Lyell at 13,114 ft, second is Mt. The trail is primarily used for hiking, rock climbing, and bird watching and is best used from June until September. As you hike higher up the drainage the trail fades away as people disperse to the different routes up the face of Conness. @sertanusanmaz. Conness is on the boundary between the Inyo National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Great hike with solid class 3 mountaineering. In that case, looking at an Instagram feed would be fulfilling – but it’s not. That said, the views on the descent were just as spectacular. A complete photo gallery from this day can be … If you walk through the campground you'll eventually find yourself of a well-worn single track trail. We got up at 4am, had breakfast and coffee, and drove 15 minutes to the trailhead. The last quarter mile of the actual summit could test your nerves as there are drop offs but nothing too dangerous as long as you’re careful and take your time. This is for you. A beautiful initial hike to the start of the route past sparkling lakes and high alpine tundra and meadows takes us to the saddle between North Peak and Mt Conness. Peaks: Mt Conness, Tresidder Peak (sorted/filed as Conness, Tresidder) Place: California. Lots of exposed climbing I need to poop bad That’s the haiku I would have written if Conness had a summit register. In the photo below, the lake is so still, it’s hard to tell where the water begins and the terrain begins because the reflection is so flawless. As expected, all of the campgrounds were full, so we just found a dirt spot 100 feet off the road and deployed the roof tent. The North Ridge of Mt. Right of Conness one can see the highest ridge of Yosemite NP, with Mount Ritter and Mount Maclure. Mount Conness Mt. ;-) After drying my eyes, I quickly made haste to Mt Conness by following the North Ridge proper. My app clocked in 9ish miles. Unfortunately, we parked 500 feet away from Neil, our guide, and it took us until 5:45am to find him. Conness. Rated at 5.6 or less, the climbing on Mount Conness was quite easy. This segment of the climb was a slog of loose scree and talus. You scarcely read of a miserable trip report up Mt Conness. After I got back from OR and #UintasHike16 craziness, Josh asked if I wanted to go solo the northwest ridge of North Peak and the north ridge of Mt. Make sure you take plenty of water and sunscreen. Climbers stroll an easy section of Mt. Length 7.4 miElevation gain 3080 ftRoute type Out & back The north ridge of Conness was directly to the south with basically the entire route laid out before me. By 6am we were on the trail, walking alongside Saddlebag Lake as the sun cast its alpine glow on the mountains ahead. Conness’ North Ridge, with the upper West Ridge at top right. I watched it rise and blow easterly with the winds as my eyes filled with tears. The trail is primarily used for hiking, rock climbing, and bird watching and is best used from June until September. After reading about North Ridge (5.6) and West Ridge (5.6) of Conness in Peter Croft's book, it was difficult for me to decide on the route- both seemed equally as awesome. In perfect conditions, no special equipment beyond traditional mountain day-hiking essentials is required for this peak. Altitude is a fickle thing. ... Mt Conness and at the plateau lake (3200m) look for a use trail on your left (south side of that mountain) that leads north up to the summit plateau. It is a modern classic; perfect for climbers who are new to alpine terrain or those who just want to take in the experience of … Absolutely beautiful day, totally fun hike. We ended up scrambling through some sketchy terrain. Conness (12,590 ft.) North Ridge (III, 5.6) Mt. Be careful! There’s no exact trail to the summit after the 1.5-2ish miles and don’t bother trying to follow the exact route proposed on Alltrails. we were just getting to really fun stuff when my climbing partner got AMS at 11k. There is a large gendarme (pinnacle of rock on a mountain ridge) next to Mount Conness and we soon found ourselves at the top of it. In fact, moments before summiting, I lost my brand new Arc'teryx hat. It’s hard to put into words, but I will always remember how it felt. There are a handful of backcountry climbs that are reasonable to do in a day car to car and this is one of our favorites. Views of the Conness Glacier from the ridge were great. From here the hike is quite easy, following a use trail along the ridge to gain another 1,000 feet until it gets to the foot of the exposed ridge that leads the final 200 feet to the summit. First two miles easy. Temps were high 50s which is abnormal for this time of the year and at such a high altitude. Towards the top there are several likely looking chutes for the final 100 feet or so to the ridge. I want to do a lot more of these kinds of adventures and I’m going to continue to train so that I can – all the way into my 80s if that’s possible. Conness. 6.18 Trip Notes. Conness on the northeastern fringe of the park. While the climbing itself was easy, moving quickly up the mountain was tougher on me from a cardio standpoint than I expected. It is a prominent peak on the eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park, whose vertical southwest wall (one of the best spots for big wall climbing in the Tuolumne Meadows area) is visible from many points on Tioga Pass Road (Hwy-120). And this kind of beauty leaves our souls emptied of any real connection and in despair. The higher we got, the more spectacular the views were. Conness! Really amazing views from the top--could see 40 miles out in most directions. Thanks to my friend Shayan. On the way home, Wes and I talked about doing Charlotte Dome next year. The rock is sturdy and hand/foot holds are clear. The sweeping North ridge of the mountain makes up the Park’s natural Eastern boundary and is pure alpine rock climbing nirvana. That said, there were some amazing sections of exposure climbing along the upper ridge. Didn't really follow the exact trail-route proposed on AllTrails. Because we had a guide, Wes and I were free to enjoy the views along the way, rather than being 100% focused on our survival. 1-2 Sep 2001 - by Rick Booth. As long as you have the map downloaded and know the direction of Alpine Lake, just start heading up. Dee and I decided to spend part of our Labor Day weekend climbing alpine routes in the Tuolumne. I think Wes fared better than I did. More training is needed. To do the entire stretch of Mt Conness' east ridge, one starts at Saddleback Lake - a roughly 10,000-foot high body of water not far from Tioga Pass, and accessible via a short intermittently gravelled road off of highway 120 near Yosmite National Park's east entrance. It's more of a scramble most of the way and probably more enjoyable in sneakers than in climbing shoes. Dana at 13,061 ft). You will eventually find a 'ramp' that leads you to the pass. Liz, being a climber herself, was gracious enough to let him go, which I am very thankful for. Started at 10am and finished at 4pm, making it to the top at 1:30pm. This place had all of that. We didn’t sleep well, but we slept well enough. We soon reached the end of the box canyon and had to climb out toward the North Ridge of Mount Conness. We experienced a picture perfect day on the North Ridge of Mt. Mt Conness (3837m) is one of the highest ... to the northern side of Alpine Lake up northwest to the eastern ridge and then following the ridge westwards to the summit plateau. I never found myself having to turn around or head back down because it was a “dead end” or no way up it. Once on the route great climbing leads to the summit, with views of Tuolumne Meadows and beyond. Mount Conness is a 12,590 foot (3,840 m) mountain in the Sierra Nevada range, to the west of the Hall Natural Area. South to the north ridge of Mount Conness. Conness to kick off the alpine rock climbing season in the High Sierra! Conness! The trail follows a drainage with views of creeks, small waterfalls, and lakes made of pure glass. I will always remember this climb – the beauty of it, the challenge, and the blessing of being able to do it with my son. In some mystical way, I was filled with hope, joy, strength, peace, and connection from the experience. We started at the Saddlebag Lake Trailhead on a cool, sunny Tuesday morning. This route starts from the Sawmill walk-in campground. Mount Conness is right behind. A classic Yosemite peak, highest in the Sierra north of Highway 120 and holding the second largest glacier in Yosemite. At times, I really had to focus on what I was doing rather than take in the views. Mt Conness via the North Ridge. For a classic longer day, traverse the peak via the South Slopes and North Ridge, with a detour to bag the West Ridge in the middle of the day. I wish I could have been better than average, but I’ll have to keep training harder for the next one. This is the price of admission for every Sierra peak I have been on, but it wasn’t too bad. It was off-trail all the way to the trailhead and at least 80 degrees by the time we reached the car. It is the third highest peak in Yosemite National Park (first is Mt. Conness is the jewel of Eastern Yosemite National Park, which has a very different alpine nature than the domelands of adjacent Tuolumne Meadows. The Conness Glacier lies to the east. Mount Conness is a 7.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lee Vining, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. I felt like I would be at the summit in under a few hours. Peaks: North Peak, Mt Conness (sorted/filed as North, Conness) ; Place: California When Bob Suzuki and Charles Schafer invited me to go with them to climb the North Couloir of North Peak and the North Ridge of Mt. Access to this peak in traditional summer climbing conditions is limited to a couple of months a year. Please see my memorial to Stephen Cook for more information. We didn't think there would … When I got home, and even now as I write this, I can still tap into that feeling. Neil said we did the whole thing in about 10 hours, which was average. Luckily I don’t mind these hikes at all. Lots of climbing over boulders and granite slabs. North Ridge of North Peak to North Ridge of Mt. Climbers: Felix Wong; Richard Schwaninger; WARNING: Please be careful on this mountain (and actually, any mountain!) Being the highest peak in the area, the view was unobstructed in all directions. Feel free to follow me on my Instagram account for more dope hiking adventures! Description Mt. North Peak (North Couloir) and Mt Conness (North Ridge) 20-22 Jul 2001 - by Jim Ramaker. Mt. This place was so beautiful it was hard to take it all in. I must have been awakened five times that night by headlights of cars trying to find a spot near us. A week after leading 5 pitches on Half Dome's Snake Dike (5.7) I decided not to pass on the opportunity to climb Mount Conness (12,590 feet). Mt Conness via the North Ridge. I really enjoyed the hiking. There is a dimension of beauty that requires us to be a participant, and even to suffer for it, before it can really change us. Fantastic views from summit. SMI founder Kurt Wedberg enjoying the picture perfect day after a successful climb of the North Ridge of Mt. Left of Conness one can find Mount Ritter and Banner Peak. However, if you are not comfortable with exposure you may have problems with this section. But I couldn’t just leave it alone, so I found the Mount Conness day climb on the Sierra Mountain Guides site and signed up – and talked Wes into going as well. The North Ridge of Mount Conness! The North Ridge of Mt. I have no desire to do something like the Conness North Ridge Route again! One review said it best: if you like a “pick your own route” kinda hike, scrambling, and false summits, this is it for you. Made our way up the gully on the north side of the lake. Copyright 2021 Bryan Feller, All rights reserved. I found myself panting a lot more than I thought I would – feeling the altitude. The North Ridge of Mount Conness In Trip Reports by Howie SchwartzSeptember 10, 2011 Leave a Comment I met Jim at his hotel in Lee Vining at 5am. The trail follows a drainage with views of creeks, small waterfalls, and lakes made of pure glass. A few words on the ridge that leads to the last 200 feet of the summit: this is the crux of the climb because of the exposure. Conness in preparation for Matthes Crest. After the first snow of the season, Cam, Matt and I drove out to Yosemite to climb the North Ridge of Mt. Posing with the awe-inspiring ridge traverse of… 2. There were a few sections of the ridge Neil climbed ahead and gave us a hip belay, but we never needed to set up any belay anchors along the ridge. When there is snow in the ascent route chute between Conness and White an ice axe and crampons may be required (along with the necessary skills to use them). And coming back down, I also took another route than the way I came up. Views from the top are breathtaking! North Peak comes into view as we start out. Did this 10/5 when there was barely any snow present, sunny and clear skies, and slight wind just at the top. Don’t use my recording since I was exploring the region. Ended up near White Mountain instead of Alpine lake. Trail is non-existent around 2 miles in. Conness in particular has claimed a number of lives. If you look down you can practice your thousand… 5. Mt Conness, at 12,589', is one of Yosemite's tallest mountains. Mount Conness is the highest peak in Sierra Nevada north of Tioga Pass Road (Highway 120). Conness 7. Decided to do White Mountain then made it up to Conness awesome hike!! Conness to Northwest Butress of Tenaya peak to Southwest Buttress of Cathedral Peak on 8/19/19. Awesome trail, great views and a killer workout! Beauty is not just seeing something pretty. Views are amazing if you make it. Stunning views below are the reward nearing the top of the North Ridge of Mt. I definitely owe Liz her own adventure! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Conness, Rock Climbing, Sierra Nevada, SMI News. Once we reached the ridge, we put on harnesses and helmets and started the ridge walk. Conness is a spectacularly long and serpentine alpine ridge route skirting the Northeastern boundary of Yosemite National Park. Bring jacket because it gets very windy. WARNING THIS IS NOT A TRAIL. There is a large gendarme (pinnacle of rock on a mountain ridge) next to Mount Conness and we soon found ourselves at the top of it. Photo licensing info From there we rappelled down 300 feet to the upper mountain where we began our climb. I was so thankful we did this with him. The weather and the views were absolutely breathtaking and it was only getting better the farther we went. Do you enjoy endless false summits, creating your own path, and class 2/3 scrambles? It is very easy to get lost while descending the peak. This was a huge blessing. The Conness Glacier lies north of the summit. After reading about North Ridge (5.6) and West Ridge (5.6) of Conness, it was difficult for me to decide on the route- both seemed equally as awesome. Could only make it up to about 12,000 feet due to snow. Conness, they didn't have to ask twice. The North Ridge is also a popular moderate climb on Conness. Scrambling up through the 5th class sections ju… 2. Your ability to pass this section really depends on your skills and comfort level. From North Peak the ridge did not look all that long and the two towers to be rapelled were quite early on in the scramble. But for sure, class 3 scrambling. As a consolation, we tucked in a one-day summit loop over Mt. "East ridge looked pretty prominent during our climb of the north ridge", they said. But, after checking out some of the exposed "hero shots" from North Ridge and talking to … Wes and I left from Riverside on Friday afternoon and got to the east side of Yosemite by early evening. It’s after Alpine Lake to the “false summit” is where things kick up a notch. Mt. Some people say they prefer the North Ridge of Conness, but I can't speak to that yet, since I haven't done it. The walk-off felt like a long way. There seemed to always be a way to get up as long as you looked carefully. Hundreds of snowy peaks in the High Sierra provide the dramatic backdrop for a summit photo after a successful climb of Mt. Not for faint of heart. Located at a relatively low elevation, this climb is usually warm enough to climb up until the first snow of the year (usually in November). Neil continued to call out the sections of exposed terrain just before we got to them so we could be present in the moment and not just heads-down climbing to the next move. We had just enough room to walk the ridge. Soon after, Liz (Wes’s wife), got pregnant with their first child and it didn’t seem like a great idea to take him on a multi-day climb with a new baby in the house. … Just whatever worked for me. First 1.5-2 miles is pretty easy with barely any elevation gain. Conness (North Ridge) and Tresidder Peak. Posted on July 10, 2020 by smiweb - Alpine Rock Climbing, Mt. It's a bit scrambly but for the most part it's simple one-foot-in-front-of-another terrain. A guide can allow you to safely get out of your comfort zone, learn some new skills, AND enjoy what you are doing without being terrified you are going to get killed or injured. There are many routes up Conness varying from relatively straightforward class 2 all the way up to class 5. In that case, looking at an Instagram feed would be fulfilling – but it’s not. Beautiful, this one will whoop ya, Mono and Parker Pass Trail to Spillway Lake, Twenty Lakes Basin and Saddlebag Lake Loop, White Mountain via Sawmill Walk-in Campground, Conness and Cascade Lakes from Saddlebag Lake, Alger Lakes via Mono Pass and Parker Pass Trails. Category: Mt. I literally just looked up and picked a way which I thought would be most direct but also safe. And I was in that place with my son! Prime climbing will be in July through September of most years. I saw some faint signs of a trail here and there but didn’t take that way since it was all sand and seemed slippery to try and head up (versus just scrambling up the rocks). You’ll likely hit some some brushes and light scrambling whichever way you take to get to Alpine Lake but that’s all pretty manageable. Maybe I just didn’t get a good night’s sleep? Like the West Ridge, this route is rated 5.6, and is composed of long stretches of 3rd and 4th class occasionally interrupted with … From there we rappelled down 300 feet to the upper mountain where we began our climb. Being in this place and experiencing the beauty of it from a knife-edge exposed ridge felt as though I had been raptured into some kind of third Heaven. It was less than restful, as 20 other people had the same idea during the middle of the night. Views at the top were awesome, just like most other views at similar peaks. You’ll definitely need experience route finding and be using your hands to climb at certain spots. From there we crossed the occasional snow field and climbed the occasional boulder until we gained the ridge at 11812ft. Compared with Cathedral Peak, the North Ridge has less technical … Conness (named after former California senator John Conness) straddles Yosemite National Park and Inyo National Forest, forming the eastern border of the Park. Conness North Ridge of Mt. Brett scrabbling up the NOrth Ridge 3. It passes the Carnegie Institute Experimental Station and continues through beautiful high alpine meadows. Or worse, there’s the counterfeit beauty of porn that causes us to see people as commodities to be consumed. Yes, the north ridge … Summited in a couple more hours, quickly signed the register and made my way down the East Ridge. I think every outdoorsman should use a guide from time to time. Conness to West Ridge of Mt. The day begins with a pleasant, easy hike in spectacular alpine terrain above Saddlebag Lake. Alpine rock climbing at its finest! Mt. I can’t wait! We got to the summit and had a snack before heading down the walk-off route. We came from North Peak Wow! Photo by Yao-Min Chen. It reminds us of a crescendoing symphony that just gets better as it goes. A guide can allow you to safely get out of your comfort zone, learn some new skills, AND enjoy what you are doing without being terrified you are going to get killed or injured. At 12,590 feet, Mt. A beautiful initial hike to the start of the route past sparkling lakes and high alpine tundra and . Fortunately, Wes was feeling great. Very exciting and beautiful mountain. Conness! And I got to do this with my son – who gets to do that? I found myself pondering the idea of beauty while I was on that ridge. Later we would traverse the ridge from the summit to Virginia Peak, on the lower right of the photo (2020-10-18). In the photo below, the lake is so still, it’s hard to tell where the water begins and the terrain begins because the reflection is so flawless. Mount Conness is a 11.9 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lee Vining, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Then mega mainly unmarked scramble. Logged 9 miles total. Un pic classique de Yosemite, le plus élevé de la Sierra au nord de la route 120 et contenant le deuxième plus grand glacier de Yosemite. We wanted to get an early start to make sure we were off the summit before the forecasted thunderstorms hit. Went off trail due to snow. Very steep uphill with many Class 2 and some Class 3 scrambling sections. Conness is one of the highest peaks along the Tioga Crest and, due to good access, one of the more popular climbs. We'll bag it next year with more time to acclimatize. Last year, when Wes and I took a trip to the summit of Mount Bago, we looked down on Charlotte Dome and made a pact that we would climb it together. A week after leading 5 pitches on Half Dome's Snake Dike (5.7) I decided not to pass on the opportunity to climb Mount Conness (12,590 feet). Conness (12,590'), The North Ridge II 5.6 1 Day This fantastic route may be the absolute favorite among the ASI Guides. Though not a 13er like Mt Lyell (the tallest), its more isolated and sports some incredible high altitude routes. Which means the 3000ft gain comes in the last 3 or so miles. The climbing is enjoyable, clean and generally quite easy even for a 5.6. The trail is unmarked and hard to see. A few minutes later I was standing on the 12,590-foot summit of Mt Conness. Soon the class 2 ridge turned to class 3/4 so we roped up alpine style and continued walking. Beauty is not just seeing something pretty.