Above this obstacle lies a moderately sloped snowfield terminating in a steep rock scramble to the ridge at an elevation of 13,100â. This is not really a Pass but rather a ridge crossing. Next day it was my intent to climb Mt.
I told them about my adventure and they congratulated me with the last remaining beer David had packed.
Photo credit: Sierramountaineering. We meant to go to Mount Sill in the CA Sierra, but came across some unusual conditions. Jefferson) and then NW steeply to the upper valley below Polemonium Glacier. After only three steps, I was completely out of breath. Mount Sill via North Couloir (mostly traditional route) - GPX FILE Tammy Luther and Roberto Chavez - summer ascent.
Average 1" of fresh snow over 12K', made moving across the moraine a little tense with snow freezing on the bottom of my shoes and verglas on the rock on the way to the notch. Mount Sill (14,154 ft) has arguably the best summit views in the Sierra Nevada, including the Palisade Cirque, Mount Ritter in the north, Mount Whitney in the south, and many imposing peaks of Kings Canyon National Park in the west. The elevation was getting to me and this stop-and-go trend would persists throughout the rest of the ascent. by Ricardo Soria
We go back to camp at 6:30pm.People expecting an easy class 2 mountain should know that it's probably not going to be that easy.
After passing the scary part, My brother traversed right to look into chute # 4 and found that we were level with the notch on the ridge at the top of chute #4 (~13740'). We managed to climb parallel paths through coarse scree, loose rock and solid rock. Thirty years previously I made this approach solo, via N Big Pine Creek, Jigsaw Pass, and Knapsack Pass. Sill (Mt. A Ten Year Effort to Climb Mount Sill On October 19, 2002, I finally stood on the summit of Mount Sill at an elevation of 14,153 feet; a moment I'd anticipated and strived for since 1992. He asked us if we had any medical experience and we shook our heads. So there we were at the notch, approximately 400’ below the summit, faced with a serious bit of rock scrambling at high altitude and a guaranteed spooky descent down the ice after rappelling off the summit rocks back into the notch - and the day was running out. At 2:00 pm, I called off the summit attempt after a recce by me up the rock ramp to the beginning of the traverse. I met two climbers coming down that had just ascended the Swiss Arete route - I was suitably impressed. Our descent down the ice was harrowing which included a rappel over the worst section of ice (I’d left our ice screws below in the rocks! That chute was class 2 the entire way. For about a month and a half before this trip, we had planned to climb Split Mountain's St. Jean Couloir.
The Swiss Arête offers spectacular views of the Palisades, including Thunderbolt Peak, Starlight Peak, North Palisade, Polemonium Peak, Middle Palisade, and Split Mountain. I underestimated the time and effort required by a wide margin. Contact Pass, at an elevation of 11,800', was a real bummer with steep loose rock on both sides. I cut the far side short by taking a series of high ledges. My progress was far too slow to have any hope of standing below the class 4 couloir on Sill, so I settled for Glacier notch (13,000 ft+). I had to negotiate a difficult rock chimney to get there - maybe I took the wrong route? Point taken, Romain -- it's hard to predict how someone will view a route.
Southwest slope. The lakes were so close together that I had completely lost track of which one I was passing. We enjoyed some dinner and decided to call it an early night since we had a 3 AM wake up call. Gayley Summitpost Pages Mt. The traverse between the Apex saddle and the rib was mostly dirt, but I could imagine it being more intimidating with bullet-hard consolidated snow. pics by Harlan W. S. July 1-3, 2009 . Back at camp, David and Victor were packing. (6), Climber's Log Entries North Fork Trail leads up to Sam Mack Meadow, passing First, Second, and Third Lake. 3. (231), Climber's Log Entries 1 Saves.
We went to the tip of the glacier to get water. The conditions, however limiting in visibility, only amplified my overall presence during the climb making it an unforgettable experience. Victor had arrived shortly after and to my surprised, David had slipped passed me hiking up half a mile further before turning back. The The others descended toward us and it was very obvious which one had fallen. I was climbing down the wrong side of the mountain. by CBoldt1010 » Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:20 pm . As the date arrived, we had reached out to a few other climbers whose efforts to summit were thwarted by poor snow conditions caused by warm weather.
(1 ). Depending on conditions, ice axe and crampons are needed.
Ascends the magnificent East Face. To get back to Big Pine, I exited through Cirque pass and Southfork pass.
At this point there were about 4 gullies going straight up the side of Sill, NE.
There was some green lichen on the rocks facing us at the top of chute #4.Going north up the west side of the ridge was not too hard until we got to the notch I think was at the top of chute #2?
Hiked South Lake to Palisade basin in a day, via Bishop Pass and cross country through Knapsack Pass. Mount Sill on the other hand has a class 2-3 route on its southwest side. Sill from the Glacier Creek drainage (Southwest slope route – Class 3), the easiest route on the mountain but difficult to access. The total mileage is almost 11 miles to the base of the mountain. I moved south across the bowl before coming to the steep chute straight up to Glacier Notch. Strong winds were expected throughout the following day and everything we were looking at was exposed. We had left my ice axe and our crampons at camp. Gayley before retreating because of lack of time. Descended roped down from Notch to the Palisade Glacier and back to camp just before dark.
L Couloir looks pretty treacherous right now with snowfall from Wed. Climbed Gayley via Yellow Brick Road yesterday from North Fork. We weren't missing much. View Southwest slope Image Gallery - 6 Images.
As the condor flies, Scimitar Pass (4019m) is about 2km from Elinor Lake (3350m) plus elevation gain, and Mt Sill another 5km plus elevation loss/gain. My campsite selection not the best - too close to the lake, but itâs sheltered from what wind there is. The weather is excellent with clear skies and mild temperatures.Â.
It was easy enough to go left (SE) and find a route into gully #1 after checking it out from above. Deerhorn Mountain's Northeast Ridge via Onion Valley, Condor Peak via Trail Canyon (West Ridge), Rattlesnake Peak Loop (East Ridge Ascent), Sespe Hot Spring via Piedra Blanca Trail Head, Mount Sill via North Couloir (mostly traditional route) - GPX FILE, Mount Sill via North Couloir (personal account) - GPX FILE, Banner Peak via Ritter-Banner Saddle | TRVRS Outdoors, Mount Dade via the Hourglass Coulior | TRVRS Outdoors, Mount Williamson's West Face | TRVRS Outdoors, Deerhorn Mountain's Northeast Ridge via Onion Valley | TRVRS Outdoors, Rae Lakes Loop (in 15 hours) - Kings Canyon National Park | TRVRS Outdoors, Mount Sill via North Fork Big Pine Creek | TRVRS Outdoors, Mount Russell via the East Ridge | TRVRS Outdoors. After wandering an entire mile further I was granted another lakeside view of Temple Crag and suddenly my relaxing walk had come to a perplexing halt. Start at Glacier Notch, ascend the L-shaped couloir to another notch. My brother and I left the camp described in "Approach" abovefor Sill about noon. Agreed that Middle Pal NE face is a much more fun route - and I actually found it less intimidating than some parts of the N Couloir.
My third visit to the South Fork drainage of the Big Pine Creek and it doesn't get any easier, despite the slightly improved routes that I discover - generally out of desperation and utter exhaustion. I started the trip with a handicap - a sinus problem that began four weeks before, which Iâd hoped the high desert climate of the Owens Valley would disperse in a flash. No such luck. The combination of high altitude and cold air aggravated my nasal passages to where I was constantly blowing out small blood clots. SILL AND SPICE ROUTE ON MT. In early July, 2002, I think an ice axe would have been advisable for the chute directly below the summit ("Chute #1"), and crampons might have been necessary very early in the morning to climb the steep snow in the chute. First ascent July 24, 1903, by Joseph N. LeConte, James K. Moffitt, James S. Hutchinson and Robert D. Pike. Looking down on gullies 3 & 4 from above the top of gully 3, the rock color in #3 seems grayer and #4 seems browner. Was up there this summer and saw the amount of elevation loss, and additional gain, and loss, and gain to get to Sill and back to the top of the "pass" and just threw in the towel under black skies.
Mount Sill - the Early Attempts. Our group discussed other options until our very own Victor Jara was able to speak to a Ranger, confirming our suspicions that Split Mountain should probably be avoided.