Lots of interesting scrambling with big views out to both sides.

. . Shorter approach than most other scrambling/climbing routes in Little Lakes Valley / Rock Creek area -- mostly on well-maintained hiking trail starting from trailhead parking higher than most for the Sierra mountain range.

Scramble roughly north up the ridge to the summit.

. . (with 460 vertical feet of uphill).

Then more scrambling for perhaps another 200 or 300 feet north beyond the summit.

- - . .

See approach + route on Map

. . - -

For maximum scrambling on this trip, return the same way. Otherwise ...

Descent options:

See on Mt Starr area page

.

Summit Ridge traverse S->N

South Ridge low

SSW Ridge low

Lots of interesting moves in a variety of rock situations with a dramatic finish to the point which is the south end of the Mt Starr summit ridge.

. . Quick straightforward connection to the easier and fun scrambling much longer of

the Mt Starr summit ridge

.

. . Shorter approach than most other scrambling/climbing routes in Little Lakes Valley / Rock Creek area -- mostly on well-maintained hiking trail starting from trailhead parking higher than most for the Sierra mountain range.

- - . .

See route on Map

. . - -

Scramble up the rocks, seeking out more interesting climbing sequences on different rock features along the way. See a very steep buttress ahead. Scramble around and up a ledge along its East side. Just before this ledge gets up to an even bigger steep wall, scramble up the last weakness in the buttress, diagonal Left. Next traversed horizontal Left a few feet to the arete. A move up this onto a platform. Finish with a little more scrambling to reach the big viewpoint (N37.4211 W118.7705) of the south end of the Mt Starr summit ridge.

. . (The scrambling/climbing part goes uphill about 330 vertical feet, in addition to the approach up scree from hiking trail).

. . (what

SummitPost.org

calls the "south ridge" is actually the SSW Ridge).

Option to continue on

the summit ridge

going roughly north up to the summit (recommended).  Or down NNW on non-steep scree/sand to near Mono Pass (N37.4253 W118.7728), then return to Parking on the maintained trail. Or take the trail down only to the

the SSW Ridge

, and climb up that before returning.

Lots of fun scrambling, with opportunities to try short 5th class climbing sequences.

. . Leads to a quick straightforward connection to the easier and fun scrambling much longer of the

the Mt Starr summit ridge

.

. . Shorter approach than most other scrambling/climbing routes in Little Lakes Valley / Rock Creek area -- mostly on well-maintained hiking trail starting from trailhead parking higher than most for the Sierra mountain range.

Scramble up the rocks, seeking out more interesting climbing sequences on different rock features along the way.

. . (Perhaps with lots of weaving around, the maximum difficulty could be kept as low as 3rd class, but the point of this route is find interesting climbing).

- - . .

See route on Map

. . - -

When reach a small notch (N37.4207 W118.7718) at the top of the rock section, next hike up on sand/scree first NNE then SE to reach a fine viewpoint (N37.4211 W118.7705) at the south end of the Mt Starr summit ridge.

. . (The scrambling/climbing part goes uphill about 460 vertical feet, in addition to the approach up scree from hiking trail).

. . (

SummitPost.org

calls this route the "south ridge").

Option to continue on

the summit ridge

going roughly north up to the summit (recommended). Or down NNW on non-steep scree/sand to near Mono Pass (N37.4253 W118.7728), then return to Parking on the maintained trail.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Mt Starr