OLD MAN MOUNTAIN (7,789') CLASS 2
Location: 4 miles N of Cisco Grove, CA
ROUTE A
Drive: Take I-80 to the Cisco Grove Exit, which is 20.7 miles
west from the Highway 89 South Exit just west of Truckee or 48
miles east from the Maple Street Exit in Auburn, CA. Turn left
(west) on the frontage road on the north side of the freeway and
drive 0.2 mile, almost to the "Thousand Trails" campground,
to turn right on the Fordyce Lake Road signed, "Woodchuck
Flat 3 Lake Sterling 6 Fordyce Lake 7 Lola Montez Lake 10."
This becomes rough, rocky road that climbs gradually up to a saddle.
Passenger cars should stop here, at the saddle, before the descent
to Fordyce Lake, which is about 2 miles further. High clearance
vehicles could proceed to the jeep road turnoff along the reservoir
shore.
Climb: Proceed along the main dirt road down from the saddle,
and come to the west shores of the reservoir. Just before the
approach to the dam, turn left on an extremely rough jeep track
which descends steeply to reach Fordyce Creek in about one mile.
When water is being released from the lake, there may be considerable
difficulty in crossing the creek. Otherwise, rock hop across the
creek, and locate a good use trail that heads left (downstream)
on the north side. Some scenic cascades and falls are passed before
reaching a point just southeast of the peak, which is the huge
mass straight ahead while approaching on the use trail. Scramble
cross-country directly up 1,700 feet through brush and talus to
the summit. Avoid the rock band cliffs on the center and right
of the face seen from this side. One may encounter a road and
mine while approaching the summit ridge; these go nowhere except
on a short, level stretch along the mountain.
ROUTE B
Drive: Same as Black Buttes, Route B, Drive.
Climb: Follow the 4WD road to Eagle Lake and then to Beyers Lake
(see Black Buttes, Route B, Climb), which makes a good campsite
for an overnight trip. Take a trail to Baltimore Lake, which can
also be reached by a 4WD route from the north. Head cross-country
to the stream that drains southeast from the lake. A use trail
may be found in places, and heads for the unmistakable mass that
is the peak. Navigate toward Phoenix Lake. From here, one climbs
the granite slabs starting the final climb from the south side
of the lake. Some solid, class 3 rock avoids the heavy brush that
covers much of the peak. Go straight up or head slightly right
to the top.
WINTER SKI ASCENT: Probably, approaching using either Route A or B will suffice. A long approach from the Eagle Lakes Sno-Park may be the shortest route. In dry years, there may not be enough snow to make ski touring very practical.
TRIP STATS: Route A, 1,700 feet gain with an additional 500 feet gain on the return, 4-5 miles one way; Route B, 2,800 feet gain with an additional 500 feet gain on the return, 10-12 miles one way.
Notes: Old Man Mountain is the distinct "half-dome" seen straight ahead, in the distance, from I-80 while traveling eastbound past Blue Canyon Exit.
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