On the approach to the East Buttress.

All Locations > California > High Sierra > 14 - Whitney &… > Mt Whitney > E Buttress (5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b)

On the approach to the East Buttress.

ID 107233387 ·

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Straight down the buttress. Camp at Icerberg Lake below.

second 5.7 section

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4.5 from 2 votes

Sam B.

Aug 2, 2011

“On the approach to the East Buttress. ”

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Nearby Photos

Mt. Whitney's East Buttress, just below the Peewee. Photo by Tauru.

Roping up at the start of the route.

Topo aspect from Iceberg Lake showing 5.8 alternate start for the first pitch. Highly recommend this variation. Climbers can be seen on first pitch of regular 5.6 start.

Sunrise from the E Buttress route

Fun shot of Peewee on the East Buttress.

Mt Whitney at sunrise. East Buttress is clearly visible on the right side of the picture.

An incredible line. This perspective is hard to imagine when you're looking up at the mountain, but I hope this photo shows how it isn't nearly as steep / scary when you're up there. Do this climb!

Brett leads the 5.7 piton-protected variation above the 2nd Tower.

John Fujii pauses on the crest. Iceberg Lake below.

Kevin on the East Buttress. December 2016

Renee finishing up the crux moves on pitch 7.

Having some fun on blocks, pre-summit, post roped up

Stay along the cliffs to the right on the descent of the Mountaineers Route and aim for the notch (shown here) to the right of Piss Rock to avoid lower gully. Cairned all the way.

Jon coming up on pitch 3

remnants of the ice falls

Climbing past peewee block on Pitch 6. We went right of the block; easy climbing

Straight down the buttress. Camp at Icerberg Lake below.

On the approach to the East Buttress.

second 5.7 section

Mike Morley and Jeff Crow atop Mt. Whitney after summiting the East Buttress on a bluebird day in late May, 2002.

Duke soloing high on the East Buttress.

rippled slab is the first 5.7 section

Around the 4th pitch. Fun slabs ahead.

The Peewee on the East Buttress.

Looking down pitch 1 to John Fujii

A view of the summit. There are many options here, but good route finding is needed to keep it 5.7. Many 5.8- 5.10 alternates...

2 climbers on top of the 2nd tower

Iceberg Lake campsite, with Whitney in background

looking up at the E Buttress

Pinnacle Ridge

looking over to Russell

Whitney

Mountaineers Route descent (barely any snow left in May!)

Jonny pulls down on the right side of the Peewee. Photo by Brett Barrett.

Kevin on the East Buttress. December 2016

Seth on lead.

flakes around P4/5

Jeff Crow approaches the belay on one of the upper pitches of Whitney's East Buttress in late May, 2002.

John Fujii at the end of pitch 2.

One of the airy sections, around pitch 6-8.

almost at the base

After submitting East Buttress

Top of Pitch 7 (?) up a 5.7 crack then left to an amazing flake to just below a small chimney

Melody Wong having fun on the crest.

looking down to Iceberg Lk

early morning light on the approach

easy blocky climbing on P4

Keeler Needles

willow maze

Mariann and I happy on the Summit !

P1 (regular start)

top of the 20' tower (marked on Supertopo)

bottom of the Peewee

Keeler Needles & Whitney

looking down the Peewee on P6

Orange dihedral pitch on East Buttress, Mt Whitney. Photo courtesy Bill McConachie

Descending the mountaineers route.

Nearing the start of the 5th class

another view of Pinnacle Ridge

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