Mount Pinchot in CA Sierra

Harlan W.S.
July 12, 2015

We did this as an overnight backpack, but the trip might be easier as a dayhike.  If you don't have a narrow 4x4, you can count on starting 2500' lower. Armstrong Canyon is dry, and our first water was at 12200'; that tarn often dries up in summer.  Most of the route is trail-less, over large blocks of unstable talus, really tough for hauling a backpack.  I didn't know what to expect (we had reports of snow) so I wore stiff mountaineering boots; sticky rubber approach shoes would be more apt for a dayhike.  The campsite was exposed and we had hours of rain and hail. We had accumulated gain of 4600' over 5.6 milkes to the campsite, and the next day gained about 1400' to the summit before heading home.

00pinchot DSCN0718
Ah, the fun begins.		 DSCN0719
DSCN0721
Actually, we were grateful
for the clouds. No water
 till 12200'.		 DSCN0722
I know that slope on the R
doesn't look steep...		 DSCN0723
DSCN0725 DSCN0727
John. Now we must go
over that ridge (well to the
less-sinister R)		 DSCN0730
...then drop down and go
around and climb back
up again. Whee!
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Over that ridge lies
WATER		 DSCN0732 DSCN0735
There it is! The water!
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Excellent campsites for
people who like to sleep
 on broken rocks.		 DSCN0740
Next morn was a
ridiculously short trip
to the summit...		 DSCN0741
DSCN0741_stitch DSCN0745_stitch DSCN0749
View to Palisades,
distinctive profile of
Sill in middle
DSCN0749b DSCN0753
John Ide comes up		 DSCN0754
Party time!
DSCN0756 DSCN0757
The lake we might have
used, if our tarn
had been dry		 DSCN0758
Another view of our glorious
tent site. We were
treated to a hail/rainstorm
the previous night.
DSCN0759 DSCN0760
Bye, lake!		 DSCN0761
The route choice down
was much more pleasant.
DSCN0763
Eric's orange shirt is
there somewhere