If you can dream it, you can do it.
~Walt Disney
TRIP DATE October 2014
LENGTH about 9 miles round trip
ELEVATION GAIN 6,237 feet
SUMMIT ELEVATION: 14,094 feet
TRAIL HEAD Whitney Portal
DIFFICULTY Strenuous on maintained trail, faint use trails, loose talus, cross-country travel, and class 2 and 3 climbing on long exposed summit ridge
NAVIGATION GPS and/or good map skills required
BEST TIME TO HIKE Summer when snow has melted
EXTRA INFORMATION One of the California’s 15 peaks over 14, 000 feet high
RESOURCES California’s Fourteeners by Stephen Porcella – Cameron Burns
Mount Russell is scary, very.
Once upon a very beautiful summer day, Dan and I attempted this peak. After climbing to the saddle above Tuleinyo Lake, we gazed at the famous and very intimidating east ridge and knew we must come back another day.
Last October, Dan, Silly Chili, and I climbed this beast, what is perhaps the single most spectacular route in the High Sierra. The wildly exposed massive east ridge of Mt Russell is right next to the north face of Mount Whitney.
This trip was done in Rockin’s style:
eat big (burgers and fries at the Whitney Portal Store), hike in a few miles on a Friday evening, camp, alpine start on Saturday morning, climb, and head back home. We were lucky to have Burly, Lovenote, and Huckleberry (their trail dog) join us on the approach up. What a treat!
The classic approach leaves from Whitney Portal trail head and heads up the use trail of the North Fork Lone Pine Creek, to Clyde’s Traverse, up to Upper Boy Scout Lake, north to the saddle above Tuleinyo Lake, and then traverse the long exposed unnerving ridge.
Mount Russell does not disappoint. The views from the top are stunning and inspirational. One of the reasons I think it was so transcending, is because of the thankfulness a hiker is filled with upon reaching the summit after scaling the knife-edge ridge.
This of course is a peak that can be a bit more challenging navigating down the mountain. Continued focus and concentration is required. The 3 of us made a great team. It was definitely a day to be reckoned with.
Enjoy the beautiful views and climb on this short video from the safety of your home. Have a great day!
Friday Evening Approach – Whitney Portal to Upper Boy Scout Lake
Climbing Day – Upper Boy Scout Lake to Mount Russell and Back
- Trip photos on Flickr
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zR2BT9ihvjmM.k23bFghZ6-CA&w=1024&h=480]
Hi Christy, this is a great read. Thank you for taking the time to put it together.
Question: I’m trying to get a permit to climb Russell, but I can’t seem to get one, mostly because I can’t get around the bureaucracy associated with Whitney. Do you have any recs or different approaches?
John called the repeater in Apple Valley. I left a message on my girl friends(now my spouse of 27 years) phone that we made the summit. Only 1 more of the +14,000 peaks to go.
Okay, I am envious. One of my goals is to climb all 14 of the +14000 peaks. I have climbed 10 of them. I am going to need a guide service to complete the rest.
Nice video and pics. Climbed w 2 others I met at Upper Boy Scout Lake August 1987. Helmet and a rope for short belays. John had a 2 meter band radio, c
I think we should have had helmets and rope for a couple maneuvers. A lot of exposure on the climb.
What footwear did you use? Awesome pics!
Right now I am using the La Sportiva Bushido. They are a trail shoe with more protection and support in the sole. I used them last weekend climbing in the snow on Mount Whitney with microspikes, they worked perfectly. The tread is very grippy on rocks and slush.
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The photos are amazing.
What a gorgeous adventure! Fun that the pup was able to go too – how far was he able to go, and what did you do with him while you summitted?
Scary is so an understatement. I too could have used a helmet just sitting here in my office chair watching the video. I do love these trip reports of places that I’d never be able to mentally go. The views are just stunning.
Thanks for taking me somewhere you know I’ll NEVER go, ha! Great photos, love that song in the video, and great footage. Oh man, I see why Dan had the reaction he did!
Glad I could add entertainment to your day! Yes sireeeeeeeeee it was memory maker.
As always, you guys put the “M” in “Mountaineering!” That video made my stomach flip; I could have used a helmet just watching it. I can only imagine how negotiating down must have been.
It make my stomach flip making it. It took quite some time after the climb to reflect back fondly. I have had exposure on a pitch, chute or two, but not for such a long distance. Wicked.
I climbed it and the east face of Whitney (5th class climbing with ropes and protection) in a weekend in the mid 1970s. Seems like another century. Thanks for the memories.
Now that is HARD CORE and very courageous. I can’t imagine hanging off the east face of Whitney. What skill and strength that technical climb would take. the 70’s wow.
Christy, I was a serious climber and guide back then. I climbed extensively in Yosemite Valley including El Capitan (by the nose route). And, I climbed various rock faces and domes in the Sierras. Trust me, I know that what you did on Russell is serious stuff and I congratulate you on it. I couldn’t do that hike/climb to save my life these days. Keep it up.
Rockin’ and family are pretty hard core too! Nice words of encouragement.
Thanks for your beautiful photos and inspiring posts.
Jonathan,
Thank you for your kind words and thank you for commenting. Always good to hear feedback and what is pleasant for readers.
Oh wow, such amazing landscapes!
Yes, granite is dramatic, rough, and very grippy to climb on. Thank goodness! The views from the top were mighty sweet. A hiker could sit and plan out years of hiking trips from just one spot.