Lone Peak

[Slot Machine]

On August 10th, 2015, Steph, Tony ( @Absolute Gravity ) and I hiked to the summit of Lone Peak. This was a big step up from our previous alpine adventures, 5,650 feet in elevation gain in just 5 1/2 miles. The final traverse to the summit was a real psycological challenge; it required about 4-5 exposed moves around (or over) large boulders along the spine of the summit. The exposure on both sides of the spine made us all pause, and in the end Steph stayed back and watched. It was a scary and rewarding traverse for me and Tony.

We gained the summit in just under 6 hours and completed the loop in 10.5 hours.

It was a challenging day with great company.

Special thanks to @Iceaxe for his excellent writeup on this route.

-Bob

Tony in the cirque, the summit standing tall in the background.




Tony checking out an option to get around one of the boulders near the summit (he went around the other side).


Steph watching our heroics from a safe spot near the summit.




Feeling alive and relieved while standing on the summit.

[Kuya]

Nice! I can't wait to do this climb someday. Looks beautiful!

[Absolute Gravity]

One more

Bob and Steph as we are heading down the ridge

[jman]

Thanks for the TR Bob.

Curious - which trailhead did you start from?

Any other thoughts on it? I'm asking because I might do this next week.


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[Slot Machine]

Thanks for the TR Bob.

Curious - which trailhead did you start from?

Any other thoughts on it? I'm asking because I might do this next week.

We did the Jacob's Ladder route.

Thoughts:

We started hiking at 4:30AM. Earlier than that would be slightly better, 3:30 or 4:00 would be optimal. Later would put you in the sun on the way up, and would be not fun.

Just before you get to the cirque you will encounter a boulder field. Your altitude will be about 10,250 feet. From the edge of the boulder field you can can go straight through (Tony and I did, and it sucked), or, you can head north up a small cliff, then across a beautiful field of flowers (Steph did this on the way down the mountain and laughed at our suffering). Perhaps plot a couple of GPS points from Shane's map, then follow them with precision once you get close to the cirque. There are cairns all over the place when you arrive at the boulder field. Don't trust any of them. (BTW, picture #1 in the cirque is past the boulder field. If you go the recommended route you will never get this far into the cirque.)

Bring trekking poles and 3 liters of water per person.

The final traverse is scary, but none of the moves are hard. Each obstacle presents 2 or 3 options to get around. Evaluate each obstacle carefully before committing.

I'm not very fast when doing huge amounts of vertical. I bet you are faster and could complete the loop in 9 hours.

Have fun!

[jman]

We did the Jacob's Ladder route.

Thoughts:

We started hiking at 4:30AM. Earlier than that would be slightly better, 3:30 or 4:00 would be optimal. Later would put you in the sun on the way up, and would be not fun.

Just before you get to the cirque you will encounter a boulder field. Your altitude will be about 10,250 feet. From the edge of the boulder field you can can go straight through (Tony and I did, and it sucked), or, you can head north up a small cliff, then across a beautiful field of flowers (Steph did this on the way down the mountain and laughed at our suffering). Perhaps plot a couple of GPS points from Shane's map, then follow them with precision once you get close to the cirque. There are cairns all over the place when you arrive at the boulder field. Don't trust any of them. (BTW, picture #1 in the cirque is past the boulder field. If you go the recommended route you will never get this far into the cirque.)

Bring trekking poles and 3 liters of water per person.

The final traverse is scary, but none of the moves are hard. Each obstacle presents 2 or 3 options to get around. Evaluate each obstacle carefully before committing.

I'm not very fast when doing huge amounts of vertical. I bet you are faster and could complete the loop in 9 hours.

Have fun!

Thanks for the info. Yea, I was thinking a early start like 5am would be good, but maybe I'll start at 4am per your recommendation.

It will be nice to finally get this checked off.

[BruteForce]

An easier route would be Lone Peak Wilderness trail. From there, you can bushwack, jump the creek and summit without any of the technical gotchas.

[Iceaxe]

An easier route would be Lone Peak Wilderness trail. From there, you can bushwack, jump the creek and summit without any of the technical gotchas.

I've climbed Lone Peak a couple dozen times using every published route and a bunch we made up on the fly (I live at the base of Corner Canyon). Jacob's Ladder is by far the fastest/easiest way to summit.

I'm still trying to figure out where this boulder field slot machine ran into is. Once you reach the ridge using Jacobs Ladder the route is a hike through a meadow and over a low saddle to access the cirque, or at least it should be if you are on route.

[Slot Machine]

I'm still trying to figure out where this boulder field slot machine ran into is. Once you reach the ridge using Jacobs Ladder the route is a hike through a meadow and over a low saddle to access the cirque, or at least it should be if you are on route.

We missed the low saddle that accesses the cirque. Instead we headed east toward the summit, over the boulder field, until we nearly got to the wall below the summit. Then we turned north.

The boulder field is just east of where your route turns north. There is a trail that dead-ends at the boulder field that lured us in.

Looking down from the summit we could clearly see the easy route down. But Tony and I left our trekking poles at the top of the boulder field, deeming them a liability at that point.

But Steph kept her poles along, proving later to be the wise choice, and laughed as she saved a half hour's effort by skipping the boulder field on the way down.

[BruteForce]

I've climbed Lone Peak a couple dozen times using every published route and a bunch we made up on the fly (I live at the base of Corner Canyon). Jacob's Ladder is by far the fastest/easiest way to summit.

I'm still trying to figure out where this boulder field slot machine ran into is. Once you reach the ridge using Jacobs Ladder the route is a hike through a meadow and over a low saddle to access the cirque, or at least it should be if you are on route.

Well, I didn't see any of the obstacles that he reported and I've run that trail a few times myself. Great elevation gain, but get to end of trail and its like <yawn>. Bushwack, find some old wreckage, scramble some rocks and you're at the absolute top. Nothing technical, just elevation gain and full sun exposure..

We hoofed the entire family up there 3x, including our 140 pound Lab!

[Absolute Gravity]

I'm still trying to figure out where this boulder field slot machine ran into is. Once you reach the ridge using Jacobs Ladder the route is a hike through a meadow and over a low saddle to access the cirque, or at least it should be if you are on route.

Some may choose to prance and frolic through the meadow of wildflowers on the north side of the cirque, but the saltier of us battle through the boulder filled south side, braving knee and ankle sprains while the others patiently wait, readying the ibuprofen, and preparing for the brave boulder warriors to emerge and proclaim 'God Damnit, how long have you been here?'

[Wasatch Rebel]

Nice post! I planning another attempt on Labor Day.

[Slot Machine]

I didn't see any of the obstacles that he reported and I've run that trail a few times myself.

One must try whole-heartedly to find the most difficult path on any adventure. Tony and I succeeded heroically at this task once we approached the cirque.

BUT, we got to see an amazing part of the cirque (twice) that few people venture into (no paths or footprints), and it only cost us about an hour, so it really wasn't that bad.


Sir, is that a one quart whiskey flask on your shoulder strap? If so, I gotta get me one.

[Absolute Gravity]

Sir, is that a one quart whiskey flask on your shoulder strap? If so, I gotta get me one.

I believe it contains shot's of a different variety...