third pillar on the left. approach/downclimb on the right

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All Locations > California > Sierra Eastside > Lee Vining Cany… > Dana Plateau > Third Pillar, Regular… (5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a)

third pillar on the left. approach/downclimb on the right

ID 109378611 ·

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3rd Pillar

An unforgettable climb and views while sitting out a few storms. Clear sunny skies in the morning got ugly real fast. Curtains of rain passed us and over Tioga Pass Road.

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davefaus

Aug 21, 2014

“third pillar on the left. approach/downclimb on the right”

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Nearby Photos

The utterly striking Third Pillar of Mt. Dana.

Alone on the Third Pillar of Dana photo by Drew Smith.

Atop the huge, scary-looking-but-solid flake with great 10a fingers on pitch 4 (pitch 5 if you do the direct start like we did.)

Current (as of Sat 15 July 2017) conditions of the snow field traverse to get to the base of Third Pillar.

Evan looking down at Mono Lake from the Third Pillar of Dana

Not a bad view from the summit of the 3rd! -photo by Tim Klein

3rd Pillar of Dana Descent.

The regular route as viewed form the approach. The red line closely follows the route.

All smiles on the last pitch

Looking up at the route from the base. Most of the route is just to the right of the left skyline.

My recommendation is to taking the left route variation because it lands your belay on this sweet detached flake. Plus it's all-in-all better climbing.

Linda finishes up the last moves on the stellar final pitch of Third Pillar.<br>
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photo by danafelthauser.com

Brian crossing the snow gully 7/22/2011.

Third Pillar of Dana

Top of first pitch

Starting up the first pitch of the Regular Route, Third Pillar of Mt. Dana.

Crossing the snow gully to reach the base.

Roberto and Duke on the approach hike.

Summit shot, topping out on 3rd Pillar of Dana. Photo by Ryan. Sun 4 Aug 2013.

Third Pillar

Jeff on the final pitch, dubbed by some as the "best 5.9 pitch in the universe"!

Looking down the route from the top.

Calvin Kilcrease leading above the 10a finger crack on P.4.

Found this towards the end of P4 after the crux. Not really needed as there were options for other placements. We ended up making an anchor here.

3rd Pillar

third pillar on the left. approach/downclimb on the right

An unforgettable climb and views while sitting out a few storms. Clear sunny skies in the morning got ugly real fast. Curtains of rain passed us and over Tioga Pass Road.

Looking straight up the direct start.

Last Pitch on Third Pillar. <br>
<br>
**flake being climbed is kinda loose/scary. Finger crack to climber's right harder but safer.

Tristan on the final pitch

near the top

Ginger on Third Pillar of Dana with the route unfolding below

Vincent downclimbing the prow to the right of the gully to reach the base of the route.

Third Pillar of Dana looking mighty impressive on the approach

Ginger following the final pitch of the Third Pillar of Dana

Ginger on p1

Kurt on top after leading the amazing final pitch.

Jeremy Freeman on the 1st pitch

Bill Geist following the upper section of the fourth pitch. Nice exposure!

Eric Collins on 3rd Pillar, circa 1986

Tim Klein finishes the last pitch on the 3rd (summer, 2001?)

Tim Klein leading the .10a crack to the left of the detached flake

Low down, I think it's pitch 1

Jeff at the spectacular P3 belay!

Summit, with Mono lake

Having fun on the Third Pillar, Regular Route

Up up and away!

Eric Collins on 3rd Pillar, circa 1986

View of Mono Lake from the summit.

Pitch 4 protection, for the section right after the layback flake. It is well protected...there is no ledge fall potential if you do the following:
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1. Brass offset, small-ish
<br>
2. yellow/blue offset BD X4 cam or comparable
<br>
3. Blue 0.3 BD cam & sling

Rita on the last pitch.<br>
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Photo by S. Cox

Roberto on the 4th class approach gully.

Pouring over Mono Lake and the Pillar. Took this picture real quick before ducking back under the tarp.

Eric Collins on the summit of 3rd pillar

Topping out the Third Pillar on a perfect Sierra Day!!

Downclimbing to bypass the snowy gully. Up high is some exposed 4th class but it gets gets easier and more obvious lower down

the traverse that starts P2

Jeff past the crux section of pitch 2, getting into the wide 5.7 stretch.

About halfway down the descent.

Topping out on the Third Pillar

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