The 5.7 layback. NOTE: You CANNOT see this from the ground below. After about 45 minutes of trying various options, I found the easiest way to get to the layback was to just climb blocky terrain directly above the notch.

All Locations > California > High Sierra > 14 - Whitney &… > Lone Pine Peak > N Ridge (5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a)

The 5.7 layback. NOTE: You CANNOT see this from the ground below. After about 45 minutes of trying various options, I found the easiest way to get to the layback was to just climb blocky terrain directly above the notch.

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looking down the alternate approach

North Ridge, Lone Pine Peak

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Steph Abegg

Jul 1, 2018

“The 5.7 layback. NOTE: You CANNOT see this from the ground below. After about 45 minutes of trying various options, I found the easiest way to get to the layback was to just climb blocky terrain directly above the notch.”

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Nearby Photos

the notch

North Ridge, Lone Pine Peak

start/end of approach ramp noted

Features on North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak.

looking back down toward the owens valley

Finding the decent gully. Annotated photo.

North Ridge, Lone Pine Peak

Caroline Schaumann after the short approach to Lone Pine Peak

David on tower 2 approaching the hand jams corner on p3 of the sketchy far east chimney variation.

the long ridgeline

OSX High Sierra wallpaper annotated

Lone Pine Peak's North Ridge

Caroline Schaumann on the North Ridge, Lone Pine Peak

Winter ascent of the complete NRLPP

A view of the towers from the notch marking beginning of technical climbing.

I turned off the trail at 10,000 feet, as suggested by the Croft guide description. The approach ramp is in the background.

I had a satellite image loaded onto my GAIA app on my iPhone (very useful!), clearly showing the descent gully that goes all the way back down to the lakes. This is the only one that does not cliff out.

looking down the n ridge

snow in the notch

first thought-provoking crack

easier ground before the summit

The North Ridge follows the obvious right skyline of Lone Pine Peak. The ridge line dropping to the left and then towards the camera is the North East Ridge which is also supposedly quite good but requires a lot more hiking and thus a significantly longer day.

notch before the summit tower

final push

more easy climbing

Mike pulling a short grunty move

Ally approaching the cat walk

rest of the crux section

Gearing up for a winter ascent of the complete NRLPP

early season ice

Lisa Pritchett and Dave Burda getting an early start on the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak.

Looking north up the eastern edge of the Sierras and the Owens River Valley from the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak.

the rare and very cool foxtail pines (Pinus balfouriana) found around Meysan Lakes

Matt on the lower section of the crux (lieback with the 2 pitons)

Matt on the chossy downclimb into the notch before the leaning flake

Miguel at the crux

the great leaning flake

fixed pins mark the start of the crux

crossing the slabs

many towers left to go

Keeler Needles & Whitney peeping over the right-hand skyline

Mike heading for the ridgeline proper

alternate, more technical approach to gain the ridge

view to the west

final slabs to the summit

n ridge & the owens valley

chossy downclimb into the notch

There are two fixed pins in the 5.7 layback.

Miguel reminiscing on the traverse

Miguel starting up the second tower on the way to the crux

looking down to the Owens Valley

Meysan Creek crossing after leaving the Meysan Lakes trail

the leaning boulders in early season

Matt passing the leaning flake. The downclimb for the tower 1 bypass is slightly down and climber's left.

last blocks before the summit

Matt on the ridge to the final tower

final summit push

An very fun ridge climb.

traverse into the notch

looking down the alternate approach

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