I ended up climbing an unnamed peak nearby first, by accident, because looking up at Simmons from it's base, I could not see anything that looked like a class 2 route all the way to the top. Turns out there is one, but you have to climb over a notch high up on the S-SE ridge onto the east slope and continue to the summit from there. I think this is important beta for anyone who wants to climb the SW slope, because I could not find any class 2 way to the top that did not involve eventually traversing over to the east slope. I'll add that staying climber's left all the way up gives solid, continuous class 3 options that are far more enjoyable than the sand and loose talus found elsewhere on the slope. There's actually a way to make the entire climb class 3, I think. And if you stay off the west ridge, it isn't exposed.
Climbed up from Vogelsang with a couple of the Kochakjis! And flew a kite!
mrchad9 - Aug 17, 2010 3:31 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Great view!
Great views all around... didn't find it as loose as some others. Nice route up the SW slope, a wait of a bit as I crouched under a rock for a thunderstorm to pass, and a simple class 4 move or two as I got too far to the left just before the summit. But a very enjoyable trip!
PellucidWombat - Aug 24, 2006 9:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
Sierra Challenge 2006 - Climbed SW Slope
Finishing the grand tour of Vogelsang Pk and Mt Florence, I bagged Simmons on my way to Parson's Pass. I would have also climbed Parson's Peak if a thunderstorm hadn't developed.
This route wasn't too bad if approached by a gradual traverse from the southwest. The final ridgeline had some fun class 2-3 scrambling with nice exposure.
Route Climbed: North Ridge Date Climbed: July 29, 2004
I followed the North Ridge starting at the confluence of Ireland Creek and the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne, up Potter Point, across Amelia Earhart, and on to Simmons. A very long day from Tuolumne Meadows. Trip Report
Route Climbed: North Face Date Climbed: July, 1975
Comparing this photo to ones that I have, I realize I went up the north face, arriving at the ridge near or above the saddle. Followed the ridge to the summit. I guess it was 4th class, but at the time I didn't know what that meant. I did this solo, the two friends I was with were playing cribbage at a lake we camped at.
Route Climbed: SW Slope Date Climbed: August 2, 1979
My 3rd summit in 2 days, having ascended Parsons Peak and Amelia Earhart Peak the previous day; all from Ireland lake. Led by friend and climbing mentor (and my high school civics teacher) Bart O'Brien and accompanied by friends Pat O'Leary and Steve Thomas. Nearly 25 years later and still bagging summits.
Route Climbed: West Ridge/West Face Date Climbed: September 20, 2003
This ended up being a more challenging climb than it looked like from below. I kept traversing right off of class 5 blocks on the ridge until I found a class 4 route up the west face (the last 100 feet below the summit). I descended via Secor's class 2 Southwest Slopes--horrid loose medium talus blocks.
Deb - Oct 4, 2021 1:20 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2021
Ridge traverse from ParsonsStellar traverse from Parsons, tagging high points. Very enjoyable with optoins of Class 4 and exposure. Terrible smoke.
colinr - Oct 6, 2017 12:35 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2017
https://peaksforfreaks.blogspot.com/2017/08/convoluted-bliss.htmlhttps://peaksforfreaks.blogspot.com/2017/08/convoluted-bliss.html
CWessels - Jul 14, 2013 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2013
Via Southwest SlopeI ended up climbing an unnamed peak nearby first, by accident, because looking up at Simmons from it's base, I could not see anything that looked like a class 2 route all the way to the top. Turns out there is one, but you have to climb over a notch high up on the S-SE ridge onto the east slope and continue to the summit from there. I think this is important beta for anyone who wants to climb the SW slope, because I could not find any class 2 way to the top that did not involve eventually traversing over to the east slope. I'll add that staying climber's left all the way up gives solid, continuous class 3 options that are far more enjoyable than the sand and loose talus found elsewhere on the slope. There's actually a way to make the entire climb class 3, I think. And if you stay off the west ridge, it isn't exposed.
mountainmatt - Feb 7, 2011 9:23 pm
LooseClimbed up from Vogelsang with a couple of the Kochakjis! And flew a kite!
mrchad9 - Aug 17, 2010 3:31 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Great view!Great views all around... didn't find it as loose as some others. Nice route up the SW slope, a wait of a bit as I crouched under a rock for a thunderstorm to pass, and a simple class 4 move or two as I got too far to the left just before the summit. But a very enjoyable trip!
PellucidWombat - Aug 24, 2006 9:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2006
Sierra Challenge 2006 - Climbed SW SlopeFinishing the grand tour of Vogelsang Pk and Mt Florence, I bagged Simmons on my way to Parson's Pass. I would have also climbed Parson's Peak if a thunderstorm hadn't developed.
This route wasn't too bad if approached by a gradual traverse from the southwest. The final ridgeline had some fun class 2-3 scrambling with nice exposure.
Bob Burd - Nov 29, 2004 10:16 pm
Route Climbed: North Ridge Date Climbed: July 29, 2004I followed the North Ridge starting at the confluence of Ireland Creek and the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne, up Potter Point, across Amelia Earhart, and on to Simmons. A very long day from Tuolumne Meadows. Trip Report
Nelson - Feb 7, 2004 4:12 pm
Route Climbed: North Face Date Climbed: July, 1975Comparing this photo to ones that I have, I realize I went up the north face, arriving at the ridge near or above the saddle. Followed the ridge to the summit. I guess it was 4th class, but at the time I didn't know what that meant. I did this solo, the two friends I was with were playing cribbage at a lake we camped at.
Dave Dinnell - Jan 10, 2004 12:39 am
Route Climbed: SW Slope Date Climbed: August 2, 1979My 3rd summit in 2 days, having ascended Parsons Peak and Amelia Earhart Peak the previous day; all from Ireland lake. Led by friend and climbing mentor (and my high school civics teacher) Bart O'Brien and accompanied by friends Pat O'Leary and Steve Thomas. Nearly 25 years later and still bagging summits.
mrolph - Sep 22, 2003 10:47 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge/West Face Date Climbed: September 20, 2003This ended up being a more challenging climb than it looked like from below. I kept traversing right off of class 5 blocks on the ridge until I found a class 4 route up the west face (the last 100 feet below the summit). I descended via Secor's class 2 Southwest Slopes--horrid loose medium talus blocks.