If you can spare a few bucks for those affected by the Pack Fire, a little bit goes a long way ❤️

Mokelumne Peak

Mount Kaweah Day 3: Exit

Mount Kaweah Day 2: Mount Kaweah

Mount Kaweah Day 1: Approach

Diamond Peak:
- I wasn't too keen on climbing this mountain today as it looked like a sand hill from below, but dad wanted to and I didn't object too loudly.
- The west side of Diamond Peak was part of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep closure area that was recently rescinded. Some of this area was closed from mid-July through the fall or winter, and some of it was closed year-round. The west face of Diamond Peak fell in the year round closure area, so this route was not climbed (or climbed rarely by unknowing parties) for a long time.
- There are a couple of prominent chutes coming down from the crest to the west. We climbed the one that ends closest to the lowest Rae Lake. It was a long, loose sand/talus climb above a nice bench with a small lake. 
- After a few class 3 moves to the crest, there is a wonderful view in all directions. The summit is a short (quarter mile?) but awesome ridgewalk away. The ridge is about 5 feet wide here and most of it is class 2, but the views in all directions give it a sidewalk-in-the-sky feel.
- View from the summit was awesome as well: Palisades and Mount Goddard to the north, all of the high peaks of the Kings River drainage, Mount Whitney, Williamson, and many other peaks to the south, and the Great Western Divide, and Kaweahs to the southwest.
- This peak sees only 5-10 ascents per year, most commonly from the Baxter Pass Trail though with the occasional traverse from Black Mountain.  The NPS and USFS haven't tried particularly hard to let folks know of the rescinded closure area, so I'm not surprised there weren't any register entries from parties that ascended the west slope.
- The way back down was slow going to make sure we didn't slip and fall too much.
- After returning to camp, we hiked down to Upper Paradise Valley for our last night on trail. 

Top Sports

Iain Macdonald

Rae Lakes Loop Day 4: Middle Rae Lake to Upper Paradise Meadow plus Diamond Peak

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If you can spare a few bucks for those affected by the Pack Fire, a little bit goes a long way ❤️

Mokelumne Peak

Mount Kaweah Day 3: Exit

Mount Kaweah Day 2: Mount Kaweah

Mount Kaweah Day 1: Approach

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