Mammoth Mountain RadnessWe're not official, just original
Ascent Route from Lake Mary Road
In winter, this route begins at Twin Lakes (elev. 8,560') and heads up Lake Mary Road. On the left side of the road, just beyond the Old Mammoth Road turnoff, is an obvious ridge rising toward some rust-colored rocks. Ascend this ridge, amidst manzanita, sage and the colorful rocks, to reach a mining operation. Pass the chain-link-covered mine shaft openings on the right and continue up the ridge. After the mine, the route crests the ridge at the rust-colored rocks and traverses right, rising slightly through the talus beneath a large, gray cliff. At the far right side of the gray. cliff, a gully rises up to the ridge-top of the Sherwin Bowls (elev. 9,700').
From the top of this gully, head left for "In Your Face," straight ahead for the "Mammoth Rock Bowl," or continue to the right for the "Hose" and the rest of the Sherwin Bowls and Rock Chute. From here to Rock Chute, the ridge offers easy walking and some great views. Any one of the many different lines of descent tantalize the powderhound.
By taking a broad traverse on the right side of the three peaklets beyond Finger Peak (elev. 10,275') (which holds Rock Chute), Pyramid Peak (elev. 11,728') can be reached. As you approach the peak, you will notice an obvious "gunsight" notch in the ridge between two large peaks. From here, a chute(called Parachute by many) which is steep and very narrow drops 1,200 feet into the Sherwin Lakes basin.
This is the broad, open face, dropping to the south from the top of the Dave's Run area (elev. 11,000') of Mammoth Mountain. Weird snow conditions often exist here but, after a "Nevada Low"-type storm or on a sunny day with strong north winds, this can be the best run around. This slope is the best way to Hole in the Wall, and is also an easy way to McLeod or Horseshoe lakes. After descending approximately 1,200 feet from the top, the broad face funnels into a small gully. Head left at this point for Hole in the Wall, or continue ahead for the Mammoth Lakes Basin.
The Hole in the wall is a narrow opening through a cliff, and this steep chute is caused by erosion and the gravitational pull on the eroded material. This is a great run, but often will avalanche and it includes ice in the lower portion.
To reach the Hole, either ski County Line or the gully beneath the "Wave" to the end of the treeless slope, and then head left (east) on a traverse toward Twin Lakes. When it seems you must head down to the lake, a small, hanging valley will rise to the left and this is the route to the Hole.
If you decide against skiing the Hole this time, follow the valley down to the lake. However, following the slightly rising, hanging valley will lead directly to the Hole in the Wall.
The easiest way into the Hole is on the left side (looking down), and the most difficult is on the far right. On either side of the Hole are also several other radical chutes, the easiest of which is the far left-hand chute. This chute is nestled against the cliffs that are the end of the Dragon's Back area of Chair 9, and is sometimes skiable from the Tail area. Once down to Twin Lakes, cross the foot-bridge to your waiting car or follow Lake Mary Road down to Chair 15. Conditions in this area change constantly, so be sure you know exactly where you are going.
Bouncing off rocky cliffs will put an immediate end to your day.
If you are using this route, you are probably skiing "County Line" to McLeod Lake. From the bottom of the open face, follow the lightly gladed gully down and work right across a couple of small ridges to begin a traverse toward the pass that is to the right of the main cliff of the Mammoth Crest. A slight descent follows, passing McLeod Lake (elev. 9,250') on the right, and then the climbing begins. Head straight for the pass up an obvious gully. Just when this route is about to leave the trees, take a long switchback to the left until you are almost directly underneath the Super Chute.
From here, switchback to the right, aiming for the large tree on the ridge ahead. This is where an avalanche slope must be crossed. Head for the trees on the other side. From here, either go straight up or, if stable, continue traversing the next slope to the ridge (elev. 10,000').From the saddle, head left to your desired descent route.
I prefer the open area on the ridge about 200 yards back from the edge of the cliff. It isn't drifted, and good striding is possible.
This route is usually accessed from the trailhead at Twin Lakes in winter, and from the Lake George parking lot in the spring. If using the Lake Mary Road in winter, a small fee must be paid in order to ski the groomed lanes. Otherwise, stay to the side of the road and keep any pets that are with you on a leash when near the track to protect the grooming.
From Lake George (elev. 9,000'), head up to the right past the cabins and gain the ridge. Follow the ridge briefly and then move to your right, into the thick forest. From here, head up this drainage until you are past some large rock slabs on the right, which will give way to a small gully and ridge heading upward to the right again.Follow this gully up to an open area just as the gully opens up.
From here, head to the left(south) and work across an open slope to the ridge beyond.(With high avalanche hazards move all the way up to the ridge from the gully then head left.)The ridge leads to a hanging valley beneath the Cinder Cone on the right.If the Crystal area or beyond is the goal there is no need to ascend the Cinder Cone.(the view is nice though.)
elev. 13,163 ft.
This is the tallest, most dominating peak in the region.{image} It has everything for the skier. Easy to climb, and with several different ways to ski down, this peak is a "once-in-a-lifetime" pilgrimage every backcountry skier should make.
There are two ways up this peak. One way is up McGee Canyon; the other is up Convict Canyon. I prefer the route up Convict, if for no other reason than the view of Red Slate is impressive and inspiring. When going up McGee Canyon, the peak is out of view most of the way and visual inspection of the north couloir (if this is to be skied) is impossible.
The two chutes which drop down to McGee Pass, on the southeastern side of the peak, are worth skiing, but the climb up from Convict Canyon is still preferred. With a car shuttle, a descent of McGee Canyon is easy.
The west ridge, rising from Gemini Pass to the summit, is a wind buffeted, stable slope, easily climbed. This ridge is also the takeoff point for many exciting runs on the west face. The north couloir {image} is actually two chutes, linked by a traverse of a ledge above a 1,000-foot cliff. The whole chute, when linked, drops 1800 feet at a fairly steep pitch. In a big winter, the entire north face fills with snow, and this chute and ledge become a
gully.
The ascent from the far end of Convict Lake heads up the right side of the valley beyond the lake to the washed-out bridge, then follows the left side, rising a few hundred feet above the creek and traversing beneath a colorful cliff to Mildred Lake. Passing the lake on the left, continue up the canyon across a giant meadow another mile and then head through a rocky notch just beyond a fork in the creek, behind a rock island in the meadow. Leave the meadow and climb up one small drainage to the left of the main cascade coming down from Wit-so-na-pa Lake. Stay to the right of a small cirque and ascend the granite slabs, heading up and over the ridge to this lake. Pass it and head up the obvious bowl to the right of Red Slate Peak. At the top of this bowl, head across the flats to the west ridge at Gemini Pass. From here, head up for adventure. {image}
elev. 11,812 ft.
From Convict Lake (elev. 7,580'), the route follows the west shore to. the south end of the lake and then rises, traversing the valley wall up toward the cliffs, passing through some piñon pines. Once fairly close to the cliffs, a small erosion channel will be encountered. This is the right-side gully. Just beyond this, the next channel is the northeast trough. Either gully can be followed to the summit. If planning on skiing the north-east trough, it is advisable to climb it as well, in order to closely evaluate this immense chute.
Another route up is from the Laurel Lakes road. At the top of the switchbacks which ascend the glacial moraine, a ridge will be passed. At this point, leave the road, heading east (left) and follow the west ridge to the summit. The northwest face of Laurel can be a great run, but doesn't always have snow, as it is subjected to heavy winds.
This is on the west side of the Sierra crest. From Coldwater Campground (elev. 9,000'), head up to Duck Pass (elev. 10,800'). From here, head down and around Duck Lake (elev. 10,427') on the left, then continue around it past Pika Lake, heading for the obvious saddle above the outlet end of Duck Lake. From the saddle (elev. 11,200'), head left (north) to the Pika Chute (elev. 11,782'), which drops over a 1,000 feet at a moderate angle. To the right is a giant, black-rock peak (elev. 11,526'). Above the outlet of Duck Lake is a chute, secretly hidden from view, which drops to the northwest and has a very narrow 750-foot vertical drop of more than 450.
This is also on the west side of the Sierra crest. From Duck Pass (elev. 10,800'), head right (south) and traverse a slope to a steep ridge of gray rocks. Head up and west to a flat, barren area leading to Deer Lakes cirque (elev. 11,600'). The cirque holds many chutes, some with huge cornices. Once you have descended into the Deer Lakes basin (elev. 10,500'), one can head northwest up to the Hammil Cirque area (elev. 11,200') of the Mammoth Crest and make another run back to the trailhead at Coldwater Campground.
