Mount Conness (Yosemite, CA) by East Ridge

pics by Harlan W.S. and Eric K.
Aug 27, 2011

 

The weather looked iffy, so we made it to the summit before 10AM, and were off shortly thereafter. There seemed to be a lot of snow for this time of year, but generally we were able to avoid snow travel.

 

I first contemplated climbing Conness in 1984, while I was working in that area… but never got a work weather window. I planned again in 2007… but was turned away by a whiteout with 6-12” new snow.

 

conn24k

GPS trace of route.

IMG_5208

Eric by one of many waterfalls.

IMG_5211

Marmot.

 

 

 

IMG_5214

Jana and Eric.  We met Jana just as

we were about to leave the use trail

for the route to the east ridge. She

is a pleasant person who came from

the Czech Republic 5 years ago.

IMG_5215

Alpine Lake.

IMG_5222

 

 

 

 

IMG_5226-7

One mandatory snow crossing.

There is a big gap, not visible

in photo.

IMG_5227

IMG_5230

Eric and Jana below.

 

 

 

IMG_5231

Jana pops over edge of pre-summit

plateau.

IMG_5233

Summit block.  Much of the way

has “steps” of granite levered into

place by the trail-builders.

IMG_5234

Another semi-mandatory

snow crossing, just before

summit block.

 

 

 

IMG_5237-8

Jana comes up summit block.

IMG_5239

View NE from summit.

IMG_5245-7

I went NE to next crag, so I could

get good pics of Jana and Eric as

they summated… and got a bit

chilled waiting for that short time.

 

 

 

IMG_5250

IMG_5251-2

Views down (NE) to Conness Glacier.

IMG_5253-4

 

 

 

IMG_5255

IMG_5256-8

View ~SE. Lyell is the highpoint

near center, with the large glacier

on its flanks; Banner and Ritter are

sharp peaks to L of Lyell.

IMG_5259

Zoom to Lyell.

 

 

 

IMG_5262

Jana searches for a register book that

is not filled and wet.

IMG_5262b

Eric’s summit shot (via self-timer!)

IMG_5263

 

 

 

IMG_5263b

Eric’s photo of Jana and me

heading down.

IMG_5265

My views back at Eric and Jana

on summit block.

IMG_5267

 

 

 

IMG_5274

IMG_5275-7

IMG_5279

About to pop over edge, down

east ridge.

 

 

 

IMG_5279b

Eric’s photo of me as I descend.

IMG_5281

IMG_5282

Eric negotiates a rock-

snow problem.

 

 

 

IMG_5285

IMG_5285b

Eric’s photo of us on lower east ridge.

IMG_5286

Heather.

 

 

 

IMG_5287

Alpine Lake again.

IMG_5289

IMG_5290

An umbellidae member.

 

 

 

IMG_5292

IMG_5293

Creepy narrow bridge with water

washing over it.

IMG_5294

Iris.