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Cloudripper, Vagabond 9 Aug 2005 Sierra Challenge 2005 Map Thumbnails
I had originally planned to try for White Mountain Peak, but talking with the others convinced me that my Civic really wasn’t going to be enough to get close. I switched plans and set a course for Cloudripper, a good ½ day hike that would leave me time to get back to the Bay that evening. Jeff and Evan decided to take a rest day and come with me while the rest of the group went for Clyde Spires and any other closed contour they could find.
We took the “Pipe Route” from South Lake, walking on top of a partially buried 18 in. pipe for perhaps ¾ mile until it crossed the trail up to Green Lake. We saved some decent mileage and gain that way; not bad. We continued to Green Lake and opted to take the trail on up to the saddle. At about 11,800 ft we turned to the south and ascended the ridge toward Vagabond. The ridge walk was firm footing. Talus and hard dirt made it easy to move along to the base of Vagabond’s summit. Up we scrambled on the Class 1 stuff, although I moved a little toward the ridgeline to make it more interesting on the boulders. I don’t have Bob’s drive for 4th class, but at least give me a little something! There was a summit log for Vagabond, but no box, which was weird. We signed in and donated a zip-loc bag, hiding it from the UV rays but leaving it visible for the next folk. Cloudripper was just a little farther, and we three took three separate routes to the top. Jeff and Evan took opposite ridges, and I split the difference. There was a lot of loose stuff on the way up, but I got to the ridge just ahead of Jeff, and we summitted only 5 minutes ahead of Evan.
As expected, the views were spectacular. The Palisades bunched up against us from the south, and we were looking down on Johnson, Gilbert, and Thompson. I was interested in a Gilbert-Thompson traverse for a later trip, but alas, it was hidden from view by Gilbert’s summit. The haze hid much of our views, perhaps from a lack of any storm activity the night before. We sat and enjoyed the view; I lingered, wondering when I would be back to the Crest.
We descended the north face of Vagabond, straight to Green Lake this time, down a loose, steep talus field. I wouldn’t recommend it to other parties. Just suck up the extra mileage and head back to the saddle for a fast drop down the trail. When we made it to Green Lake we found a whole boatload of trash, along with a convenient towel that Jeff used to wrap it all up in and pack out. I can’t understand how anyone could leave that behind and think it was okay.
We were back at the trailhead by 1, and Jeff stuck with Evan to get some fly fishing lessons. I drove out to Bishop, stopped at Kava, and then cruised to Oakdale where I refueled with a cheesecake shake at the Sno-White Drive-In. Their shakes are something else, and worth the stop!
--matt
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