The North Face

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 37.16690°N / 118.6706°W
Additional Information Route Type: Snow / Ice
Additional Information Time Required: Half a day
Additional Information Difficulty: AI2
Sign the Climber's Log

Approach


Approach this climb by hiking over Lamarck Col from the North Lake trailhead ( Bishop ), to one of several excellent camp sites in upper Darwin Canyon. See The High Sierra - Paeks, Passes and Trails guide by R. J. Secor for more information. The maps needed are the Mt. Darwin and Mt. Thompson 7.5 minute USGS quads.

Route Description


This is a pretty straight forward snow and ice climb right up the main ice face. Aim for the gully that narrows down ( to 12' wide ) and ends at the summit plateau. Descend the Northwest Ridge route ( class 3 ).

Essential Gear


An ice axe or 2 ice tools, crampons. We free soloed the route, but less experienced climbers may want a 9mm rope and a small rack for rock belays.

Miscellaneous Info


If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.


Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.