cornell peak summit block?

[eric1234]

Ive heard lots of mixed opinions about the summit block of Cornell peak. Does anyone consider it a class 5 like some say? All the photos I have seen make it look like class 4.

Im planning to be in the area sometime soon to do Cornell, Marion, Jean, Jacinto, and Miller. The approach will be via C2C2C (the tram ride down is too expensive). Anyone can join me at any point if interested. There is snow coming, so I will have to get the hike in just after the storm before the upper part of skyline freezes.

also interested in snow creek if anyone has info

[Hikin_Jim]

Ive heard lots of mixed opinions about the summit block of Cornell peak. Does anyone consider it a class 5 like some say? All the photos I have seen make it look like class 4.

Im planning to be in the area sometime soon to do Cornell, Marion, Jean, Jacinto, and Miller. The approach will be via C2C2C (the tram ride down is too expensive). Anyone can join me at any point if interested. There is snow coming, so I will have to get the hike in just after the storm before the upper part of skyline freezes.

also interested in snow creek if anyone has info

I'm not a climber per se, but it looks like class 4 to me. If you take the right route, you can shimmy up it. The exposure is intense and unnerving, and I wasn't about to do it on friction alone, but a gutsy person could probably free solo it without too much trouble.

HJ

[KathyW]

To me it seems like Class 3, but one person's Class 3 is another person's Class 4.

If it's Class 4, it's easy Class 4.

[arocknoid]

class 3 is more accurate, but it may feel like class 4 if some exposure makes you nervous. Especially if you are up there solo hiking.

Like carefully walking inline on a street curb, vs. knife edge e.g. Mt Russell: the path may be equally easy, but the *mind* is different.

have fun,
arocknoid

[greatshaitan]

I would put it at a low class 4. If you fell, there is a good chance that you fall for quite a long time.

[eric1234]

Thanks for the info everyone. Ill treat the peak as class 3 and the summit block as class 3 exposed.

[arocknoid]

So I belatedly checked on the Sierra Club HPS to see their rating on this, which is class 2, and was jolted to see the name of a dear mentor, departed for years now.

http://angeles.sierraclub.org/hps/guides/27g.htm

Cornell Peak

Distance: 6 miles round trip on trail and cross-country
Gain: 1800' total, 1500' out plus 300' on return
Time: 3-5 hours round trip
Rating: Class 2, moderate
Navigation: Moderate
Route: Summit area has moderate exposure on good rock

Original: John Backus, August 1982

(BTW, this report from 1982 would be when he was about 70 years old, and he rated it as class 2, good rock with moderate exposure at the summit. and he was a hiker, not a rock climber...)

Professor Backus was the first person to summit the Sierra Club's 270 peaks six times. I knew him independently in two of his other worlds, and subsequently had the pleasure to hike with him on several occasions. Seeing his name on the HPS site (where he is named on original reports many times) sure brought back memories.

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-12-14/ ... arnet-peak

RIP. May your spirit soar, and your music echo eternally from the summits.

kind regards,
arocknoid

[neverwashasbeen]

I don't know you well enough to say what getting up on top would be for you, most rock climbers do it w/o a rope. Very few stand on the true highest point w/o a rope.

[Hikin_Jim]

So I belatedly checked on the Sierra Club HPS to see their rating on this, which is class 2

Traditionally, the HPS hasn't required one to climb the summit block to count the peak. Class 2 would just be the rating for the approach to the summit block.

HJ

[Ed]

It is easy Class 3, if you take the easiest route, which is on the back side, not the more formidable side you see from the trail.