Agassiz Column

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dfrost7

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 27, 2010 - 06:18pm PT
Has anyone walked up to the Agassiz Column in recent years? Going up this week and thinking of taking a look at it. I realize it's off the four mile trail, just wonder whether anyone has been over to check it out.
tom woods

Gym climber
Bishop, CA
Jul 27, 2010 - 06:25pm PT
Did that tree grow in the meantime?
dfrost7

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2010 - 06:31pm PT
Sure did. Since the two pics are about 100 years apart. Someone must have climbed this column. Do you know who? When? Anyone? Anyone?
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Jul 27, 2010 - 06:45pm PT
Lou?
dfrost7

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2010 - 07:06pm PT
Lou?
Werner?
ß Î Ø T Ç H

climber
Jul 27, 2010 - 08:00pm PT
I went to the base of it one time . Always wondered why nobody wants the FA .

TrundleBum

Trad climber
Las Vegas
Jul 27, 2010 - 08:05pm PT

"Father of Glaciology."
Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (May 28, 1807 – December 14, 1873)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Agassiz

Ah yet another (new to me) example of Lou Agassiz prolific explorations.
He is a total hero of mine !
Right there with Bradford Washburn ;)

When I started climbing as kid in New England a lot of the boulders I frequented were discovered by Agassiz in his quest for examples of glacial erratics.
http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/agassiz-rock.html

dfrost7

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2010 - 08:19pm PT
How long ago did you go? 30' tall, I want to see it. I thought it had fallen a long time ago - 'til last night, when I was searching for it. Was it really covered with brush/obscured? B i ø † ç H? It's beautiful. I could be mistaken, but I think I see a route.
dfrost7

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2010 - 08:21pm PT
Look at the falls in the picture you posted!! Yikes.
Concerned citizen

Big Wall climber
Jul 27, 2010 - 11:02pm PT
A valley local told me that Agassiz Rock is known by climbers (of the Roper era) as "The Potato." Can someone confirm or refute this statement? Roper's green guide lists one route, Potato Masher, 5.4, with a length of 20 feet.

I would be interested to learn directions to Agassiz rock, so I hope that someone will post them.
ß Î Ø T Ç H

climber
Jul 28, 2010 - 12:01am PT
The Potato Masher is another column off the FMT (not the same) , Agassiz is a little bit below Union Point . I looked at it in like '80 or something . I doubt it has fallen cuz that would make headlines of sort . Don't forget the camera , and TR when you get back .
dfrost7

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 28, 2010 - 12:14am PT
I just found these directions:
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5353#5353

"Here's how to get there. Its above the current Four Mile Trail (and just below the old Four Mile Trail, which was rerouted in the 1930s, I believe). I hiked up from the Valley Floor, but it's much easier to hike down from the top and back. At the point in the trail near the top where the trail switches from the west-facing switchbacks to the east-facing shaded part of the upper Four Mile trail is a viewpoint, not signed, but I think is near the old Union Point. About 100 feet up the viewpoint is a metal gate. Another 100 feet or so up is a sandy, east-facing slope above the Four Mile trail (on the right, heading up the trail). Carefully climb up the slope, taking responsibility for your own safety. About 20-30 feet up is the old Four Mile Trail. Stay on the old trail, which switchbacks up to the top of a ridge after 200 feet or so. The trail is covered with several inches of pine cones and needles, but is clearly visible and is free of brush on this segment of the trail. At the top of the ridge, on your right as you head up (north) is the top of a rock wall and Agassiz Column. It's surrounded by Manzanita brush and a few fir trees.

The old Four Mile Trail continues up, but becomes thickly overgrown after Agassiz Column. Carefully retrace your steps back down to the new Four Mile Trail after viewing the Valley and Agassiz Column.

The most difficult part is climbing up the slope between the new and old Four Mile Trail. It's sandy and you need to hold on to branches of trees and brush to head up or down. Be careful and remember safety is your own responsibility."

tom woods

Gym climber
Bishop, CA
Jul 28, 2010 - 01:00am PT
It sounds like a mission, gang.

We gotta go do it. I've been to Union point. With a little memory power and good luck, plus google earth, I can get us back there.
dfrost7

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 28, 2010 - 01:10am PT
I'm going to be up there this week working on a big sketch project. One of the reasons I want to go. If anyone wants to go, it would be great to connect. Big mesmerizing potato.

I'm down for finding someone who might want to recon.
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Jul 28, 2010 - 01:58am PT
It's named after a street in Flagstaff.....
mouse from merced

Trad climber
merced, california
Apr 4, 2012 - 07:07pm PT
If anyone's interested, there is information on the first descent of this feature. March 2010.

Has anyone succeeded in climbing the old guy?
trevor rathfon

Boulder climber
Vista, CA
Jan 8, 2017 - 08:18pm PT
Don Lauria

Trad climber
Bishop, CA
Jan 10, 2017 - 12:17pm PT
Ah, Agassiz. Mt Agassiz near Palisade Glacier was my first Sierra peak and my segue into rock climbing in 1961.
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jan 10, 2017 - 12:52pm PT
Louie, Louie, we gotta go now.
Gary

Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
Jan 10, 2017 - 02:34pm PT
Mt. Winchell, now there's an under-rated mountain.
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