Technical Difficulty (Class):
 
Mountain Skill Rating:
Physical Condition:
Client/Guide Ratio: 4:1
Includes:
Guides climbing and safety gear, climbing helmet (reservation required).
Does not include:
Personal items on gear list. Boat taxi $10 roundtrip (when available).
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Mt. Conness (12,590'), Glacier Route 1 Day
The Glacier Route provides a terrific one-day climb of one of our favorite Sierra Peaks. It's a great chance to climb with ice axe and crampons along with rock scrambling to a spectacular summit with a view of the Yosemite High Country.
Cost: $185 each/4 people
$210 each/3 people
$260/2 people
Dates:
Aug 3, 2008 (Sun)
Aug 23, 2008 (Sat)
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The Approach:
From Saddle Bag Lake Boat House (10,087'), we take the boat taxi to the northwest end of Saddle Bag Lake (when available) and begin hiking in beautiful High Sierra alpine terrain. Soon, we are off trail traveling along a class 2 ridge looking down at the Conness Lakes and arrive at the Conness Glacier (2 hrs.)
The Climb:
After putting on our crampons, we rope up and use our ice axe to ascend the glacier. We'll practice flat foot crampon technique and climbing in balance as we ascend. From the top of the glacier we'll choose our best route based on conditions. Either 1 of 2 snow-filled couloirs about 35° or a diagonal rock ramp (class 3) through the "Keyhole", a tunnel through the rock to the Conness Plateau (2 1/2 hrs.) From here, we intersect the East Ridge providing a marvelous class 2+ gang-way to the summit (1/2 hr. - 5 hrs. total).
The Descent:
From the summit, we'll retrace our steps to the Conness Plateau and cross it to descend the East Ridge route. With good route finding, a class 2 route can be found by connecting the appropriate lines of weakness back to the boat taxi at Saddle bag Lake (2 1/2 hrs.).
Preparation:
Cardiovascular conditioning: prepare with at least 3-4, 40 min+ aerobic workouts per week including hill running, biking, or hard-hill hiking with a pack and ski poles. Pre-climb acclimatization recommended to include hiking and sleeping at 8,000' or higher 1 or 2 days before the climb.
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