Approaching the High Peaks- East or West Side

[F4?]

Okay, it's been awhile for me.

So to get to the high peaks, which side is preferred to start from?
East or West side

Target: Condor Crag

I will have to bench mark from my house, but let's just say from a parking lot?

[squiddo]

EAST! Wait, you’re not taking James up CC are you? He needs a belay weight to attach to catch your P1 fall as bolts pop.....

[F4?]

CondorC is a wee bit too cold this time of year. I think he'd cruz it.

The plan of attach is St Vals Massacare and the other summits.

Mr Cinch will be on duty and will use a tree when possible for the anchor on the ground.

Hardest part is the bloody approach.

[Brad Young]

The only people that have any preference that I know of are John and Kathy and I think they're gone right now.

John thinks that the West Side approach is less sunny and therefore less hot and easier.

Other than that, the two hikes are very, very close to being the same. Parking on the West Side can perhaps be a little less of a cluster#$% this time of year.

[F4?]

Agree with you Brad on parking at the west side right now.

I saw that early arrival on the west side was key.

[Zay]

Hii F4,

I've done both, and I'd swear starting from west side at least seems to go by faster (even if it is slightly longer- though i'd swear its not). There's just something cool about coming up by teapot dome and underneath chaos crag... seeing the resurrection wall... yeah, I feel like I see more low flying condors coming up the west side too... AND you can look back to the balconies and machete...

... as Jim Morrison said, the west is the best.