MudNCrud Forums
Climbing and ... Climbing => Everywhere Else => Topic started by: rhyang on August 06, 2012, 07:15:13 PM
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Clyde Minaret (12281') is in the Ritter Range, ancient volcanic mountains near Mammoth in the Sierra Nevada. In 2009 I'd hiked up to the base of the Rock Route with a friend who was new to class 4 scrambling. It was not to be though, and we decided to bail. We enjoyed a nice hike out to Devil's Postpile and took the shuttle back to the car.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2618/3900748974_e952a4ca0d_z.jpg)
(but not before getting a look at the SE Face .. someday maybe)
The peak remained on my to-do list for a few years. At the end of July I headed up to the Cathedral Lakes trailhead and warmed up on a few of the Echo Peaks in Tuolumne.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7688074790_6a483228f9_z.jpg)
Sunday I did the SE Face of Mt. Emerson (5.4) from North Lake -
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/7688215048_bd5f02d521_z.jpg)
This route had been on my list of fun routes to solo, and IMO it was worth the short approach. I then hurried up to Mammoth from Bishop and spent the night at the vista. By 6:30am I started hiking from Agnew Meadows (8300'). After about an hour I got my first glimpse of the Minarets as I passed Shadow Lake.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7688360636_fb0d697bd1_z.jpg)
A little later I got a nice view of Ritter and Banner from Lake Ediza (9200')
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7688362046_6541443bd1_z.jpg)
A pleasant use trail heads up from there past Iceberg Lake (9700')
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7688363064_e77fa42dec_z.jpg)
The trail disappeared into a talus field briefly as it ascended to beautiful Cecile Lake (10200'). By now I'd hiked about 9.5 miles and it was a little past 10am. Fast I am not.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7688365128_678bf7f48b_z.jpg)
The approach to the route from the lake is a thousand feet of class 2-3 slabs.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7688366530_0fce6b70e7_z.jpg)
The lakes were fantastic viewed from up there -
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/7688371762_0db8b0afc2_z.jpg)
(Cecile, Iceberg, Ediza -- nearest to farthest)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7688370372_8f5a92ac56_z.jpg)
(Cecile, with Volcanic Ridge behind it)
After some additional scrambling there is a nice ramp which intersects with the route, just above a 5.5ish chimney (or so I'm told). The Rock Route proper goes up some exposed third class for a while.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7688373926_31415fc77b_z.jpg)
The route crosses over into the next gully, passing a tower.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8429/7688377590_7dfe06d347_c.jpg)
There were a few moves that seemed borderline class 4, and finding the easiest way took some time. I got to the summit ridge in early afternoon. Great views.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7688379606_a736145efb_z.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/7688378450_307333f86d_z.jpg)
The summit was in view, but first I had to downclimb 10' of fourth class that offered some adrenaline :)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7688380638_3e85a3126e_z.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8432/7688381892_4c7c41bb83_z.jpg)
From there it was a short scramble to the summit.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7688385346_1e367d8982_z.jpg)
Hooray ! I had a chocolate bar and carefully made my way back down. The routefinding was nontrivial and a couple times I backtracked. My weak left leg was getting fatigued, but it wasn't so bad yet. By the time I made it down to Cecile Lake it was nearing 6:30pm and I still had 9.5 miles to go.
Let's just say I was glad for the almost-full moon :)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7688387408_01007d6574_z.jpg)
Around 9pm my headlamp turned on, and it was another hour before I got back to the meadows. A group was just setting out for Shadow Lake, headlamps and all. I guess they figured a full-moon hike might be nice.
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Super trip report Rhyang. Not many climbers travel in the Minarets these days. That's a long, hard car-to-car.
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We have another name for that, Brad. Not a long & hard car to car.
That's "full value". 8)
Oh, yeah. That's sweet.