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DICKS PEAK (9,974') AND JACKS PEAK (9,856') CLASS 2

Location: 4.5 miles W of Fallen Leaf Lake

ROUTE A
Drive: Same as Mt. Tallac, Route B, Drive.
Climb: See Mt. Tallac, Route B, Climb. From the junction after the unsigned trail leads left to Half Moon Lake, take the trail left to head for Dicks Pass. At the saddle that forms the low point of Dicks Pass, turn left (west) and follow a use trail along the eastnortheast ridge. There is some steep, cross-country scrambling to the top of Dicks Peak. Some class 2-low 3 gullies and talus marks the final few hundred feet.

Dicks Pass can also be reached from both the Eagle Falls Trailhead and the Bayview Trailhead (see Phipps Peak, Route A, Drive, and Climb).

To climb Jacks Peak from Dicks Peak, simply traverse cross-country south along the class 2 connecting ridge. This should take about one hour.

To return, climb back over Dicks Peak, or one can climb cross-country down directly to Half Moon Lake, passing Alta Morris Lake enroute. Where there is snow, a good glissading descent can be made. There are cliffs to be avoided, and waterfalls to be enjoyed. A trail goes along the left (north) side of Half Moon Lake to intersect the Dicks Pass/Glen Alpine Trail. This completes a loop with the ascent route.
Jacks Peak can be climbed cross-country from Mosquito Pass on its southsouthwest slopes, which are generally class 2.

WINTER SKI ASCENT: As the Fallen Leaf Lake Road is not normally plowed, one approach could be made from Echo Lakes Sno-Park off U.S. 50 (see Ralston Peak, Route B, Drive). One skis across Echo Lakes, if it's safe, and skis past Haypress Meadow, Lake Aloha, and up from the Mosquito Pass vicinity. Some steep touring would lead to the summits. On a snow camping traverse in late March, hard frozen snow was encountered, so ice axe and crampons should be taken.

TRIP STATS: Route A loop, 4,000 feet gain, 16 miles round trip; winter ski ascent from Echo Lakes to Jacks Peak, 2,700 feet gain with an additional 240 feet gain on the return, 10 miles one way. The ridge traverse between the two peaks drops to a saddle at 9,440+ feet elevation, with about a mile distance one way. From Mosquito Pass, 1,500 feet gain, 1.5 miles one way nets Jacks Peak.

Notes: Plenty of overnight backpacking opportunities abound on these routes. Lake Aloha is a very popular destination, and the lakes to the south and southeast of these peaks are well used. The lakes to the north of Dicks Peak are also fine overnight objectives, with most having trails to them, and make fine camps with the peaks as goals.

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