Hiking N Stuff

Pyramid Peak 2008

On Aug 1st 2008 I did my 1st solo adventure and summited Pyramid Peak (9,983 feet) via the Rocky Canyon Creek route. I took 4 liters of water a sandwich and my backpacking gear, it must have weighted about 35lb's. I had the entire summit to myself and I only ran into people lower down the trail who where coming up for day hikes as I was leaving. The Rocky Canyon route up Pyramid Peak is probably the greatest vertical climb in the Tahoe Sierra. Starting from a base elevation of 5,900', the route climbs up nearly 4,100' to the summit of Pyramid Peak in 3.3 miles. I have done this route in the summer and winter and I was confident it would offer a challenging yet safe solo adventure. In just a few days I plan to summit the Middle Palisade and I have been preparing for 14,000 feet. I've been running every other day, hiking, climbing and I figured the best way to acclimate to higher elevations is by going to higher elevations. On a whim I planned to spend the night on top of Pyramid Peak and because it was a Friday (I had to work Sunday) I would need to go solo, all my partners would be working, and I'm kind of glad. I always wanted to go solo, I guess I just never put my money where my mouth is and stepped into the unknown. It was a wonderful experience, and I'm glad I went through with it. Click read more for the rest of the trip report.

Pyramid Peak 2008 Gallery

Yosemite Valley 2008

On June 7th 2008, Lis and I visited Yosemite again like we do every spring. We decided to brave the crowds of the Valley this year and explore some new areas. Lis had been sick just days before and was still recovering during the trip so some of our hiking plans were cut short. We did get a chance to venture up the upper Yosemite Falls trail, a beautiful trail that goes straight up the valley walls following a ravine all the way to the top. Yosemite Falls is the fourth highest waterfall in North America, but arguably the most dramatic. We stopped short of the top and took some great pictures of the upper falls, the normal crowds of the valley were in full force and we made every attempt to avoid them.

We found a great secluded spot on the Merced River for a bottle of wine below Half Dome, the old campgrounds and closed areas were perfect for avoiding the hordes of day trippers and tour buses. Lis has never been to Glacier Point so on our way home we made a side trip up there, Monday morning was a great time to stop at some of the normally crowded locations and vista points such as the classic tunnel view. Check out the new gallery, we took some beautiful pictures. This is obviously a place that needs to be seen in person to appreciate the scale. Everyone should make an attempt to visit Yosemite Valley during their lifetime. Obviously weekdays are much more enjoyable, but don�t shy away from the busy springtime season, the waterfalls flowing in full force are worth the hassle.

Yosemite 2008 Gallery

Crescent Moon Couloir 2008 (video)

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Machete Ridge traverse (Old Original) 2008

by A_requiem

The weather at Pinnacles National Monument over President's Day Weekend (Feb 16-18, 2008) was clear and dry and almost too warm in the sun; the nights were chilly, with frost in the morning and ice in the water bottles when we woke up on Sunday. Monday morning there was fog through the campsite until the sun rose over the ridge to chase it away. The climbing at Discovery Wall, the most popular climbing area at Pinnacles due to its proximity to parking and concentration of good routes with (relatively) solid rock, was a bit crowded but the local climbers were quite friendly and open with their beta. Machete Ridge was an adventure and a trial of our mountaineering skills: elusive, quiet, airy, and quick to turn dark and unforgiving. A short hike to the Overlook afforded us views of Hawkins Peak and the High Peaks, which we relished over lunch before heading home. Click Read More on the bottom for a complete and very detailed trip report.

Old Original Gallery

Mt St Helena Climbing 2008

by Squishy

During the winter we visited Mount St. Helena twice for some top rope rock climbing. We climbed the quarry area, site of the old Silverado mine from the 1880�s and another out of the way area called �the far side�. The 2 mile approach to the far side was short and it was a nice day to relax, climb and enjoy the great views. The quarry area was a tourist trap with passing groups stopping to check out the mine which is close to the main summit trail. Mount St. Helena becomes way too hot in the summer, but it�s a perfect place to play in the winter time.

Mt St Helena Gallery

Big Sur 2008

by Squishy

In January Lis and I made it out to Big Sur for a weekend of hiking and exploring. Big Sur is about 120 miles south of San Francisco, where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the sea. We visited several waterfalls including one that drops right into the ocean, but the wildlife was the highlight of the trip. We spotted the California condor, deer, turkey, sea otter, seals, many birds and even migrating grey whales. We met two very nice rangers at the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and they told us about the whale watching spot on hwy 1. They provided binoculars and a wealth of information, Lis was spotting whale spouts in the ocean for the remainder of the weekend. We spent dusk on Pfeiffer state beach with a bottle of California red wine while reading excerpts from Jack Kerouac�s �Big Sur�. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park was especially beautiful with redwoods, waterfalls and beaches all within close proximity. We also visited Point Lobos State Reserve on the way back to Sacramento, with its crowed trails and beautiful coast. I took some great pictures from Monterey to Big Sur, here's some sleepy seals. Big Sur has so much to offer I wish we had a few more days for longer excursions; this would be an awesome place to do some backpacking.

Big Sur Gallery

Fall Rock Climbing 2007

by squishy

This fall the crew has been out climbing instead of just hiking, we are still very new to climbing but are gaining valuable experience whenever we can. A_requiem pioneered a new route near Horsetail Falls which he named "baby steps" and we also broke in a bunch of new climbing gear. We again visited the Cosumnes River Gorge, and everyone learned to rappel and belay, no nude people in sight still. The snow has begun to fall and we are preparing to take it on instead of just sitting around all winter. I compiled a picture gallery consisting of four separate climbing trips, here's a link to the gallery.

Fall Rock Climbing Gallery

A_requiem sending a new route ("baby steps" 5.6) near Horsetail Falls in Desolation Wilderness.

Thunder Mountain 2007

by squishy

When I was very young I remember looking up at the Thunder Mountain while camping at Silver Lake with my family. I use to wonder what use to live up there in the caves and overhangs. It was a magical place for a child's mind and for some reason the place stuck in mine. Things always seem so large when you are so small, but this one didn't change when Lis and I revisited it on 10/7/07. It was a beautiful day, it had snowed the day before, leaving the mountains lightly dusted. Thunder Mountain is a short distance from Kirkwood ski resort, as you can see in the pictures, we found some discouraging warning signs. We parked near the Carson Spur and reached the summit on a moderate trail. The route was about 7 miles round trip with 1800 feet of elevation gain. In the snow was numerous animal tracks and we were startled by a Blue Grouse flapping into the trees. We ate lunch perched above Silver Lake amongst rock formations not unlike those of Pinnacle National Monument.

Thunder Mountain

I learned of the mountains more recent and tragic history while doing research for this hike. Paul Ruff died there while attempting a world record ski jump, I took a picture of the memorial cross found near the summit. This hike was also Lis's first "peak bag". Thunder Mountain is 9410 feet and the highest point in Amador county, and it was bigger and better than my young mind had imagined years ago.

Thunder Mountain Pictures

Ralston Peak (east ridge) 2007

Before this successful peak bag, there was an unsuccessful attempt on the same route two weeks prior. We attempted the route per ScottyS's page and followed it to the letter, until we reached the second bump on the ridge past Saucer Lake, where we rested briefly before the final summit push. After navigating the gendarmes and bushwhacking, we were ecstatic to finally see before us the class 3 scrambling we read about; but after checking our water situation, we found only 2 liters of water among the 3 of us on a warm day. We decided to abort the summit attempt, divvy up the water, and cut across Evolution Valley past the west end of Upper Echo Lake to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

The Desolation Wilderness. Lake of the woods and Luis in the foreground and the Crystal Mountains in the background.

On Sunday 9/30/2007, we summited Ralston Peak via the east ridge and looped back to Echo Chalet via the PCT. Distance was ~9.9 miles; 3.1 miles to Ralston and another 6.8 back to Echo Chalet. We did it in 8 hours with plenty of rests and slow-going bushwhacking.

After admiring the thin layer of new fallen snow and a short hike down to Lower Echo Lake to acquire permits, we started hiking up the hill from the upper parking lot into the woods. We found the use trail after traversing through a bit of snow and brush in open forest. (On the way we ran across the wheelframe of an old railroad car rusted out and left over from mining days. The center gear shaft still had rubber on it!) The trail led into a little gully that we traveled in for about a quarter mile until we reached the switchbacks to Becker Peak. The north side of the gully offered views of Lower Echo and damage from the Angora fires near Lake Tahoe from late June 2007.

Unlike our previous attempt, we shied away from the boulders cresting the ridge between Becker Peak and Talking Mtn, trading them for slogging and bushwhacking on the south side of the ridge. We had this damned fool idea of staying on the use trail, which sort of disappeared. Bad move. After Becker Peak, we should've gained the crest and stayed on the boulders as much as possible since there is much less bushwhacking involved, not to mention the views are better...

After eating the uphill bushwhack and finally gaining the crest, we found that the wind exposure there and on the south side of the ridge was considerable. We were unbalanced during the heavier gusts, especially while scrambling over the tallus around Ralston's satellite peaks. Traversing on the north side wasn't much better protected from wind. The summit of Ralston peak rewarded us with views of the Crystal Range and Desolation Valley, and we broke for lunch. From there it was an easy hike down the west ridge to Ralston Trail, past Haypress Meadow and back around Echo Lakes via the PCT.

Ralston Peak Gallery

Ralston Peak attempt 9/16/07