8.5 km away
Shepherd Pass Trail
A huge climb into the High Sierra, and the approach to two 14,000-foot peaks.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 2 km
- Descent
- 223 m
The most direct non-technical route to the summit of Tyndall.
Hiking Extreme
At 14,025 feet, Mount Tyndall is the 10th tallest of California's 14ers. It's an impressive-looking peak with many routes to its summit, but all are quite remote, involving a long approach on either the Shepherd Pass Trail or John Muir Trail. The route mapped here is an out-and-back from the main camping area at Shepherd Pass, descending the same way. If the exposure on the North Rib feels a bit much, you could instead hike down the Northwest Ridge for a less-exposed but longer alternative.
From a distance the North Rib of Mount Tyndall looks intimidating, but upon closer inspection it's a fairly straightforward hike/scramble up relatively stable rock. Once you are on the rib, it's easy to discern the path of least resistance and stay on Class 3 terrain. There is optional Class 4 terrain, however, which you can take for more direct and more exciting variations.
You will more or less follow the crest of the rib until the top, where it joins the summit ridge. When approaching the top of the rib, you should trend left to reach an obvious notch in the ridgeline (there is another obvious notch to the right, but reaching it is more difficult). Once crossing through the notch, it's easy boulder hopping the rest of the way to the summit.
Extreme
Scrambling up mountains and along technical trails with moderate fall exposure. Handholds are necessary to navigate the trail in its entirety, although they are not necessary at all times. Some obstacles can be very large and difficult to navigate, and the grades can often be near-vertical. The challenge of the trail and the steepness of the grade results in very strenuous hiking. Hikes of this difficulty blur the lines between "hiking" and "climbing".
8.5 km away
A huge climb into the High Sierra, and the approach to two 14,000-foot peaks.
Difficult Hiking