On September 2-4, 1961 I climbed to the 13,500+' pass between Mt. Whitney and Mt. Russell on a seventeen mile round trip with Bob Brooks, Bruce Webb, John Paine, John Butler, Mike Smith, Mike Warren, Dave Erickson, Steve Barinka, Art Lee, Joan Cooley, John White and Jewel Milke.
From the Whitney Portal trailhead we had a nice hike to Mirror Lake. Art Lee stayed here. Nice climb up slab to foot of pinnacle ridge pass - John White, Joan and Jewell stayed here. Class 3 climb of Pinnacle Pass. More information here. Class 3.8 descent on north side. Boulder hoping to a lake were we camped 9 in spot designed for 7.
Late start Sunday a.m. we climbed easy slope to Iceberg Lake - Class 2 to Whitney/Russell Pass. More info here. Mt. Russell was too far for time available. We tried Whitney but got too high and hit ice and Class 3++.
We returned to camp and moved to camp near a lake north of Pinnacle Pass. Late start Monday a.m. Class 3.8 and 4 climb to Pinnacle Pass - Got myself and Bob Brooks in tight spot and roped up for Bob Brooks. Lost an hour doing this.
Back to Cars at 3 p.m. Home at 10 p.m. LOTS OF ALTITUDE FOR MILES COVERED.
