Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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36.70860°N / 118.4844°W |
Route Type:
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Scramble |
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Time Required:
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Most of a day |
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Difficulty:
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Class 2 |
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Approach
Take the Bubbs Creek Trail from Roads End. Follow it to Junction Meadow, turning right, and heading to East Lake, 13.5 miles from the TH. From East Lake you can view Mt. Brewer and the East Ridge. Take visual notes, as you will not get another look at it until you are on it. Cross the outlet of the lake to the west side, and follow the shore south until you reach the second creek that empties to the west side of East Lake. This is marked Ouzel Creek on the topo maps. Climb the slopes on the north side of the creek for 1.5mi. You can head directly west to reach the East Ridge climbing some easy class 3 slopes, or for the easiest route follow the north-leading branch of Ouzel Creek that goes up to some lakes shown on the topo map. The maps are wrong about the drainage of these lakes, showing them flowing into a second creek that parallels Ouzel Creek to the north. They don't, and it can be rather confusing if you trust the map blindly. The stream goes through several lakes (last source of reliable water) and leads onto the East Ridge from a northerly direction.
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Route Description
Once on the ridge, route-finding is trivial. The East Ridge is a mix of granite slabs, medium and large boulders, some talus. There is no steep talus slopes to climb, making this a favored alternative to the (very) tedius South Slopes and South Ridge. The south side of the ridge is steep in many places. As a result, you should not follow Ouzel Creek up too far and gain the ridge from the south side unless you are looking for a class 3-4 challenge. Difficulties on the ridge can always be bypassed on the right (north) side.
Where the East Ridge meets the South Ridge, look for an exit through a notch on the left. The right side exits are class 4-5, and hardly trivial. Once on the South Ridge, follow it to the summit blocks. The summit has three pinnacles. The NE one has the register, but the middle one with a class 3-4 summit block is the highest.
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Essential Gear
None needed, as snow melts relatively early off this ridge. (Of course, always check conditions before you go!)
Miscellaneous Info
If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.