Windy Point Ridge 'trail' to tram

[hickey]

From website 'peaks for freaks' a detailed trip report of a hike starting at Windy Point and going up to the tram. Looking ahead....I am definitely psyched up for this. Little more extreme than Skyline? Yep. I may want a partner for this.

[Hikin_Jim]

Definitely tougher than Skyline.

HJ

[Wildhorse]

I believe you are talking about Leatherneck Ridge. It is longer than Skyline. It takes a long time because of the obstacles that must be gone around or over or under. I have friends, who can do virtually any hike, who have done Leatherneck Ridge, but they would not do it again. It is very hard, but the achievement was just not worth the effort (the tedious frustrations) to my friends.

[cynthia23]

Way, way beyond me, of course, but I admire anyone with the ability to do it. I seem to remember reading here a really good TR on Leatherneck, with links to his excellent photos, a year or two ago. Fraid I can't remember whose TR it was but it was a guy who posts fairly often. I want to say it was Eric1234? (if I have totally hallucinated that username and/or his connection to that post, I apologize . ) Anyone else have a better memory than me? There was a lot of good info in that post, it would be worth the OP checking it out.

[zippetydude]

Cynthia, your memory serves you well. The post he mentioned is actually the one linked in the trip report by eric1234:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4088&hilit=eric1234

As to the topic, I kind of agree with Wildhorse in that I'm all for challenges, but bushwhacking and having to stop and take a tedious rock climbing route in several spots sounds more treacherous and bothersome than fun. If you want a real tough challenge, hit bluerail up to take you up the direct route on Snow Creek (as opposed to the PCT). He had it down to a science last time I talked to him about it. In any case, if you do go, hope it turns out to be a fun challenge after all.

z

[Ed]

I don't know anything about Leatherneck Ridge, except what I have seen on the web. But I would not bet on Snow Creek being easier than Leatherneck Ridge from the lower tram station, unless I had that opinion from somebody who has done both.

[zippetydude]

I'd agree. What I mean is doing Snow Creek in the winter lets you do an insanely difficult climb without bushwhacking.

z

[Ed]

Anything to avoid bushwhacking! Anything!

[hickey]

Thanks for the great feedback. The idea of simple rock mantling at spots does not deter me...but the thought of having to bushwack, for a full ridge line at some point....makes me feel a bit like, while doing it in the past: "I don't belong here."

[David W]

Rocks good, bushes bad.