The High Sierra - Clyde Minaret

(whatever the classic route is)
(4th in a series of posts about my 2012 trip to the High Sierra)

We hiked the 8 or so miles into the campsite the evening before (mostly in the dark) the climbed and hiked out the following day.

Neale insisted on doing the 10a direct start, which proved to be very high quality.

The climbing was steep and good, with some loose rock.

There is a tradition of, particularly when it comes to route finding, me being right and Neale being wrong. That tradition appeared to be ending after a series of debates ended with Neale being right.  I thought that moving out right into the dihedral I'm entering in this photo would be the correct choice.  For once, I was right, and so this photo makes me smile.

I thought this seemed hard for 5.8.  Neale thought I seemed like a pussy.

Neale gets us onto the summit ridge.

I started leading the summit ridge.

The climbing on the summit ridge was about as good as it gets - very steep, very exposed, and really easy.  This is on, or very near, the summit.

And so, victory in hand, it became time to pose.

A forest fire was started in our honour.

The sun eclipsed Neale's moment.

Clyde Minaret.

Back at the lake, getting ready to bust the hike out in record time in order to catch the bus out of the park.