Mt Conness North Ridge 2022

After a few failed attempts in years past due to bad weather, my friend Jacob and I finally climbed the North Ridge of Mt Conness under mild, sunny skies on 10/21/2022. We acclimatized the night before in Mammoth Lakes at the San Diego Ski Club chalet, drove 50 minutes up to Saddlebag Lake the next morning, and hiked about 3 miles up to the start of the ridge.

This is a route that I'd climbed twice in the past with other friends (see below), and I like it so much I keep coming back. Here is the technical route in its entirety, including the first and second towers and the summit.

Not a technically hard route, starting at the first tower we simul-climbed much of the route in just approach shoes, roped and with the leader occasionally placing gear, but both moving together.

There's Jacob in the bottom right corner, approaching the second tower.

After ascending the second tower, I prepare to rappel down from the narrow ridge onto the west face of Conness.

Here, Jacob looks back on me after leading away from below the second tower.

Looking down on Jacob and, behind us, the sweep of Tuolumne and Yosemite Valley in the distance.

Up toward the summit!

Jacob, with a good view of the ridge we've just climbed behind him.

Nearing the top.

A bit windy and chilly at the summit. After another 3 mile hike out, we finished after about 9.5 hours on the move car to car.