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Elevation: 11,040 ft
GPS: 38.12188, -119.41522
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 461,700 total · 2,158/month
Shared By: Chris Owen on Aug 22, 2006 · Updates
Admins: Chris Owen, Lurk Er, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

Description Suggest change

This crag in the Sawtooth Range can honestly lay claim to being one of the biggest granite walls in the High Sierra. Essentially the culmination of the north ridge of Eocene Peak. It is separated from the towers to the south by a significant notch, which forms part of the standard descent route (see below).

Getting There Suggest change

The trailhead is at Twin Lakes/Mono Village, to park at the Marina you must pay $15.00 (2020). Parking along the road is free, but not allowed overnight (10pm-4:30am).

Hike west along the Robinson Creek Trail to Little Slide Canyon. There used to be a sign but be despite misinformation (old), as of 7/2019, there is no turn off sign to diverge towards Little Slide Canyon. However, the path diverges in between two larger rocks, with a pine as a decent land marker if you're having trouble (See photo below). Robinson Creek is easily crossed via fell tree even with a high flow year like we are having in 2019 after negotiating boggy terrain and a couple of tributaries (sandals recommended, cache on other side) to the south bank of Robinson Creek, go right (west) and pick up "The Switchbacks" which are steep but short. Continue to follow the trail on less steep ground to the talus. Stay left of the creek while the ground is relatively flat, crossing over when you get to a large talus field that is covered by snow in the early season. As the canyon gets steeper the best path is on the right hand side of a central outcropping. This is less steep when there is snow and there is usually a trail when it has melted. Follow the path and cairns through talus, trees, and at one point onto the rock outcropping in the middle. The trail becomes less obvious where there is usually snow, but cairns do mark a way up over granite benches, and ledges to a flat area west of the Hulk and east of Maltby Lake.

Some people do the Hulk in one long day, some people camp beneath the climbs - it's up to you, and how you view the mountains.

Descent from the Routes

From the summit, and after paying homage to the Superball - make a steep and exposed Class 3 descent (nervous soloists need not apply) of the south ridge, about 300', near its terminus go left and descend down to the rappel anchor, where a single rope rappel will deposit you in the notch mentioned above. Go right (west) and descend steep and loose scree to a small tower and a branch. Take the left branch and Class 5 down climb the overhanging chockstone - very worrying. A little further you'll reach the main gully beneath the Incredible Hulk's wall - stagger and stumble down some of the worst scree I've ever seen back to the start of the climbs, and then down the final scree fan. Some may take 45 minutes to do this, I've seen it written up as "trivial" - IMHO it's more than both of these.

*SEE PERMIT NOTES ON MAIN AREA PAGE*

20 Total Climbs

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Location: Incredible Hulk Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Incredible Hulk

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 383
Red Dihedral (aka "Yggdrasil")
Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 58
The Polish Route
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 394
Positive Vibrations
Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 131
Sunspot Dihedral
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 35
Tradewinds
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 23
Lost in the Sun
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 17
Wind Shear
Trad, Alpine 13 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 10
Eye of the Storm
Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 9
Sun Burn (aka Solar Burn)
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 21
Lenticular Gyrations
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 44
The Venturi Effect
Trad, Alpine 11 pitches
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 16
Blowhard
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 29
Solar Flare
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 8
Airstream
Trad, Alpine 11 pitches
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 4
Green Thunder
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Red Dihedral (aka "Yggdrasil")
 383
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
The Polish Route
 58
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Positive Vibrations
 394
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 12 pitches
Sunspot Dihedral
 131
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Tradewinds
 35
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Lost in the Sun
 23
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Wind Shear
 17
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Trad, Alpine 13 pitches
Eye of the Storm
 10
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
Sun Burn (aka Solar Burn)
 9
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Lenticular Gyrations
 21
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
The Venturi Effect
 44
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 11 pitches
Blowhard
 16
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Solar Flare
 29
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Airstream
 8
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Trad, Alpine 11 pitches
Green Thunder
 4
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Incredible Hulk »

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