Northern Sierra Peaks Home Page

A sunset view to the Crystal Range from the Ellis Peak Trail. Photo taken August 12, 2003, by Pete Yamagata.

WHAT PEAKS TO CLIMB?

Novice peak climbers might start doing the easier ones, with official, graded, trails built up to the top. Sierra Buttes, Mt. Lola, Mt. Judah, Mt. Rose, and Thunder Mountain fit this category well. You will have to closely read the route descriptions to determine that many more of these "wild" peaks have trails or use trails going close to the top.

Moving on to a challenge, one might strive for height, generally looked for in the southern summits. The peaks get higher, on average, as one looks southeast along the Sierra crest. Technical difficulty is found with Jeff Davis Peak and Thimble Peak, both class 4, or Round Top and Castle Peak, with their considerable sections of class 3 route-finding.

Spectacular views can come from popular peaks like Mt. Tallac, with its tough trail to the panoramic vista of Lake Tahoe, or Highland Peak, with the pristine Carson-Iceberg Wilderness about.

Good winter ski ascents are found in the class 1 or 2 peaks near the major plowed highways. Ralston Peak seems to be skied often, and one of my favorites is Rubicon Peak.

I've rated Silver Peak (south) as the overall most difficult peak, with its large amount of trailless gain, even though it doesn't exceed class 2. Nearby Highland Peak does have its use trail, and the PCT runs by it more closely.

With a good vehicle, one could nearly drive-up Genoa Peak, or buzz Ellis Peak with a dirt or mountain bike. If you like to combine fourwheeling with hiking, the desert peaks like Mt. Como and Mt. Siegel offer vastly different terrain than the Sierra. For plain solitude, some seek out the Sweetwater Mountains, which most hikers ignore. The area about Sonora Pass and Ebbetts Pass is the furthest from the major cities, so tend to be less visited, to the delight of backpackers and hunters.

Most climbers work on a peaks list. The entirety of this guide offers a "list" that only a few have completed, and is beyond most but for the most determined of summiteers. Many summits will have registers, which should be signed, if you wish to be credited by whatever peak climbing group. The "leave no trace" entreaty applies to other, more natural, features. Most of us don't buy the glib explanation for your signature's absence that it was too hard or immodest to put your "proof" that you were there. More than likely, you never climbed it! No summit photos don't "prove" your ascents, either!

Yes, there are climbers who just wish to meet people. The ones with the trails would appeal more then, so the peaks that start at official trailheads would seem to offer better ops for social contact. For some reason, Pyramid Peak gets climbed a lot. Freel Peak is done now via the Tahoe Rim Trail, so look for your "company" there, too.

For a good sampling of Northern Sierra summits, climb the SPS listed peaks. These will be the most worthy by prominence, and are all voted to be on the list by people that really do this.

Many people will want their namesake mountain, or perhaps just climb what they've been seeing from town all their city-bound lives. The reasons to climb a peak may stretch from "because its there" to "why not?" But for most, you will not summit as part of a carefree hike to head somewhere. Going to the top of a major Northern Sierra peak requires forethought and planning. Study your opportunities prior to setting out, and know your own ability lest you become another statistic. There are thousands of bumps to qualify as highpoints, but only a few of them are worthy, named peaks.

I sincerely hope that this brief transgression upon picking favorites might help you on what will hopefully be the best summer or winter wild escape you will have ever had! Climb smart, and be safe!

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