This is one of the most aesthetic and difficult High Sierra climbs – perfect granite high above Mono Lake, with spectacular views out into the Nevada desert. This route has an almost European feel to it, with an easy hike to the top where extra gear is cached before the climb. A short descent leads to the base of a huge sweeping slab of rock. The route gets steadily more difficult until you reach the final pitch, which has been understatedly described as “the best 5.9 in the universe”. A final mantle puts you on the summit a scant few feet from the cached gear.

We also combine this route along with The Incredible Hulk into our Third Hulk Linkup giving two of the finest hard climbs in the Eastern Sierra in three days.

Notes

The best guidebooks are Supertopo’s “High Sierra Climbing” by Chris McNamara. and Peter Croft’s “The Good, The Great, and the Awesome”.

Get them from Maximus Press.

We highly recommend that you spend at least one night at moderate altitude (higher than 8,000′) just prior to the trip. Spending a night in Mammoth or camped in the Bridgeport area would do the trick. Please refer to our Planning for Success info sheet for more info.

We have to pay the Mono Village an overnight parking fee of $5.00 per night.


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