Laurel Mountain

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Messages 1 - 10 of total 10 in this topic
oldcragger

Trad climber
Truckee,CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 8, 2009 - 02:38am PT
I'm interested in info on the N.E. Gully route. Basically, I'm looking for a reasonably easy solo route as my first outing since achilles surgery. The approach is listed as only 45 minutes which sounds good but wondering about rock quality and route finding. Anyone done it recently?
Michael
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Oct 8, 2009 - 02:48am PT
http://www.supertopo.com/Trip-Report/202/Laurel_Mountain_NE_Gully

Rob Y did it recently.
Rankin

climber
North Carolina
Oct 8, 2009 - 03:02am PT
Haven't done it recently, but I'd recommend Mt. Emerson instead. Similar length of approach/climb/descent, but with much better rock and a ridge traverse to the summit. I got into some pretty crappy rock at the top on Laurel, and was bummed I hadn't stayed more left (maybe better there). Either way Emerson seemed like a nicer climb. Approach is about an hour, off of Pauite Pass.
rhyang

climber
SJC
Oct 8, 2009 - 10:24am PT
Kind of a longish discussion about the NE Gully -

http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=47126
Misha

Trad climber
Woodside, CA
Oct 8, 2009 - 11:13am PT
The NE gully (and the rest of the mountain) was covered in fresh snow last weekend. It may be "over" for the season
Brian Hench

Trad climber
Anaheim, CA
Oct 8, 2009 - 11:26am PT
I question the wisdom of testing out your body after recovering from injury by going solo. What if things aren't as healed up as they seem?
oldcragger

Trad climber
Truckee,CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 8, 2009 - 12:48pm PT
I've been out hiking and sport climbing locally since the Dr's ok (surgery was in May) so it won't be completely untested. I don't have a partner for my week off so I would rather solo a long easy route than boulder and risk reinjury with a fall. Thanks for the tip on Mt. Emmerson.
Michael
pyrosis

Trad climber
Flagstaff, AZ
Oct 8, 2009 - 02:06pm PT
I did the NE gulley of Laurel a few years back, in high summer. I remember it being an enjoyable climb, just a little bit of choss. Mostly the rock right in the bottom of the gulley seemed to be nice blue limestone (!), an abnormality in the Sierra. Morrison is made of the same stuff, though steeper and more dangerous. Anyway, I remember the cruxes of the route being class 4 'stairsteps' where you would boulder up a steep bit for 10-20' or so, not real hard but exposed enough that you wouldn't want to fall, then the angle would ease back and you would basically walk to the next 'step'.

It might be a bit late in the season but I thought it was an enjoyable route and worth doing. No need for a rope, there isn't really anywhere for gear up there anyway. Might be a bit late in the season now though. If you do go, enjoy!

-Tavis
jfailing

Trad climber
A trailer park in the Sierras
Oct 8, 2009 - 03:29pm PT
I found that my achilles were the most worked part of my body after doing Laurel - mostly from flat-footing up those endless friction slabs of quartzite higher on the route.

If you're trying to be gentle on the achilles, you could maybe hike up backwards...
BCD

Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Oct 8, 2009 - 04:25pm PT
I just drove by Convict and there's still a little bit of snow lingering at the top of the climb. Not much, but it could be enough to make the last 5th class section wet and/or icy.
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