Trip Report
Valhalla, I am coming!
Sunday August 21, 2011 11:03am
Sequoia National Park: Angel Wings are located in a Valley known as Valhalla.
-Lyrics from Led Zepplin III, Immigrant Song
Note:you can play the song in the background in a separate window with this link while you look at the pictures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCvMKcNJCAY

//We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow.//

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Precipice Lake.  Looking straight down from Eagle Scout Peak. Heavy sn...
Precipice Lake. Looking straight down from Eagle Scout Peak. Heavy snow year.
Credit: Spider Savage
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The source of the Kaweah river at Kaweah Gap. Descending the trail int...
The source of the Kaweah river at Kaweah Gap. Descending the trail into Valhalla.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Precipice Lake with a nearly complete ice cap on August 11, 2011.
Precipice Lake with a nearly complete ice cap on August 11, 2011.
Credit: Spider Savage
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//The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!//

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Descending into Valhalla from Kaweah Gap. Angel Wings in center.
Descending into Valhalla from Kaweah Gap. Angel Wings in center.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Plenty of water this year.
Plenty of water this year.
Credit: Spider Savage
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The trail through chasm of the Mountain King.
The trail through chasm of the Mountain King.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Emerging from the chasm tunnel.
Emerging from the chasm tunnel.
Credit: Spider Savage
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On we sweep with threshing oar, Our only goal will be the western shore.

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Eagle Scout Peak, 12,040 ft, NW Face. On the descent into Valhalla.
Eagle Scout Peak, 12,040 ft, NW Face. On the descent into Valhalla.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Looks pretty clean.  About 800+ ft tall. Gawd I love exfoliation!  SW ...
Looks pretty clean. About 800+ ft tall. Gawd I love exfoliation! SW facing wall on the west ridge of Mt Stewart, above Hamilton Lake basin, Valhalla.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Tower of granite.
Tower of granite.
Credit: Spider Savage
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//How soft your fields so green, can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war. We are your overlords.//

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Angel Wings in profile from the trail of Hamilton Lake.
Angel Wings in profile from the trail of Hamilton Lake.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Hamilton Lakes basin with Eagle Scout Peak above.
Hamilton Lakes basin with Eagle Scout Peak above.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Granite towers on the SW side of Valhalla, across from Angel Wings.
Granite towers on the SW side of Valhalla, across from Angel Wings.
Credit: Spider Savage
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//So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing.//

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Hell On Wings (center buttress) Secor 3rd Ed P. 107. Photo tak...
Hell On Wings (center buttress) Secor 3rd Ed P. 107. Photo taken 8/13/11 about 10:00 AM
Credit: Spider Savage
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Angel Wings, from the waterfall.
Angel Wings, from the waterfall.
Credit: Spider Savage
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Granite spire just east of Angel Wings. Mega moderates, anyone?
Granite spire just east of Angel Wings. Mega moderates, anyone?
Credit: Spider Savage
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Aaahhhhaaaaaaaaaaa - Ah!

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Spider with Angel Wings
Spider with Angel Wings
Credit: Spider Savage
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Bouldering at Hamilton Lake
Bouldering at Hamilton Lake
Credit: Spider Savage
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No roped climbing done on this trip. Got the area scoped out pretty well though. Anyone planing a trip, feel free to contact me for trail info, camping etc. Looking forward to getting back up there with you someday.


  Trip Report Views: 4,712
Spider Savage
About the Author
Spider Savage is a mountain climber from SoCal.

Comments
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
  Aug 21, 2011 - 11:05am PT
Nice pictures. I need to go there some day.
The Lisa

Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
  Aug 21, 2011 - 11:12am PT
What an amazing place! Thank you for sharing such lovely photos. I love the Immigrant Song narrative too - one of my fave songs.
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
  Aug 21, 2011 - 11:16am PT
Beautiful country.
Great photos!
Nice share.



Unfortunately, Immigrant Song is the ONE
Led Zeppelin song I can say I truly despise.
Bummer for me.


JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  Aug 22, 2011 - 01:22am PT
Wow! one of my favorite places with the background of some of my favorite music. Beautiful pics.

Thanks much.

John
Josh Nash

Social climber
riverbank ca
  Aug 22, 2011 - 01:31am PT
Way to get out. There is just way too much rock out there...
Jennie

Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
  Aug 22, 2011 - 01:38am PT
Outstanding photos!
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
  Aug 22, 2011 - 02:08am PT
So how did you managae to commence this trip at the top of Boy Scout Pk?
Did you get beamed down?
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Aug 22, 2011 - 02:18am PT
dig the music connect

enjoimx

Trad climber
Yosemite
  Aug 22, 2011 - 04:09am PT
This is amazing! Thanks for the post. Lots of climbing possibility here!!!
Roxy

Trad climber
CA Central Coast
  Aug 22, 2011 - 08:58am PT
the background music was rad!

that place was even more so....


thanks for sharing,
neversummer

climber
30 mins. from suicide USA
  Aug 22, 2011 - 10:06am PT
Bitchin'
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
  Aug 22, 2011 - 10:08am PT
What a beautiful place, thanks!
stilltrying

Trad climber
washington indiana
  Aug 22, 2011 - 10:14am PT
Awesome. Thanks for the report.
Jingy

climber
Random Nobody
  Aug 22, 2011 - 10:30am PT
Nice photographicsness!!!


squishy

Mountain climber
  Aug 22, 2011 - 10:34am PT
nice TR, I love the looks of that trail, gotta go check it out...
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Author's Reply  Aug 22, 2011 - 10:44am PT
Reilly raises a good question: "How did I start the trip from the top of Eagle Scout Peak." The answer is yes, I was beamed in from Mineral King via 5 days or romping through various, peaks, passes, lakes and meadows (18 miles). The direct route brings you in from Crescent Meadow at Giant Forest. However, there are others, longer but beautiful approaches from Mineral King can go as short as 20 miles.
Gary

Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
  Aug 22, 2011 - 11:18am PT
Spider, did you go over Black Rock Pass? If so, what was the snow like there?
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Aug 22, 2011 - 02:27pm PT
The granite... the endless granite... (dazed, wide-eyed)
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Aug 22, 2011 - 02:37pm PT
Aaahhhhaaaaaaaaaaa - Ah!

Damn nice country Spider.

Thanks for sharing the photos.
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Aug 22, 2011 - 02:44pm PT
Man, I hadn't realized how much I miss it there. Groove, Spider.
Gal

Trad climber
going big air to fakie
  Aug 22, 2011 - 02:47pm PT
That looks fantastic!
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Aug 22, 2011 - 03:23pm PT
Have belay device, will travel- sign me up for next year!
Send

Trad climber
Central Sierra
  Aug 22, 2011 - 04:20pm PT
Awesome pics Spider. Cool to see Precipice Lake ice & snow covered from the summit. I slept on top of Eagle Scout Peak back in 2004. Ill never forget the low clouds in the Big Arroyo and that pink light on Black Kaweah.

Plus, I was just in that area too a couple weeks ago. Went in and out from Crescent Meadow. Went for some fly-fishing but mostly checked out the Hamilton Towers. Wow what an area.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
  Aug 22, 2011 - 04:23pm PT
Awesome! Thanks Spider!!
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Aug 22, 2011 - 04:26pm PT
I've never gone beyond Angel Wings, man. How close to the Black Tower(I think that's its name; it looked green to me)does the trail go? It's before the Kaweah Gap.
We heard & saw a LOT of rockfall off that sucker. Every day.
Yer gonna die!
Loved your TR, Spider. Glorious!!!
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Author's Reply  Aug 22, 2011 - 04:32pm PT
The black tower is the S buttress of Mt Stewart. Access via the Kaweah Gap. 800+ ft of pure evil black choss, the extra chunky kind. SICK! Let's go climb it.
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Aug 22, 2011 - 04:48pm PT
Dude, there's so much rockfall off that thing that I'm amazed it's still there.
I'll climb up there again, but not on THAT! That's Death on a stick, man!
Whoa.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
  Aug 22, 2011 - 05:24pm PT
That's an amazing amount of rock in one area. I need to get back to Cali. Thanks for sharing dude.
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Aug 22, 2011 - 06:16pm PT
FA's as far as one can see. Amazing rock, too.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Aug 22, 2011 - 09:24pm PT
Sweet pics spider, reminds me of my trip to the wind river cirque of the towers last week!
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
  Aug 24, 2011 - 10:30am PT
Great photo trip report. What a great looking piece of granite. Any idea which route of all of them has the best rock from bottom to top?
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Author's Reply  Aug 24, 2011 - 10:54am PT
Chris - For now, what you see is what you get. I would estimate that there are some very large clean free lines in there. The Secor guide rates most of the lines with partial aid. I don't see why there would not be many clean multi-pitch, including moderates.

For most people it will be a 2 day approach so you need a long stretch of time to get there.

I recommend a Supertopian expedition right after Facelift as the ideal time. Cooler days, the Sierra is perfect mid autumn. No mosquitoes, no competition for permits.

Go for it dude! It's your Destiny! Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhaaaaa Ah!
slobmonster

Trad climber
SF (via NH & CO)
  Aug 24, 2011 - 10:59am PT
Been reading up on this spot for a few years... and your photos confirm my suspicions! Thanks
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Author's Reply  Jul 12, 2013 - 07:19pm PT
Bumping the sweetness. Some folks asking about this area lately.
splitclimber

climber
Sonoma County
  Jul 12, 2013 - 07:26pm PT
so sweet.

any info on the best approach to Hamilton dome. looks like a sketchy schwack.
Radish

Trad climber
SeKi, California
  Jul 12, 2013 - 08:01pm PT
Its a really dry year for snow this summer! So dry that the Bearpaw Camp is closed! The place that has the 5 star dinners right below Angel Wings. They ran out of water early on in the season........Nice Trip Report! Also...alittle off topic....Tell 'Hadala I am coming' I think the song says. In the late 60's there used to be a travel show with one of the hosts named Hadala who was an extremely beautiful boxxosum blond. I think this is who they meant in the song, it kind of makes sense?? Anybody??
lars johansen

Trad climber
West Marin, CA
  Jul 12, 2013 - 08:15pm PT
Very nice. Brought back a lot of memories. TFPU

lars
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Jul 12, 2013 - 08:20pm PT
Don't you Cali folk ever get bored with those cloudless skies?
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
  Jul 12, 2013 - 11:29pm PT
^ Radish, was concerned to read about the low snow year - I hear you. We ski toured the High Route late April this year and there sure were some rocky sections.

I just checked on Bearpaw Camp and it looks like they are open. Only a few nights available, though $413 for one night in a tent cabin is a bit steep. Glad that comes with dinner!
Radish

Trad climber
SeKi, California
  Jul 12, 2013 - 08:29pm PT
Kunlun..........I stand corrected about Bearpaw. They were real concerned about it in May and said it wouldn't open. Cool that it is! the price probably pays for them bringin water up. The Kaweah River is the lowest it has been in a long time, hopefully it won't dry up. It looks like late August around here.
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
  Jul 12, 2013 - 08:31pm PT
Glad someone bumped this . . . The Range of Light indeed! Nice photos and thank you Savage for sharing them. I miss hat country when I see that rock.
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