Seeking beta - Temple Crag, Big Pine Lakes alpine

Hi folks,

Coming down for Jul 1 - Jul 7, and looking at some alpine routes up on Temple. I know there's lots of snow on the ground past first lake. Anyone know what the rock is looking like there? Still well frosted or pretty dry?

Thanks in advance!

I’m wondering the same… bump?

Third lake is snow free, and the trail up is in good condition. The creek crossing from third lake to the approaches toward Contact Pass is difficult. There are ongoing flooding issues all over the place. There is still lots of snow higher and in shaded aspects, mostly of it soft where sun affected.

Thanks for posting info, Walker.  Would be interested to know if you make it/made it up one of the Temple routes, how the descent conditions from the top of the route to the repel is?

Hi Yot Yot,

Sent Sun Ribbon Arete with @Ian Fried, who did most of the hard lifting. 

Something odd happened with this post. I had more written but it didn't post the first time.

The descent was totally fine. There's some quickly thinning snow on the talus toward Contact Pass, but we plunge stepped or glissaded without issue. We probably each post-holed only once or twice. The descent was 50/50 snow and rock, most of the snow on the northern aspect of the pass.

Happy to answer anything else.

Awesome! Sounds like the descent is alright. Appreciate the info. Enjoy the rest of your trip 

Walker, meant to ask, the snow field leading to the base of the climbs, were crampons needed? Or or do you think an axe will suffice?

When I first crossed Contact Pass in 1978 ,John Fischer showed me a Norman Clyde cache of gear that he had found and picked up in the Palisades . It was a metal garbage can full of stuff in the last bushes before the Pass . John said there were several others . 

Walker- Good job on SR!
One heck of a climb.