Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: June 13th, 2003
Full-moon hike from the locked gate... Moon was so bright, we did not even need our headlamps. Unfortunately as we reached the summit ridge it got terribly cold (~50mph below freezing winds), so we did not spend any time on the top and ran back down.
Will come back and do it again in warmer conditions!
Route Climbed: Truck route Date Climbed: June 15 2003
Drive up can be half the fun. There was already some haze obscuring the summit view as one looked to the south. Could not see Williamson, but still a great view of the Palisades and North. No real snow left to speak of, but the marmots seem to be getting even bigger. I saw one the size of a bulldog. Good high altitude trail run ~4.25hrs CTC.
Summited on Mtn Bike, September 2004. Had to do a bit of pushing towards the top, but the bombing run down was more then worth it!
Made this climb after stove failure forced me to abandon a backpack trip in the Sierra Nevada. Made the hike suffering severe back pain. On the way up I met an old lady and young lady who had spent a very cold night on the summit. Saw mountain bike tracks on the final switchbacks - made me wish I had my bike!
Route Climbed: South Face Date Climbed: 4 August, 2001
After a hell of a time 4-wheeling (and back-tracking) in the rental car to find the right road to the gated parking lot (and praying they wouldn't make me pay for all the resulting scratches and dings, as I opted against the insurance for that kind of stuff!), I finally reached my goal. Right on par with most of my 14er ascents that summer, little sleep and acclimating was the order of the day (night). Left the gate @ 2.00 for a full-moon hike up to the summit. It was a beautiful, clear, moonlit hike up to the summit, but my lack of rest definitely had me feeling the altitude (which sucked). Reached the summit @ 5.30, in time to watch the sun rise. Even though it was the summer, at that time in the morning it was (literally) freezing-assed cold @ the summit- come prepared! Departed @ 6.00, watching the spreading sunrise on the Sierra (really cool). Got back to the car @ 9.20 & drove to Cottonwood Lakes trailhead to do Mt. Langley the next day.
9.15.'7: W ridge
3rd time's the charm! After having been turned around by poor planning/running out of water/thunderstorms & getting onto the wrong ridge, finally did it right! Arrived night prior from SF (summited 24hrs after being at sea level). Left truck at the base of the south spur (~5,500') at 6.30.
A HUGE amount of scree slogging & some ridge/tower 3rd-class traversing later, I stood atop WMP again! What a HUGE f$%&ing ridge!!! Summited at 14.23. Hung out at the summit, had a beer & chips, & enjoyed the phenomenal views & great weather. Took off again at 15.00.
Slog down looooooong & mostly uneventful, except for not finding the last portion down to the valley (couldn't find way in dark), & being forced to descend horrendous steep compacted dirt & rocks. Back at car at 21.30- car-to-car 15:00.
A few notes:
* being in CO (& summiting 3 14ers while there) for 1.5 weeks ending the Sunday prior to this trip helped with acclimatization immensely.
* If you want to do this route: MAKE SURE YOU'RE ACCLIMATIZED!; bring LOTS of water (5 quarts should suffice for most unless it's the hottest part of summer); start early!- not only to get you back sooner, but to make use of daylight on return, & so it's cooler while you're down lower on the mtn, before it becomes an inferno; make notes of landmarks on way up for descent!; bring hiking poles (at least if doing this in the summer)- they could well save you a sprained ankle or 2, & will definitely lessen the (great!) impact on your knees!
Route Climbed: Standard route Date Climbed: October 2001
In my opinion, this mountain has the best view in the state. Where else can you see the entire high Sierra Crest from Langley to north of Whitney? We saw a bighorn sheep near the summit.
Boring and easy walk-up. Had this terrific dog follow us nearly up to the summit from the science compond. I plan on riding my mountain bike to the top in June 2003, from Olympia, WA as part of yet another a bike/climb trip.
Route Climbed: Tourist Route Date Climbed: June 22, 2002
Walked up from the locked gate with ScottyS in 2:10 with 2 inches of fresh snow on the trail. Most of it was melted by the time we got to the top. This is by far the easiest CA 14er to summit despite a hypoxic tourist's oxygen starved argument on the summit. For more info and pics, visit my White Mountain Peak page.
I took along my sleeping bag and stove and some dog food (for the dog). I just hung out all day meeting everybody, and watching the changing light on the Sierra. Great sunset, Awesome sunrise!
Route Climbed: 4 WD Road Date Climbed: September 9 2002
I biked up from the gate, which was really nice, except the last switchbacks up the summit really hurt. Has anybody ridden this? I resorted to pushing my bike... But the way down was awesome. After needing 21/2 hours for the way up, I blasted down in 45 min, I just love my Cannondale Jekyll :)
I saw about a dozen Bighorn Sheep and the weather was really nice and warm (late afternoon).
The next day, I biked Silver Canyon, I can't believe some people actually do this two trips in one day...
Route Climbed: 4wd road Date Climbed: september 3rd, 2002
My first peak in the United States. We rented a 4wd car in San Francisco because of the comments on Summitpost.com about the bad condition of the road (I was glad we did). Enjoyed the bristlecone trees on the way to the Barcroft gate.
I was on the summit together with my wife Astrid and cousin Ferry. Although it's an easy hike, it was my worst ever. We arrived in the US just a few days earlier and due to improper acclimatization I didn't feel strong. Made it to the summit anyway. Sunny day with a clear view on the summit. Some clouds on the way back.
Nice hike despite the barren landscape. Saw lots of marmots and a few bighorn sheep just off the trail. 13 of the 15 in our group made it to the top. Super windy on top and during descent.
Route Climbed: Gated road Date Climbed: August 18th,2002
Cool hike..our first fourteener! Started at around 11am and got back to the car about 8 hours later. Trail was awesome. Looked like a moonscape. We have many photos and a trip report on our website at Natural Born Hikers
Link is on home page for brief time and then can be found under TRAILS. Thanks
Route Climbed: Service Road Date Climbed: August 18, 2002
I arrived at 12:30am and was the only one car camped at the locked gate. Leftover chicken wire was haunting the parking lot. Big, fat marmots were only seen near the summit, not sucking green goo out of my radiator hose. It took me 2 hours to traverse the 16 miles of rough dirt road in a low clearance passenger vehicle, and the last 4 were hell. (I obviously don't love my car.) It's pure torture when I could have outrun my car to the trailhead. I started off at 5:30am (brrrr cold) and finished off with a sunburn on my lips. The sky was very hazy and dusty, so the view was lacking, and the forest fire in the Southern Sierra's didn't help. I was the first one to the summit that morning, and the first to snatch the Very Berry PowerBar (my fav flavor). Not to be greedy, I replaced it with some Vanilla GU and a ClifBar.
Route Climbed: Barcroft approach road, direct variation to the summit Date Climbed: June 22, 2002
Dayhiked with bearbnz and our wives on a sweet day just after some freshie accumulation. After passing through the valley after the telescope site, we took a direct route to the summit hut, passing about 15 tourists on the way up. On the return to the saddle below the peak, I found my wife waiting to be escorted to the top --- I promptly turned around and took her up the direct route as well.
Route Climbed: 4WD Road Date Climbed: July 19, 2002
Hiked with brother Ron. To make it more challenging I had no food or water (though I carried a liter). I think Josh called this high-altitude deprivation training. :)
The road was in fine shape. We took a Grand Am rental averaging about 30mph (that was almost more exciting than the climb). Weather was quite fine as well, after 5 days of thunderstorms in the Mammoth area.
Misha - Jun 18, 2003 1:09 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: June 13th, 2003Full-moon hike from the locked gate... Moon was so bright, we did not even need our headlamps. Unfortunately as we reached the summit ridge it got terribly cold (~50mph below freezing winds), so we did not spend any time on the top and ran back down.
Will come back and do it again in warmer conditions!
bennovak - Jun 16, 2003 6:57 pm
Route Climbed: Truck route Date Climbed: June 15 2003Drive up can be half the fun. There was already some haze obscuring the summit view as one looked to the south. Could not see Williamson, but still a great view of the Palisades and North. No real snow left to speak of, but the marmots seem to be getting even bigger. I saw one the size of a bulldog. Good high altitude trail run ~4.25hrs CTC.
Summited on Mtn Bike, September 2004. Had to do a bit of pushing towards the top, but the bombing run down was more then worth it!
Tom Kenney - Apr 1, 2003 4:40 pm
Route Climbed: The Road Date Climbed: JUL-2000Made this climb after stove failure forced me to abandon a backpack trip in the Sierra Nevada. Made the hike suffering severe back pain. On the way up I met an old lady and young lady who had spent a very cold night on the summit. Saw mountain bike tracks on the final switchbacks - made me wish I had my bike!
Diggler - Mar 12, 2003 12:21 pm
Route Climbed: South Face Date Climbed: 4 August, 2001After a hell of a time 4-wheeling (and back-tracking) in the rental car to find the right road to the gated parking lot (and praying they wouldn't make me pay for all the resulting scratches and dings, as I opted against the insurance for that kind of stuff!), I finally reached my goal. Right on par with most of my 14er ascents that summer, little sleep and acclimating was the order of the day (night). Left the gate @ 2.00 for a full-moon hike up to the summit. It was a beautiful, clear, moonlit hike up to the summit, but my lack of rest definitely had me feeling the altitude (which sucked). Reached the summit @ 5.30, in time to watch the sun rise. Even though it was the summer, at that time in the morning it was (literally) freezing-assed cold @ the summit- come prepared! Departed @ 6.00, watching the spreading sunrise on the Sierra (really cool). Got back to the car @ 9.20 & drove to Cottonwood Lakes trailhead to do Mt. Langley the next day.
9.15.'7: W ridge
3rd time's the charm! After having been turned around by poor planning/running out of water/thunderstorms & getting onto the wrong ridge, finally did it right! Arrived night prior from SF (summited 24hrs after being at sea level). Left truck at the base of the south spur (~5,500') at 6.30.
A HUGE amount of scree slogging & some ridge/tower 3rd-class traversing later, I stood atop WMP again! What a HUGE f$%&ing ridge!!! Summited at 14.23. Hung out at the summit, had a beer & chips, & enjoyed the phenomenal views & great weather. Took off again at 15.00.
Slog down looooooong & mostly uneventful, except for not finding the last portion down to the valley (couldn't find way in dark), & being forced to descend horrendous steep compacted dirt & rocks. Back at car at 21.30- car-to-car 15:00.
A few notes:
* being in CO (& summiting 3 14ers while there) for 1.5 weeks ending the Sunday prior to this trip helped with acclimatization immensely.
* If you want to do this route: MAKE SURE YOU'RE ACCLIMATIZED!; bring LOTS of water (5 quarts should suffice for most unless it's the hottest part of summer); start early!- not only to get you back sooner, but to make use of daylight on return, & so it's cooler while you're down lower on the mtn, before it becomes an inferno; make notes of landmarks on way up for descent!; bring hiking poles (at least if doing this in the summer)- they could well save you a sprained ankle or 2, & will definitely lessen the (great!) impact on your knees!
Dave K - Jan 22, 2003 5:27 pm
Route Climbed: Standard route Date Climbed: October 2001In my opinion, this mountain has the best view in the state. Where else can you see the entire high Sierra Crest from Langley to north of Whitney? We saw a bighorn sheep near the summit.
yayoubetcha - Dec 25, 2002 10:41 am
Route Climbed: The Road Date Climbed: July 2001Boring and easy walk-up. Had this terrific dog follow us nearly up to the summit from the science compond. I plan on riding my mountain bike to the top in June 2003, from Olympia, WA as part of yet another a bike/climb trip.
bearbnz - Oct 20, 2002 3:10 pm
Route Climbed: Tourist Route Date Climbed: June 22, 2002Walked up from the locked gate with ScottyS in 2:10 with 2 inches of fresh snow on the trail. Most of it was melted by the time we got to the top. This is by far the easiest CA 14er to summit despite a hypoxic tourist's oxygen starved argument on the summit. For more info and pics, visit my White Mountain Peak page.
KWANZOR - Oct 15, 2002 7:02 pm
Route Climbed: Road Date Climbed: June 1998I took along my sleeping bag and stove and some dog food (for the dog). I just hung out all day meeting everybody, and watching the changing light on the Sierra. Great sunset, Awesome sunrise!
linxweiler - Oct 8, 2002 10:43 pm
Route Climbed: Normal Route Date Climbed: August 26, 2000First 14er. Rode my bike up to 14,000, then hiked up to the summit over scree and snow. Amazing trip!
Doeddel - Sep 17, 2002 12:23 pm
Route Climbed: 4 WD Road Date Climbed: September 9 2002I biked up from the gate, which was really nice, except the last switchbacks up the summit really hurt. Has anybody ridden this? I resorted to pushing my bike... But the way down was awesome. After needing 21/2 hours for the way up, I blasted down in 45 min, I just love my Cannondale Jekyll :)
I saw about a dozen Bighorn Sheep and the weather was really nice and warm (late afternoon).
The next day, I biked Silver Canyon, I can't believe some people actually do this two trips in one day...
Rockhopper - Sep 15, 2002 4:24 pm
Route Climbed: 4wd road Date Climbed: september 3rd, 2002My first peak in the United States. We rented a 4wd car in San Francisco because of the comments on Summitpost.com about the bad condition of the road (I was glad we did). Enjoyed the bristlecone trees on the way to the Barcroft gate.
I was on the summit together with my wife Astrid and cousin Ferry. Although it's an easy hike, it was my worst ever. We arrived in the US just a few days earlier and due to improper acclimatization I didn't feel strong. Made it to the summit anyway. Sunny day with a clear view on the summit. Some clouds on the way back.
pilz8 - Sep 11, 2002 9:08 pm
Route Climbed: east slope Date Climbed: June 2001Epic views!! A nice hike up,we saw mule deer bucks with velvet horns and coyotes on the drive up.
jkuehling - Sep 11, 2002 2:44 pm
Date Climbed: Aug. 3, 2002Nice hike despite the barren landscape. Saw lots of marmots and a few bighorn sheep just off the trail. 13 of the 15 in our group made it to the top. Super windy on top and during descent.
velodurt - Sep 8, 2002 6:40 pm
Route Climbed: Gated road Date Climbed: August 18th,2002Cool hike..our first fourteener! Started at around 11am and got back to the car about 8 hours later. Trail was awesome. Looked like a moonscape. We have many photos and a trip report on our website at Natural Born Hikers
Link is on home page for brief time and then can be found under TRAILS. Thanks
scottyb - Aug 26, 2002 11:35 pm
Route Climbed: Road Date Climbed: September 2000Biked with Dave
xinh - Aug 19, 2002 2:10 am
Route Climbed: Service Road Date Climbed: August 18, 2002I arrived at 12:30am and was the only one car camped at the locked gate. Leftover chicken wire was haunting the parking lot. Big, fat marmots were only seen near the summit, not sucking green goo out of my radiator hose. It took me 2 hours to traverse the 16 miles of rough dirt road in a low clearance passenger vehicle, and the last 4 were hell. (I obviously don't love my car.) It's pure torture when I could have outrun my car to the trailhead. I started off at 5:30am (brrrr cold) and finished off with a sunburn on my lips. The sky was very hazy and dusty, so the view was lacking, and the forest fire in the Southern Sierra's didn't help. I was the first one to the summit that morning, and the first to snatch the Very Berry PowerBar (my fav flavor). Not to be greedy, I replaced it with some Vanilla GU and a ClifBar.
daniellwu - Aug 18, 2002 10:51 pm
Route Climbed: usual route Date Climbed: August 4th, 2002Went on the open house day; they opened up the Barcroft Gate.
I'm too lazy to write the details of the trip. Email me.
ScottyS - Aug 13, 2002 11:35 pm
Route Climbed: Barcroft approach road, direct variation to the summit Date Climbed: June 22, 2002Dayhiked with bearbnz and our wives on a sweet day just after some freshie accumulation. After passing through the valley after the telescope site, we took a direct route to the summit hut, passing about 15 tourists on the way up. On the return to the saddle below the peak, I found my wife waiting to be escorted to the top --- I promptly turned around and took her up the direct route as well.
1st summit time: 2hrs 10min
Joe Hanssen - Aug 5, 2002 3:12 pm
Route Climbed: Service Road Date Climbed: August 3 '02Mt Biked to the summit. Check my trip report.
Bob Burd - Jul 19, 2002 5:59 pm
Route Climbed: 4WD Road Date Climbed: July 19, 2002Hiked with brother Ron. To make it more challenging I had no food or water (though I carried a liter). I think Josh called this high-altitude deprivation training. :)
5hrs CTC. Trip Report
The road was in fine shape. We took a Grand Am rental averaging about 30mph (that was almost more exciting than the climb). Weather was quite fine as well, after 5 days of thunderstorms in the Mammoth area.