Sierra Nevada Classics – The Ultimate Climbing, Skiing and Scrambling Tick-List
Here, for your reading and research pleasure, is the ultimate Sierra Nevada Climbing and Backcountry Skiing tick-list – a compilation of compilations, if you will, with links for each adventure.
Each climb/route is linked out to more information at Summitpost and other information warehouses (and an SJ Trip Report if there is one).
“Ultimate” may not yet be deserved, but it’s getting there. This list is a living thing, so please comment with suggestions. Happy to update!
Many thanks to the California Mountaineering Club, whose “classics” list formed the guts of much of this page.
California 14ers
Mt. Whitney – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Mt. Williamson – SummitPost
White Mountain Peak – SummitPost
North Palisade – SummitPost
Starlight Peak – SummitPost
Mt. Shasta – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Mt. Sill – SummitPost
Palemonium Peak – SummitPost
Mt. Russel – SummitPost
Split Mountain – SummitPost
Mt. Langley – SummitPost
Mt. Tyndall – SummitPost
Middle Palisade – SummitPost
Mt. Muir – SummitPost
Thunderbolt Peak – SummitPost
Scrambles
Mt Agassiz, N E Face, 4 (& low 5) – SummitPost
Bear Creek Spire, N E Buttress, 4 – SummitPost
Charybdis, N E Ridge, 3 – SummitPost
Mt Carl Heller, E Arete, 4 – SummitPost
Mt Clarence King, S Face, 3/4 – SummitPost
Deerhorn Mtn, N E Ridge, 3 – SummitPost
Middle Palisade, N E Face, 3 – SummitPost
Norman Clyde Peak, N E Ridge, 4 – SummitPost
North Palisade, U Notch-Clyde Variation, 4 – SummitPost
Palisade Traverse, T-bolt to Sill, 4 (& low 5) – SummitPost
Thunderbolt Peak, Underhill Couloir, 4 – SummitPost
Mt Winchell, E Arete, 3 – SummitPost
Technical Climbs
Bear Creek Spire, N Arete, 5.8 – SummitPost
Cathedral Peak, S E Buttress, 5.5 – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Charlotte Dome, South Face, 5.7 – SummitPost
Mt Conness, W Ridge, 5.6 – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Matterhorn Peak, N Arete, 5.7 – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Matthes Crest, S to N Traverse, 5.6 – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Norman Clyde Peak, Twilight Pillar, 5.8 – SummitPost
North Palisade, U Notch-Chimney, 5.5 – SummitPost
Mt Sill, Swiss Arete, 5.6 – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Starlight Peak, Starlight Buttress, 5.5 – SummitPost
Temple Crag, Moon Goddess Arete, 5.7 – SummitPost
Mt. Whitney, East Buttress, 5.6 – SummitPost
Mt Whitney, East Face, 5.7 – SummitPost
Snow and Ice Climbs
Mt Darwin, N Glacier, Ice/Snow – SummitPost
Mt Gilbert, N W Couloir, 4/5 Ice – SummitPost
Mt Mendel, Mendel Couloir, 5+ Ice – SummitPost
Polemonium Peak, V Notch, Ice/Snow – SummitPost
Mt Shasta, Whitney Glacier, Snow/Ice – SummitPost
Mt Shasta, Casaval Ridge, Snow/Ice – SummitPost
Mt Shasta, Hotlum Glacier, Snow/Ice – SummitPost
Mt Sill, N Couloir, Winter Snow – SummitPost
Split Mtn, N E Couloir, Ice/Snow – SummitPost
Thunderbolt, Underhill Couloir, Winter Snow – SummitPost
Mt Whitney, Mountaineers Route, Snow – SummitPost
Ski Descents
Mt. Whitney, Mountaineers Route – SummitPost
Mt. Dana, Dana Couloir – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Mt. Shasta, the whole darn thing
- Avalanche Gulch – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
- Hotlum/Wintun Ridge – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
- Hotlum/Bolum Ridge – SummitPost
Mt. Tallac – SummitPost | Sierra Journal TR
Mount Williamson, Giant Steps Couloir – SummitPost
Split Mountain, Split Couloir – SummitPost
Bloody Mountain, Bloody Couloir – SummitPost
Ruby Mountains, Terminal Cancer – SummitPost
Squaw Valley to Sugar Bowl Traverse – Sierra Journal TR
This is awesome! It’s nice to be able to see a list of places to check out. I feel there are a lot of people who would love to get out more and have fun in the outdoors. However books, trail guides, seem to have to much information and scare some people away. Once again this is a great post. If you are in need of any outdoor gear we’d like to invite you to check us out at http://www.myallmountainaccess.com, we are always adding new sports and gear and don’t forget to check out our forums.
Let is snow!
All Mountain Access
Really hope to tick some of these off my list this summer and share some more trip reports!
You can say that again. Emilie – anytime you need a partner, you know where to find me.
That definitely is the ultimate tick list. There’s a few things I would add, but it’s a pretty big list to tackle as it is.
Yeah gonna take a while for a workin’ fool like me.
What would you add? The list is a living thing…
Terminal Cancer Couloir? Might be on your tick list if you did a road trip from Salt Lake City to Tahoe, but it’s a bit of a stretch to call that part of the Sierras. There’s got to be an equally thrilling granite chute somewhere in them thar hills….
Yeah definitely a stretch. The included it in the new 50 Classic Ski Descents book, so figured it should get a mention here…
Nice list and site. Lucky to have done a good percentage of the list. Don’t forget
Lone Pine Peak, N. Arête
Clyde Minaret, Southwest Face
Dave Johnson
Ghoulwe Mountaineering Club
Sacramento, CA
Nice. If you’re ever interested in writing up trip reports on this kind of stuff, feel free! We’d love to have more submissions from folks like yourself. Good luck and be safe out there!
I think you linked to the wrong Mt Agassiz. You probably want the Mt Agassiz in the Palisades, not the Desolation Wlderness. Peter Croft includes the Class 2 route from Bishop Pass as one of his top 40 climbs in the Sierra.
Todd – you’re absolutely right. List is now corrected to: http://www.summitpost.org/mount-agassiz/150921