Third Pillar of Dana

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

Third Pillar of Dana

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Top of first pitch

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

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Izzy Nawfal

Jun 28, 2018

“Third Pillar of Dana”

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The utterly striking Third Pillar of Mt. Dana.

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.)

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

3rd Pillar of Dana Descent.

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

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

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

Roberto and Duke on the approach hike.

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

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.

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

Brian crossing the snow gully 7/22/2011.

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

Crossing the snow gully to reach the base.

Top of first pitch

Third Pillar of Dana

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

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

All smiles on the last pitch

Looking down the route from the top.

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

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.

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

Eric Collins on 3rd Pillar, circa 1986

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

Looking straight up the direct start.

near the top

Tristan on the final pitch

Roberto on the 4th class approach gully.

Ginger following the final pitch of the Third Pillar of Dana

Third Pillar of Dana looking mighty impressive on the approach

Ginger on p1

Kurt on top after leading the amazing final pitch.

Jeremy Freeman on the 1st pitch

3rd Pillar

Eric Collins on the summit of 3rd pillar

Ginger on Third Pillar of Dana with the route unfolding below

Having fun on the Third Pillar, Regular Route

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

Third Pillar.<br>
Photo by Blitzo.

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

Low down, I think it's pitch 1

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.

Summit, with Mono lake

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

Up up and away!

Eric Burt leading just above the first crux on P.5.

Third Pillar

Eric Collins on 3rd Pillar, circa 1986

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

the traverse that starts P2

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

Topping out on the Third Pillar

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

Looking east from the plateau past the top of The Third Pillar. Mono Lake is in the distance and 5,000 ft down.

BEAUTIFUL piece of rock

Finishing the chimney on P3.

About halfway down the descent.

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
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2. yellow/blue offset BD X4 cam or comparable
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3. Blue 0.3 BD cam & sling