The northern boundary of Yosemite National Park follows a ridge that runs east/west, and starts, on the west, with Tower Peak, and then continues eastward with Ehrnbeck Peak, Crown Point, Slide Mountain, the Sawtooth Ridge and Matterhorn Peak. Tower Peak can be seen, far to the south, from the Sonora Pass highway (Hwy 108).
An extreme telephoto shot of Tower Peak from Hwy 180, view to the south.
Aerial shot (Southwest Airlines) of Slide Mtn, Tower Pk. and the Sawtooth Ridge, view to the north
The Sawtooth Ridge, Matterhorn Peak and others to the west, seen from Bridgeport, CA.
The Sawtooth Ridge and Matterhorn Peak are seen left of center. Matterhorn Peak is at the left extremity of Sawtooth Ridge.
From L. to R.: Matterhorn Peak and Sawtooth Ridge
One can get a much closer look at these peaks from Twin Lakes, which is located at the foot of the ridge
Sawtooth Ridge
same as above
same as above
Skiing into Matterhorn Pk. (left)
California Outward Bound School – 1971
During the summer of 1971, I worked for the California Outward Bound School. We were headquartered at a mothballed Marine mountain warfare base, at Pickel Meadow, on the Sonora Pass highway. The base has since been reopened.
Pickel Meadow Marine Training Center
From Hwy 108, we followed the West Walker River upstream to the base of Tower Peak.
Ehrnbeck Peak
same as above
On the slopes of Tower Peak
Tower Peak
same as above
same as above
Climbing a snow gully on Tower Peak
same as above
Summit ridge of Tower Peak
Clouds
Sunset
Cascades
Waterfall and snow bank
From Tower Peak, we moved eastward.
Peeler Lake and Buckeye Ridge (?)
In the vicinity of Crown Pt.
same as above
Crown Point
On the Sawtooth Ridge, with the Bridgeport Valley and Reservoir in the distance
Sawtooth Ridge
same as above
same as above
same as above
same as above
Sawtooth Ridge, glissading
Sawtooth Ridge
Lake and snowbank
Godbeams
Matterhorn Peak, view to the north
Matterhorn area
Iced-over lake
Clouds
South of Matterhorn Peak was Whorl Mountain
Ice axes, on Whorl Mountain
Glissading, Whorl Mountain
From Whorl Mountain, we headed down Matterhorn Canyon, to the south
Matterhorn Canyon
same as above
same as above
From the mouth of Matterhorn Canyon, we headed east to the Mc Cabe Lakes and Mount Conness.
Camping at McCabe Lakes
On the ridge between North Peak and Mount Conness (North Ridge), with the Conness Glacier below
North Peak (Southwest Airlines flight), view to the south. Mt Conness is just out of the photo, at top.
same as above
Conness Lake
On the North Ridge of Mt. Conness
We next traveled south and east, to intersect the Tioga Road, near Tioga Pass. There, we picked up a resupply and continued south via Parker Pass Creek, from which we climbed onto the Kuna Crest at its northern end.
Indian paintbrush in Parker Pass Creek
Traversing the Kuna Crest. Mt. Lyell and Lyell Glacier are seen in center.
We descended the southern end of the Kuna Crest and headed for Mt. Lyell (13,114′). Mt Lyell is at the southern extremity of the Cathedral Range.
Side-trip to Donohue Pass. The Minarets Wilderness has been renamed, to the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Glacier-polished granite
Camped below Mt. Lyell
At the foot of Mt. Lyell
Climbing a snow chute to gain the summit ridge of Mt. Lyell
On the summit of Mt. Lyell. Banner and Ritter Peaks are seen to the southeast.
This climb ended the course. We had traveled extensively through Yosemite National Park, and seen very few others on the way. What a privilege!
Tioga Pass
Mammoth Peak, at the northern end of the Kuna Crest, from the Tioga Rd.
Dana Meadow
Tioga Pass entry station, looking into the Park
The White Mountains, from Tioga Pass
Saddlebag Lake is located just east of Tioga Pass, and provides a good vantage point to view Mt. Conness and White Mountain.
White Mountain (left) and Mt. Conness (right), from Saddlebag Lake
Mt. Conness, from Saddlebag Lake
Sunset, at Saddlebag Lake
Aerial Photos, Southwest Airlines flights
Western boundary of Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake, view to the east
View to the northeast, of Mt. Conness, White Mountain and Saddlebag Lake
same as above, but a wider view
Kuna Crest, view to the southeast
View to the southeast of Yosemite NP and Ansel Adams Wilderness, to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
The End
