Too much snow was coming off the fields midway up, so it wasn't a safe go. Keeping an eye on temps/snowfall in the coming weeks for possible more melt to setup the lower pitch (i'm told this is rare) and safer avy conditions.

Pics mostly courtesy of Gigamike

• this was high and west of Moonage, not the route ^^^

Hi Adam,
I live 30 mins north of LA in SCV and just started ice climbing last season. Lee Vining and June Lake Road Side are the only two places I have been climbing other than easy Sierra colouirs.

Do you have any recommendations for other ice climbing in the Sierras that can be done in a weekend? Back country camping / alpine touring is a plus.

A closer location other than Lee Vining (6.5 hr drive) would be nice to have access to but I guess most people keep quiet as they don't want crowds.

Tokopah falls (just up the canyon from Moonage) is a great place to crag, if the ice is decent. We played there for a bit after deciding Moonage was out. Approach is about 2 miles from lodgepole parking lot in Sequoia, good on skis or snowshoes at the moment.

Thanks for the conditions report!