TR: Matterhorn Peak

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rhyang

Ice climber

SJC

Topic Author's Original Post - May 13, 2008 - 12:00pm PT

I so enjoyed last month's Matterhorn Peak TR that I decided to go do it myself.

Saturday I drove over the newly-opened Sonora Pass to Bridgeport, picked up my wilderness permit, then proceeded to Twin Lakes. I parked on the road and hiked up the Horse Creek trail.

Armed with supertopo GPS coordinates (tm) I caught a glimpse of Matterhorn's north side while sloshing through the patchy snow.

I headed up the col, which was pretty much solid snow. There were a lot of tracks. Popular destination. Looked like someone had passed through in the morning. I took a look down-canyon.

Around 9400' I decided to camp in the trees, since I hadn't quite made up my mind about the east couloir vs. the southeast face. I waved to a guy who was descending from Horse Creek Pass. The evening scenery was pretty nice.

The night was not particularly cold, but it was breezy. My alarm went off at 3:30am. I turned it off, then went back to sleep. Woke up again at 4:45, and decided to go sightseeing. Started moving around 5:30.

The lake at ~9600' was still frozen, barely.

I kept going up, aiming for the moraine, mostly still under snow.

The Ski Dreams couloir looked good, the west couloir looked good, and the east couloir looked kinda melted out. I was not feeling up to the west couloir, and hadn't really read much about the SW side, so up the east couloir I went.

I stopped for some gu about midway, and finally got to the couloir exit around 9am.

Now for the rock scrambling .. I really wasn't feeling up for anything hard, and anyhow my surgeon would not approve :) So I hunted around for the 3rd class ledges .. made a couple of false starts, downclimbed, then found a more likely route. Finally atop the summit ridge I scrambled up, signed the register, took some pics and downed a chocolate bar in celebration.

I believe this is Whorl Mountain, something for later in the season ..

Aliens checking out Virginia and Stanton peaks :)

Around 10-ish I figured descending might be nice, so I headed down the SE side towards Horse Creek Pass. The snow higher up on this side was obnoxiously suncupped, but soft. I was really glad I hadn't decided to slog up the sand and loose crap on this side.

Headed down the pass, lots of tracks to follow. Obviously a popular destination. Looking back up ..

Got back to camp before noon, and returned to my car by 3pm. I should have driven over Conway summit to the Mobil mart deli... oh well, next time.

AbeFrohman

Trad climber

new york, NY

May 13, 2008 - 12:04pm PT

beautiful. and nice work for someone who recently got all tangled up!

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, Ca.

May 13, 2008 - 12:11pm PT

Good stuff!

climblight

Mountain climber

Northern NV

May 13, 2008 - 12:19pm PT

Nice trip Rob.

Chiloe

Trad climber

Lee, NH

May 13, 2008 - 12:22pm PT

One helluva comeback walk. Looks like fun.

Gene

climber

May 13, 2008 - 12:22pm PT

Not too bad for a guy who can probably legally park in a handicapped zone. How long has it been since you broke your neck?

Very, very well done my friend.
Regards,
Gene

perswig

climber

May 13, 2008 - 12:28pm PT

Great shots, esp that next peak over, from above. Good on ya.
(I'm sending your neurosurgeon a link - you're sooo busted.) Dale

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

sorry, just posting out loud.

May 13, 2008 - 12:40pm PT

noyce, way to start the spring off right!

Mtnmun

Trad climber

Top of the Mountain Mun

May 13, 2008 - 01:17pm PT

Way to go Rhyang nice to see you back in action.

snakefoot

climber

cali

May 13, 2008 - 01:29pm PT

bump for quality.....nice work

JOEY.F

Social climber

sebastopol

May 13, 2008 - 02:18pm PT

Beautiful!
Thank You.

rhyang

Ice climber

SJC

Topic Author's Reply - May 13, 2008 - 03:19pm PT

Thanks all !

Gene, it will have been nine months this Saturday. Thanks again for your hospital visits and encouragement !

I do have a disabled parking placard (permanent), but I obviously don't need wheelchair access ... I've met enough people who do need those spaces to know better.

Speaking of which, on the way back through Oakdale I stopped for a sandwich. An obviously able-bodied couple pulled into a nearby disabled parking space and I gave them a piece of my mind. Probably not very smart, but oh well ..

10b4me

climber

hanging by a thread

May 13, 2008 - 04:18pm PT

nice to see you back out there.

F10 Climber F11 Drinker

Trad climber

medicated and flat on my back

May 13, 2008 - 05:14pm PT

Thanks for the uplifting TR

Glad your recovery has progressed well enought to be out and about.
I can't wait until my back injuries have healed and I can be back outdoors.

rwedgee

Ice climber

canyon country,CA

May 13, 2008 - 05:53pm PT

Glad to see I'm not the only one who hits the snooze button more than once when the alarm goes off. Way to take it easy and still get the job done!! Great to see you're out and about. You are amazing Rob, way to go!!

landcruiserbob

Trad climber

Vail, Colorado

May 13, 2008 - 05:57pm PT

Great trip report!

The snow pack in California looks pretty weak this year.rg

neebee

Social climber

calif/texas

May 13, 2008 - 07:04pm PT

hey there rhyang... say, wow, and way to go....
say... i just love the matterhorn.. and the alps...hey, even the valleys...

i go the matterhorn, near everyngiht, when i can----WEBCAM wise, that is....

i see the sun rise, or set.. .depending on the time.... just love it.... also, look at the pics on the website...

i did not get to see all the pics unfold, so i will be back here to see them....

there IS a webcam, too, for to view the CIRCLING RESTAURANT up above the whole range, somewhere.... forgot where... oh, my...

thanks for the great share... and so veryyyyyy glad, you used wisdom, too, as to your past injuries... :)