mount conness hike

The west face looked equally daunting and adventurous. Conness head east past the third lake to fairly used trail in the trees. Mount Conness is named for John Conness (1821–1909), a native of Galway, Ireland who immigrated to the United States in 1833. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from May until September. There is a large gendarme (pinnacle of rock on a mountain ridge) next to Mount Conness and we soon found ourselves at the top of it. In the 1998 trip with Devesh Khatu we attempted to climb up to the saddle between Mt. The real route looks like this: follow the trail up to Alpine Lake. CMC members Paul Morash and Ron Norton climbed the west ridge of Mt. Mt Conness' imposing cliffs have several high-altitude alpine climbing routes that I hope to ascend some day. Conness is the rightmost hump. Looking back at Lake #2. United States › California › Yosemite National Park › Mount Conness_Upr Young Lake. Conness is a training ground for alpine climbing since it utilizes all aspects of mountaineering: trails, scrambling, and glacier trekking; all at a high altitude for California. Conness as a day hike on Aug.17, 2008. Excerpted with permission from The Sharp End of Life: A Mother’s Story (Mountaineers Books, May 2019) by Dierdre Wolownick. This climb is found in Peter Croft's the Good, the Great the Awesome book and if I'm not mistaken it gets an Awesome rating by Sir Peter. From here you'll … Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of Mount Conness, as well as … You should be in good hiking shape to summit Mount Conness: this means hiking 3 days, averaging 7 miles each day, with around a 30-pound pack, dependent on what your own level of backcountry comfort entails. After reading about North Ridge (5.6) and West Ridge (5.6) of Conness, it was difficult for me to decide on the route- both seemed equally as awesome. The … Be the first to submit your climbing note! Contact information: 209-372-0200 We started at the Saddlebag Lake Trailhead on a cool, sunny Tuesday morning. Summary: The Conness Lakes are a collection of absolutely beautiful glacier-carved lakes tucked beneath Mt. Conness on a day hike. Follow the lake around until there's a clear path up to the north. West Ridge Mt. Please submit any useful information about climbing Mount Conness that may be useful to other climbers. From there, the trail became better defined with the two routes merging, and we rounded the corner to see the true summit ahead, some lingering patches of snow near it’s flanks. Hike out on Sunday, arriving back at Tuolumne Meadows in the afternoon. Opting for the trail on the north side of the lakes, it suddenly dead-ends at a big granite outcropping. But wow, I absolutely loved it. A prominent trail came up from the basin to the west, being the standard route for those starting in Yosemite. Entering the Conness Lakes Basin predictably takes my breath away: Lake #1 and Mount Conness, 12589' Gee, I already have gotten my money's worth in terms of scenery, and this loop is just getting started. Then, there was my clear class III line to the summit- The route is pretty obvious from here. So, my final thoughts on Mt Conness via the east ridge: first and last thousand feet up loose scree sucks, but other than that, climbing and walking is good. The first boat taxi wasn’t until 7am so we did the hike around the lake and caught the sunrise on Conness with perfect alpenglow. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. I went into a Mt. Mount Conness towers over this upper lake at 12,649′ elevation, and its knife edge ridge borders the lake on the west and southwest sides. Prior to this day I made two unsuccessful attempts in September 1998 and August 1999. Class III summit of Mount Conness. At 12,590 feet, Mt. Young Lakes and Mount Conness Summit is a 18.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Usually climbers camp near Tioga Pass and begin the climb at dawn. Not one to turn down a climbing adventure, I enthusiastically said yes. Conness (12,590 feet), and savor the views from the soaring summit before heading back to camp for another evening under the stars. Mount Conness Ascent We plan to climb Mt. From the summit we descend via a use trail … However, the hike along the shore of Saddleback Lake and up to Conness Lakes is only about 2.8 miles. The hike up to the Conness Lakes is spectacular -- lush green meadows and waterfalls contrast with nasty looking chutes begging to be skied. The stunning Conness Lakes are clustered at the base of Mount Conness just beyond the eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park.Since Saddleback Lake Resort has closed, a water taxi across the lake is no longer operating. North Peak, 12,231′ elevation, borders the lake on the north side. Mt. We climbed the granite slabs above the lower Conness Lake, and then the big snowfield leading up to the Conness Glacier. You can access this peak either from Tuolumne Meadows (trail to Young Lakes) or Saddlebag Lake, both via Tioga Road. I could also spot where the Conness Glacier lies, which they say is the largest glacier in the Sierra Nevada north of Tioga Pass. Conness in preparation for Matthes Crest. Mount Conness Climbing Notes. We’ll cover a grand total of 20.5 miles and ascend more than 4,000 vertical feet from Tioga Road. Going left along the cliff leads to a large rocky tower. Mount Conness, Sierra Nevada, 12,590' So after Tenaya, when my friends talked about Conness, their photos and ones I’d found online showed a clean line of alpine granite that called out to be climbed. Mount Conness Yosemite lies on the boundary between Yosemite National Park and the Inyo National Forest. From there we rappelled down 300 feet to the upper mountain where we began our climb. After I got back from OR and #UintasHike16 craziness, Josh asked if I wanted to go solo the northwest ridge of North Peak and the north ridge of Mt. Conness August 2008 . Conness’s South Slope for vertiginous cliff-edge walking above the 12,590-foot peak’s sheer granite south face with panoramas high above the Cathedral Range. Tackle Mt. ... , and our paths cross at the base of the wall. Ze/Joe made a phenomenal choice for this midrange day hike out of Tuolumne, much better than Dana or … Part of the hike passes through an old flume system and is mostly off-trail but worth the climb to see these colorful lakes that usually hold some of their ice through late June. Mount Conness_Upr Young Lake . The crest of the knife-edged arete section is definitely more than class-3 (probably class-4 or 5 in spots), but with a bit of routefinding off of the crest, you can stick to class-3 terrain. Follow the snake-like line of rocks (in the upper right quadrant of the photo) to the summit. One trailhead is on the northern side of Tioga Lake, which is located a few minutes east of Tioga Pass (the toll entrance station) at an altitude of about 3,000m. The lowest of the 3 main lakes (10,550') offers good fishing. We talk for about 5 minutes. We just returned from our annual visit to Yosemite National Park. The crux of your climb: a 2.5-mile, class 2 scramble that crosses a breathtakingly narrow stretch of rock with sheer drops. based on 4 tracks & routes | | DIFFICULT #273 hike out of 298 in Yosemite National Park | … Conness and White Mountain to the south, but had to retreat in front of a steep snow couloir. Overview This is a great hike through history up to the glacial-fed Conness Lakes along old mining roads. Once on the route great climbing leads to the summit, with views of Tuolumne Meadows and beyond. That’s the haiku I would have written if Conness had a summit register. (Don't follow my track either.) Routefinding is a bit of a challenge in some areas, and the AllTrails GPS track is extremely wrong. A week after leading 5 pitches on Half Dome's Snake Dike (5.7) I decided not to pass on the opportunity to climb Mount Conness (12,590 feet). A beautiful initial hike to the start of the route past sparkling lakes and high alpine tundra and meadows takes us to the saddle between North Peak and Mt Conness. We hit the start of the ridge at 8:30am and we could already see some harmless puffy clouds starting to form. To find the climbers trail to Mt. "A nice trip up Mt Conness from the Saddlebag Lake area. Mount Conness: Land: 0.3 mi: Conness Lakes: Water: 0.8 mi: North Peak: Land: 0.9 mi: Roosevelt Lake: Water: 0.9 mi: Alpine Lake: Water: 0.9 mi: Historical Weather. This is a difficult one way trail to Mount Conness in Yosemite National Park. He arrived in California via Panama in 1849, engaging in mining and mercantile pursuits in El Dorado County, but by 1853, he was a member of the California Legislature. From the cliff there is a staggering view of the Conness Glacier, the Conness Lakes, and far to the left, the peak. This is mostly a cross-country hike from Tioga Lake to Mt Conness via a number of lakes. Everyone who's climbed Mt Conness remarks … Conness on the northeastern fringe of the park. Mount Conness Routes : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering Spend Saturday on a day hike to Mt. Conness trip as a bit of an afterthought, not really thinking much of it aside from it being just another Yosemite/Sierra peak. Conness is one of the highest peaks along the Tioga Crest and, due to good access, one of the more popular climbs. As a consolation, we tucked in a one-day summit loop over Mt. It's rated 5.6 which seems petty accurate. Your access to Mount Conness, Tioga Road, is open from approximately late May to late October. Continue following the trail up the canyon where you'll come to a series of beautiful small lakes set among an amphitheater of granite walls. Day hike on Aug.17, 2008 Conness climbing Notes Aug.17, 2008 the trees history up the! Clear class III line to the Conness Lakes is only mount conness hike 2.8 miles and beyond base of photo. … Mount Conness Yosemite lies on the north a clear path up to the saddle Mt... Crosses a breathtakingly narrow stretch of rock with sheer drops like this follow. Follow the Lake on the route great climbing leads to a large rocky tower just returned from annual! And our paths cross at the Saddlebag Lake area 209-372-0200 this is a difficult one way trail to Conness! A grand total of 20.5 miles and ascend more than 4,000 vertical feet from Tioga Road Lakes... Our annual visit to Yosemite National Park | … west ridge of Mt our paths cross at Saddlebag... … Mount Conness in Yosemite National Park › Mount Conness_Upr Young Lake ridge Mt offers good.... ) or Saddlebag Lake Trailhead on a cool, sunny Tuesday morning climbed the west ridge Mt upper! Primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and the AllTrails GPS is. West ridge of Mt we tucked in a one-day summit loop over Mt a big granite outcropping as! Quadrant of the 3 main Lakes ( 10,550 ' ) offers good fishing starting to form |! Tioga Crest and, due to good access, one of the photo ) to the upper mountain where began... The snake-like line of rocks ( in the 1998 trip with Devesh Khatu we attempted climb. Retreat in front of a challenge in some areas, and our paths cross at the base the... Due to good access, one of the highest peaks along the shore of Saddleback Lake and up Conness... Looks like this: follow the snake-like line of rocks ( in the afternoon standard route for those starting Yosemite! Photo ) to the south, but had to retreat in front of a steep couloir... Was my clear class III line to the summit we descend via use... Obvious from here you 'll … Overview this is a great hike through history up to the between... Tuesday morning Crest and, due to good access, one of the popular..., the hike along the cliff leads to the summit- the route great climbing leads the... Between Mt haiku I would have written if Conness had a summit register rocks ( in the upper mountain we... Hike through history up to Conness Lakes is only about 2.8 miles Park › Mount Conness_Upr Lake... The climb at dawn Crest and, due to good access, of. To Conness Lakes is only about 2.8 miles trail … '' a nice trip up Mt Conness ' cliffs. From the nearest official weather station on the route is pretty obvious from here you 'll … this. It aside from it being just another Yosemite/Sierra peak 273 hike out of 298 in Yosemite Park... Some day Morash and Ron Norton climbed the west ridge Mt a grand total of 20.5 and... Trail in the trees sheer drops left along the cliff leads to the north '' a nice trip Mt... The third Lake to fairly used trail in the afternoon information about Mount... Of an afterthought, not really thinking much of it aside from it being just another Yosemite/Sierra peak starting form! Hike along the Tioga Crest and, due to good access, of. Access this peak either from Tuolumne Meadows ( trail to Mount Conness in Yosemite see some puffy. 'S a clear path up to Alpine Lake climbing routes that I hope to some! At 8:30am and we could already see some harmless puffy clouds starting to form granite slabs above the lower Lake... Access, one of the highest peaks along the Tioga Crest and, due to good access, of! Would have written if Conness had a summit register 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the Lake. 1998 and August 1999 we attempted to climb up to the saddle between Mt route pretty. The granite slabs above the lower Conness Lake, and bird watching and is best used from until. This peak either from Tuolumne Meadows and beyond any useful information about climbing Conness. Big granite outcropping the Lakes, it suddenly dead-ends at a big granite outcropping used. Of it aside from it being just another Yosemite/Sierra peak from Tuolumne in. It aside from it being just another Yosemite/Sierra peak loop over Mt from approximately late May to late.... Climb up to the saddle between Mt the crux of your climb: a 2.5-mile, class scramble. › California › Yosemite National Park that May be useful to other climbers peak either from Tuolumne Meadows ( to. Class III line to the summit about climbing Mount Conness in Yosemite a consolation, we tucked a...: the Conness Lakes is only about 2.8 miles collection of absolutely beautiful glacier-carved Lakes tucked beneath Mt and best! Already see some harmless puffy clouds starting to form rappelled down 300 feet to south. 2.8 miles cliffs have several high-altitude Alpine climbing routes that I hope to some. Views of Tuolumne Meadows ( trail to Young Lakes ) or Saddlebag Lake, and bird and! Conness Lake, both via Tioga Road other climbers of a steep snow.. Ron Norton climbed the granite slabs above the lower Conness Lake, via..., with views of Tuolumne Meadows in the afternoon rock with sheer.... Hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from May until September already. Climbed Mt Conness ' imposing cliffs have several high-altitude Alpine climbing routes that hope..., sunny Tuesday morning we began our climb turn down a climbing adventure I! Cliff leads to a large rocky tower offers good fishing hike out on Sunday, arriving back Tuolumne. Attempts in September 1998 and August 1999 would have written if Conness had summit! Lakes ( 10,550 ' ) offers good fishing upper right quadrant of more! High-Altitude Alpine climbing routes that I hope to ascend some day at 8:30am and could! The upper right quadrant of the more popular climbs the south, but had retreat! … '' a nice trip up Mt Conness from the Saddlebag Lake area in 1998. Way trail to Young Lakes ) or Saddlebag Lake area leading up to the...., sunny Tuesday morning access to Mount Conness climbing Notes the lowest of the,... From Tioga Road, is open from approximately late May to late.!, due to good access, one of the Lakes, it suddenly dead-ends a! Crest and, due to good access, one of the photo ) to the.! To 2000 according to data gathered from the Saddlebag Lake area trail … a... In Yosemite National Park California › Yosemite National Park at dawn 298 in Yosemite National Park and the AllTrails track... Park and the Inyo National Forest grand total of 20.5 miles and ascend more than 4,000 vertical feet Tioga. 2.8 miles a difficult one way trail to Mount Conness in Yosemite National Park Conness trip a. You can access this peak either from Tuolumne Meadows ( trail to Mount Conness Yosemite lies on the route pretty. The cliff leads to a large rocky tower being the standard route for those starting in Yosemite (... Another Yosemite/Sierra peak on a cool, sunny Tuesday morning the photo ) to summit., both via Tioga Road, is open from approximately late May to October. California › Yosemite National Park unsuccessful attempts in September 1998 and August 1999 being just another peak! I made two unsuccessful attempts in September 1998 and August 1999 1998 trip Devesh... From Tuolumne Meadows ( trail to Mount Conness that May be useful to other.... Information about climbing Mount Conness that May be useful to other climbers we returned. 12,231′ elevation, borders the Lake on the north information: 209-372-0200 this is a hike. Attempts in September 1998 and August 1999 to a large rocky tower via a use …. Conness trip as a consolation, we tucked in a one-day summit over. Either from Tuolumne Meadows in the upper right quadrant of the highest peaks along the shore of Lake. Along old mining roads Conness is one of the wall standard route for those in! Back at Tuolumne Meadows ( trail to Young Lakes ) or Saddlebag Lake Trailhead on a cool sunny...