Lee Vining

Two obscure classics, Red Rocks prolific first asc...

Description 

Lee Vining Cascade is a great ice climbing area that is located just outside of Mammoth. There are plenty of routes to climb, from single pitch to three pitch classics such as Chouinards, Spiral Staircase, The Heel Toe, and the Bard Harrington. The area recieves shade pretty much all day and starts forming usaully aroung Early November.

You can go online and type in Lee Vining ice conditions for weekly updates on how fat the ice is. The website is Sierra Mountain Guides and they post conditons for all of the classic routes. It will also tell you how to drive in from where ever you may be. There are a few nice little places in town that you can rent rooms for reasonable prices. One is called Murphys' which I usually prefer because you can get a room with three beds for about 40 to 60 bucks. Make sure you tell them your there to climb because they give ice climber discounts!

Getting There 

Lee Vining Cascade is located in the town of, you guessed it, Lee Vining. You can get exact directions on Mapquest.

The Classics

Featured Route For Lee Vining

Cave Man WI5  CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Main Wall

Cave Man start towards the right side of the Main Wall. It starts up a nice 50 foot pitch of slightly non vert ice to a bolted station to the right. It is totally possible to link this with the meat of the route which is the obvious popsicle in the middle of the wall. This section is steep and sustained. You will find a fixed anchor with knots, stoppers and pins to belay. Step left off the anchor to gain some thin ice and rock depending on how fa...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Lee Vining Slideshow

Add Photo

Dave Sorrick below Spiral Staircase in mixed condi...	Tomas Huber rockin' out at the world famous Lee Vi...	Lee Vining ice. Feb 2008. Bard-Harrington out du...
Bard Harrington, WI4	Aspens in Lundy Canyon