Saurian Crest from Sonora Pass

Trip from Sonora Pass on PCT to Lake Helen and then up the North Tower of Saurian ... back out
over Emigrant Pass and Big Sam.
Mosquitos were quite a pain in the rump roast. Luckly this bird smart enough to bring a tent to sleepy in.
Still plenty of snow around.

Here we are north of Saurian Crest looking south at it along the ridge east of Forsyth Peak and west of Tower Peak:



More photos here for those interested:
https://picasaweb.google.com/yosemite.chick.on/SaurianCrest

---

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2011 03:29PM by chick-on.

Very nice, as always... the Big Sam area is one of my favorite places in the Emigrant.

Nice pictures. I need to plan a trip into that area sometime.

Oooh nice nice. Was thinking of heading that way this weekend.

Nice photos (as always).

Question: isn't there a permanent snow and ice field (not quite a glacier) just south of that nameless lake north of the Saurian Crest (and NW of Mary Lake)?

I'm pretty sure it's this lake and snow and ice field shown in this photo of yours taken atop of the Saurian Crest:



IIRC, the snow and ice above that lake never goes away.

Not sure. It shows up on the USGS map (see last photo) as permanent snow field.
But in very dry years it may nearly disappear. It is more likely that the field north of
there, which is more substantial, makes it thru nearly every year... along with the
fields N of Forsyth.

Here is the field I am talking about:


I've been on the Forsyth Ridge 3 times now... but always in large snow years: 2006, 2009, 2010
For fun here is the same view towards Saurian from Forsyth Ridge:
July 4, 2006

August 13, 2010

September 3, 2011


In 2008, the snow field may have been gone completely... but not sure... Here's the view from Tower Peak:

---

Here's another shot of the field N of Forsyth Ridge.
I really like this photo b/c my buddie Luis is down below between
the snow field and rocks making his way up (see if you can find him).



(also note the beach on Mary in the previous post )

---

Quote
chick-on
Here's another shot of the field N of Forsyth Ridge.
I really like this photo b/c my buddie Luis is down below between
the snow field and rocks making his way up (see if you can find him).



(also note the beach on Mary in the previous post )

I see him. Walking triumphantly, head held high wondering, "How the heck did that Goat get up there that fast?"

Uploaded a video taken from Big Sam:




In it I zoom in to Tower Peak and Forsyth first... between those two you can see Mt. Lyell and it's glacier.
Enjoy

---

Quote
chick-on
Uploaded a video taken from Big Sam

In it I zoom in to Tower Peak and Forsyth first... between those two you can see Mt. Lyell and it's glacier.
Enjoy

So was that a Red Breasted Something Or Other?

---

Old Dude

Quote
mrcondron

So was that a Red Breasted Something Or Other?

Watch it honorable Old Dude- don't confuse me with the feathered type.

I gotta start reading the forum more often...

The Chicken found a mate, eh?

Quote
Ohnivy-Drak
The Chicken found a mate, eh?

I just have to assume you haven't looked at the 8 other trips with my honey in...

But, yeah, she's hot, no? Chick-on likey... meow

---

great pictures, south tower looks like a fun scramble

Someone wrote it was class 5. I dunno. I didn't attempt it this time.
North Tower was class 3 imo. Fairly simple.

Hopefully next year can come from Tilden and traverse from south. It looks like
a lot of fun. Here's a picture of the crest from saddle SW of it and NE of Keyes:


Of course if you are in the area you need to go up Tower Peak.

---

Just for fun, I looked it up in Voge's old guide:

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/climbers_guide/bond_to_tioga_other_peaks.html

Saurian Crest (11,065)

First ascent on September 7, 1938, by John Dyer. Long talus slopes extend to within a few feet of the summits, which require a short bit of scrambling. Class 3. (SCB, 1942, 126. Photographs: SCB, 1912, 157; 1942, 79.)

Summitpost says:

http://www.summitpost.org/saurian-crest/154610

Although it is technically considered a ridge and not a peak, there are a series of pinnacles on the top which require technical climbing to reach.

As it name implies, the Saurian Crest resembles the back of some ancient creature. It's a long and narrow ridge with enough jagged points to challenge any climber. Low Class 5 climbing is required to reach the high point on the ridge.

From chick-on's map, it looks like the bird touched the summit.

Last week my buddy and I got into an argument whether the route we had done was 4.3 or 3.7. I tend to rate conservative, but I might want a rope for that south tower, judging from the picture.

I'd def. say there are two "summits". North and South Tower.
I guess perhaps more would climb if it was called Saurian Peak.
Although few go up Forsyth, Keyes, etc. Prob. all are heading to Tower.
The others are just as fun imo.
Keyes proper is a yawner compared to Saurian.... although the peak N
of it is v. interesting geologically speaking.

Here's a zoom of the two "towers" from Forsyth Ridge.


Of course now I wish I'd played around on the South one.
O well... next time

---