Trip Report
Figuring It Out As We Go: A Couple Snow Rookies Head Up To Royce Lakes
Tuesday June 20, 2017 11:10pm
This trip was planned last July when, well, we all know what Sierra snow conditions were like last July. Permits were reserved in December, when we had two people with snow experience hopefully in the party. Finally June rolled around, Fate rolled her dice, and then there were just two of us: my brother and me, both from just up the hill above temperate Santa Cruz. But hey, I'd read the snow chapter of Freedom of the Hills! That's enough, right?

Ah, youth, back when our skin was soft as butter, instead of the crocodile hide it is now.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Toll road to the High Country.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

What's this stuff on the ground? It's making my feet hella cold, bro.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Mmm, this might be a short trip.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

An alternate route, the adventure lives on!
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

I wonder how deep that snow is up there...
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Circumstances effectively halved Day 1's expected travel distance, but we're both easy, and this beats any hotel I've ever stayed at.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Over dinner we look at the map and our goals, consider the day's speed and our time frame, and redirect our sights to Royce Lakes via Treasure Col.

Day 2's first river crossing is easier than yesterday's.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

First clear shot of our day's objective.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Second crossing is a bit of a step up, but still easy (and I'm glad I upgraded from trailrunners to waterproof boots the week before).
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Third crossing is the easiest yet of the trip, but the most intimidating for us. First snow bridge=scariest snow bridge!
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Moon over Feather Peak.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Serious. Business.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Okay, now the business really is getting serious.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Pine Creek Basin
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Wait, where'd I miss the sunscreen?
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

The last shade until sunset.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Almost at the top of the pass.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Looking at 100°+.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

The last leg toward Merriam Peak.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

The aftermath of my very first avalanche!
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

I was very glad I carried that extra gas when we were melting snow for water this evening and the following morning.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

I've had worse views.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Day 3, on our way down now. And this high the snow froze overnight. What a joy!
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Plateau above French Canyon
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Below Pine Creek Pass
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Gettin' a liiitle sick of soft snowcups by now.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Last look up at Treasure Col
top left corner top right corner
Credit: looks easy from here
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We knew enough to know that as the day progressed snow would melt, raising river levels and making crossings more difficult and dangerous, so our goal Saturday was to get ourselves in a position to hit any trouble crossings early Sunday when they would be lowest. But as we passed each one with ease, we suddenly found ourselves past the last one, and 2 hours above our car at only 2'o'clock. Visions of a complete Sunday for recovery suddenly became a potential reality, so we ground out the switchbacks, and completed in 1 day what it had taken us 2 days to ascend. We ended up spending a night in Lee Vining for the sake of our safety and the safety of everyone else on the road, and awoke with swelling from our sunburns leaving us looking like post-fight MMA fighters. Foolishly we took no pictures to laugh at later. Then, after coffee and a sticky bun at Nugent's in Bridgeport, and a mellow drive home, we lounged in a pool for the rest of the day.

Not a bad weekend for a couple of rookies.

  Trip Report Views: 1,765
looks easy from here
About the Author
looks easy from here is a climber from Ben Lomond, CA.

Comments
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Jun 20, 2017 - 11:14pm PT
hey there say, looks easy from here... wow, THIS IS NEAT STUFF!!
SAY, thanks so much for sharing all this...

was just now going to sleep, and now can think about this
refreshing stuff... glad i stopped by!

thanks again...


say, i used to know folks LONG TIME back, in the ben lomond area, :)
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
  Jun 21, 2017 - 02:28am PT
That fast descent of what took ten times longer always blew me away when up in the hills.

You never can take too many pics. Good job. I'm not holding back, either...
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Jun 21, 2017 - 04:00am PT
Awesomeness abounds,
Looks like some spring skiing conditions;)
Nick Danger

Ice climber
Arvada, CO
  Jun 21, 2017 - 05:30am PT
Nice! I really enjoyed all your pics. What a boatload of snow you folks have in the high country this year!
BTW, those adventures early in your mountaineering career will always be special, so enjoy those newbie mistakes now while they last!
cheers
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
  Jun 21, 2017 - 06:00am PT
That is one of the most beautiful zones in the Sierra, love it. Skied through it on the Red Line tour from Paiute Pass to Rock Creek and then later backpacked thru on Roper's High Sierra Route a bit to the West. Stunningly beautiful.....what a place, thanks for posting.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
  Jun 21, 2017 - 11:50am PT
Love it. Way to get out there and grind. What a reward for your efforts. Thanks for a great write up. Need to put that area on my "must see" list. How good lookin' is that aręte by the way. Wow.
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Jun 21, 2017 - 12:02pm PT
Nice, thanks for the tr.
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
  Jun 21, 2017 - 01:00pm PT
I'm encouraged by your movement over snow.

Tricia and I just bailed from what would have been 26 miles of map and compass, pure snow-hiking. When we go back in two weeks we'll likely have some snow to walk on (and you make it look easy, at least from here).
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Jun 21, 2017 - 01:25pm PT
sweet! Thx for the pics of Feather peak and such.
johntp

Trad climber
Punter, Little Rock
  Jun 21, 2017 - 01:53pm PT
Nice! Thanks for snowing it with us..
limpingcrab

Gym climber
Minkler, CA
  Jun 21, 2017 - 07:06pm PT
BTW, those adventures early in your mountaineering career will always be special, so enjoy those newbie mistakes now while they last!
I'm still a noob but I second that!

Thanks for taking us along, a fun TR!
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
  Jun 21, 2017 - 08:54pm PT
Thanks for the TR . . . damn that is a lot of snow.
enjoimx

Trad climber
Yosemite
  Jun 21, 2017 - 11:26pm PT
Awesome thanks for sharing the beautiful images!
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
  Jun 22, 2017 - 01:59am PT
Good stuff!
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
  Jun 22, 2017 - 12:14pm PT
Very nice. We love that area. I've climbed all the peaks, but I REALLY want to do that big buttress on Miriam. Those big snow faces make great moderate alpine routes--Royce and Feather. They can be pretty safely soloed as the down climbs are way easy, although I recall that Feather Peak was more complicated than Royce. Miriam is super easy to get off.

BAd
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
Author's Reply  Jun 22, 2017 - 05:21pm PT
Thanks everybody. Always happy to take the Taco along with me. :)

i used to know folks LONG TIME back, in the ben lomond area, :)
Probably wouldn't even recognize it now. We're up to TWO stoplights. #bigcitylife

That fast descent of what took ten times longer always blew me away when up in the hills.
We knew gravity working with us would help, but weren't sure how much the snow would hold us back. Turned out not too much (aided in no small part by the footprints of a knowledgeable party in front of us saving us the last mile and a half of route finding).

those adventures early in your mountaineering career will always be special
Every year I wish I could get out more than I do, but one of the hidden advantages of having just 1-2 trips like this a season is that they're always a grand adventure. I never fail to appreciate that.

(and you make it look easy, at least from here).
And each day that's separated me from actually having been there makes it look a little easier to me, too. ;)

How good lookin' is that aręte by the way. Wow.
I REALLY want to do that big buttress on Miriam.
I've always admired it in pics, but it's utterly STUNNING in person. Here's one more shot of her with a little gentle alpenglow just for good measure.


Go