Re: Lyell Spring '13

Memorial day weekend attempt on Lyell, thought I'd just share a few pics to show conditions. No new territory here, but good times. Snow line right at 10,500' and the snow excellent. Disappointed to get rejected by the summit plateau rock face, our party did not find it welcoming: ledges all covered and rock all icy. On a previous late-summer climb we enjoyed the summit scramble very much. But this early season business was too icy for us.


Lake Mile 160



Donohue Pass



10,500'



Lyell & Maclure



Roped party on glacier, aiming for east arete (they backed off and traversed to NW ridge, don't know if they summited that way)



Big mac...



The way home, Monday's storm building.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2013 08:41PM by Klas.

Great pictures, thank you for sharing! I'll be out that way soon enough.

Thank you very much for the pictures. Can you give any idea on the conditions in lower Lyell Canyon between the glacier and Tuolumne? The wilderness rangers report that it is extremely wet and muddy per usual, but there are still penty of places to camp right? It hasn't been flooded to the point where tent camping will be unsustainable for the environment? Any pictures would be appreciated.

The lower canyon is not too wet, just some muddy spots on the trail, but no concern about finding a dry pitch. Soon enough the fog of bugs will be thicker than the mud...

Quote
Klas
The lower canyon is not too wet, just some muddy spots on the trail, but no concern about finding a dry pitch. Soon enough the fog of bugs will be thicker than the mud...

Thanks for the update! My attitude is if the bugs are being too pesky and swarmlike then I'm not at a high enough altitude.

Klas, thanks for posting... if you go anywhere off the beaten track..
please post. Still haven't gone up Johnson Trail... stuff opened too soon this year...
Have fun

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Nice pics, thanks for sharing. I'll be there on Friday. I hope we have better luck with the class 3 to the summit.

Beautiful pics, this is awesome stuff.