climbed: From Elizabeth lake
First leg of awesome Cathedral traverse in 2004 with Brian Z. x2 with BAMM in 2010. x3 with Seth in 2012.
Route Climbed: east slope Date Climbed: June, 1964
Carlos was 15, and I was 16 when we broke off from our x-country team at Elizabeth Lake. We scrambled up the east slope to the summit. Too stupid to admit being scared, we took turns sitting on the very north end of the summit blocks with our feet hanging off into the abyss. It was breathe taking. I left my driver's permit under a rock to prove we were there. The coach was not happy.
J Fox - Jun 23, 2009 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2008
Awesome traverseTraversed Echo, Cockscomb and Unicorn. A wonderful day in Yosemite.
ozarkmac - Apr 20, 2009 7:35 am
Turned away 2x!Twice I drove up from the Bay Area to climb Unicorn. Twice I got to the exposed Class 4 move. Twice I turned back. My wife and I returned later to make the false summit and take in awesome views.
tombcronin - Sep 24, 2008 3:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2008
Fun FunBring a short 30m rope if you want to protect the summit or if you are brave free solo...
danman3156 - Aug 17, 2008 12:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2008
West SideWorked our way up the west face. Ended up soloing a pitch and a half of low to mid fifth. Nice summit views.
cp0915 - Aug 3, 2008 7:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2008
South AreteNice scramble, then on to Cockscomb.
Adamus - Jul 13, 2008 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2008
Standard Class 4 RouteNot difficult. Left TH past 5:30pm and scrambled up it along with Althuski. Only one real class 4 part. Not hard, but you want to be comfortable trusting both hands to the same rock edge to shimmy a little.
Drewid - Jul 7, 2008 6:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
Happy BirthdayCelebrated the evening of the fourth of July with my cousin Aaron on the summit of Unicorn Peak. Headed up past Elizabeth Lake and then up to the ridge between Cockscomb and Unicorn, then north along the ridge to the Unicorn. All three summits are nice though the northernmost is a classic. The vantage point is exceptional looking down on the Meadows. I wanted to cast off and soar down to the Tuolumne River like a pterodactyl, but didn't.
bearbnz - Jul 6, 2008 11:59 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2008
North AreteFun little scramble up the far right (north) edge of the East Face, then a short traverse south to the summit. We continued on to Cockscomb, which was also a fun scramble.
fossana - Jun 20, 2008 2:38 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2008
last peak on the cathedral traverseThe talus heap on the way from Cockscomb wasn't as bad as it looked. Nice views to complete the traverse.
stepho - Apr 19, 2008 7:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2003
Good view of ToulomneI was only 9 and my brother 7 but I still made it quite a way up the east slope. Stopped few 600-700 feet below the top. We were not ever intending to get very far past Elizabeth Lake.
Janell - Nov 24, 2007 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2007
BittersweetA fantastic hike at the end of a crappy day...I looked at this peak all summer and am glad i finally got up there!
Dave S - Jun 21, 2007 2:31 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
South RidgeFun scrambling along the ridge!
awagher - Sep 5, 2006 4:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
Good FinishGood finish to a 10 hour day spent traversing from Cathedral, Eichorn, Echo ridge, Cockscomb and Unicorn.
colinr - Aug 12, 2006 12:48 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
A fun scramble!Hiked up from our campsite in Tuolomne Meadows via Elizabeth Lake with Brian, Amaryah, and Chase. Outstanding views and a good work out scrambling up form the lake. A great way to adjust to the altitude and the exposure to heights before several other hikes to follow during our stay. In fact, the exposure dissuaded me from attempting the crux. Next time.
Bill Kish - May 24, 2006 7:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2004
Route Climbed: From Elizabeth lakeFirst leg of awesome Cathedral traverse in 2004 with Brian Z. x2 with BAMM in 2010. x3 with Seth in 2012.
Rileywyna - Dec 19, 2005 7:33 am
Route Climbed: some wierd off route deal Date Climbed: aug 2000Attempted to do the grade 4 traverse of all the peaks in this area. We made it as far as Matthes Crest before we had to rap off due to weather.
gordonye - Oct 3, 2005 3:03 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: October 1, 2005Fun half-day scramble with Eszter Tompos. The exposed class 4 gap on the summit ridge was quite unnerving but fun.
tpdwr - Sep 29, 2005 5:44 pm
Route Climbed: From Elizabeth Lake Date Climbed: September 11,1973Camped at Elizabeth Lake.
Dave Dinnell - Jan 13, 2004 3:29 pm
Route Climbed: Regular Rt. Date Climbed: Aug. 8, 1988A fun scramble from Lake Elizabeth.
Bill Ott - Aug 31, 2003 9:56 am
Route Climbed: east slope Date Climbed: June, 1964Carlos was 15, and I was 16 when we broke off from our x-country team at Elizabeth Lake. We scrambled up the east slope to the summit. Too stupid to admit being scared, we took turns sitting on the very north end of the summit blocks with our feet hanging off into the abyss. It was breathe taking. I left my driver's permit under a rock to prove we were there. The coach was not happy.