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Mt. Conness


Tuolumne Meadows, California USA


Trip Report
September Weekend in Tuolumne: N. Ridge of Conness and North Peak Scramble
Friday October 1, 2010 10:49am
This past weekend, Jeremy, Ryan, Matt and I headed up to the high country for another, yet typical, amazing Tuolumne weekend. Late Friday after driving from Berkeley and listening to the Giants, I was left in Ranger Camp. I woke up and met my good buddy Matt and his new home, ready to climb the N. Ridge of Conness.
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Matt's new home.  Awesome.
Matt's new home. Awesome.
Credit: Byrner
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Everything ready, we hiked on the W. side of Saddlebag Lake and headed up.
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Matt and North Peak.
Matt and North Peak.
Credit: Byrner
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We ascend through the Hall Research Area past the Conness Lakes.
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Credit: Byrner
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And through the bit of 4th to the ridge between Conness and North Peak...
And through the bit of 4th to the ridge between Conness and North Peak.
Credit: Byrner
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Now we go for the first tower. No need to rope up here. Easy 3rd and a few 4th class moves. Definitely not old school Clyde 4th.

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Up to the 1st tower.
Up to the 1st tower.
Credit: Byrner
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We make a few moves and downclimb to start heading up to the second tower and rapp. We didn't pull out the ropes until we reached the raps.

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Matt downclimbs below the first tower.
Matt downclimbs below the first tower.
Credit: Byrner
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Cool view of the summit push after rapping.

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N. Ridge of Conness and Conness Glacier.
N. Ridge of Conness and Conness Glacier.
Credit: Byrner
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We made quick work of the route after the rapps by simuling. I think if I went back, I'd solo the route. Everything was super solid all the way to the summit.

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Matt tops out and swings just right of the highest tower on the summit...
Matt tops out and swings just right of the highest tower on the summit ridge.
Credit: Byrner
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Another great day in the mountains.
Another great day in the mountains.
Credit: Byrner
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I couldn't get enough of the beauty of the Conness Lakes area, so Sunday Ryan, Jeremy and I met up and decided to take a nice stroll up North Peak. It's September and the Giants are gunning for 1st, so if not talking about climbing, we were talking about Giants baseball.

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September.  Only two things on the mind.
September. Only two things on the mind.
Credit: Byrner
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Coming from Saddlebag Lake, the approach to gain the ridge was similar to that of Conness' N. Ridge. We scrambled up scree and made a few 4th class moves, then got on a broad plateau. Once there, we hugged the ridge to the right so we could do some easy scrambling and enjoy the views out to the North and East.

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Jeremy scrambles his way to the summit.
Jeremy scrambles his way to the summit.
Credit: Byrner
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Hurrah! We bagged another one!

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Ryan and Jeremy celebrate North Peak.
Ryan and Jeremy celebrate North Peak.
Credit: Byrner
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We scrambled down some 3rd class ledges to the East to shorten our return to Saddlebag. After some scree skiing, we kicked it at the lake for a bit with the hacky sack, then headed to Tuolumne for beers in the meadows.

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Hackin' by the lake.
Hackin' by the lake.
Credit: Byrner
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Here's to another great weekend in our favorite place.
Here's to another great weekend in our favorite place.
Credit: Byrner
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And, per usual, Olmsted Point was lookin' fine when we drove by on the way back to the Bay.

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Credit: Byrner
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Check out more trip reports and photography on my blog: http://tiedin.wordpress.com/

  Trip Report Views: 4,446
Byrner
About the Author
Byrner is a mountain climber from Berkeley, CA.

Comments
cowpoke

climber
  Sep 17, 2010 - 09:30am PT
nice report with some beautiful pictures. looks like good times!

but...go Rockies! gonna be a fun race, eh?
Byrner

Mountain climber
Berkeley, CA
Author's Reply  Sep 17, 2010 - 09:32am PT
Heheheh, you better believe it! Gotta love September when baseball's heating up and the Sierra cools off and dries out.
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer

Trad climber
  Sep 17, 2010 - 01:51pm PT
Cool TR - looks like a great weekend.
ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Social climber
Wilds of New Mexico
  Sep 17, 2010 - 02:01pm PT
Nice. We were on the West Ridge, wondering how the Giants were doing!
Byrner

Mountain climber
Berkeley, CA
Author's Reply  Sep 17, 2010 - 02:18pm PT
Ha! We were bummed with that result on Saturday, but all's well now! There was a healthy group of climbers on the summit last saturday from both ridges. Fun atmosphere.
Phil_B

Social climber
CHC, en zed
  Sep 17, 2010 - 02:26pm PT
Nice! Thanks for sharing
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Sep 20, 2010 - 02:29pm PT
Great pics, especially like that parting shot. It's always a melancholy feeling leaving the Sierra back for the Bay.
Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
  Sep 20, 2010 - 03:17pm PT
Bump!
Gene

climber
  Sep 20, 2010 - 03:31pm PT
Lovely.
Byrner

Mountain climber
Berkeley, CA
Author's Reply  Sep 20, 2010 - 07:21pm PT
le bruce: Sunday evenings in the Meadows always make me question whether or not I should keep my job... Then again, it pays the bills so I can get out.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
  Sep 20, 2010 - 07:29pm PT
Great looking trip!
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Mt. Conness - North Ridge 5.6 - Tuolumne Meadows, California USA. Click to Enlarge
Photo: Chris McNamara
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