Grizzly Peak Trip Report 05/09/2021

Report Type	Mini
Peak(s)	Grizzly Peak - 13,997 feet
Date Posted	05/09/2021
Date Climbed	10/10/2020
Author	OrionStar

Grizzly Peak A North ridge in October
After talking with a local back country Ranger she said I had to camp at Grizzly lake, and I am the highly suggestable type so off I went. The drive to the Grizzly lake Trail head can be done by a Subaru or better, which explains the large number of car campers along the way. The hike along Grizzly Creek trail is easy enough with a steep bit at the end that even I could do with a full pack as it is only 3.4 miles to just below the lake where I made camp. I found a great spot away from the main trail and near a good water source, though when I went to setup my tent I realized I forgot one of the poles... yeesh. I used a trekking pole to span the difference and it worked well enough, I was thankful there was no weather predicted and none arrived. The lake itself really is a gem and should not be missed. A quick video of my camp and the lake can be seen here https://youtu.be/EsFFCaOMRDk The next day I was up early, well before dawn and made my way up some steep sections to gain the North ridge just as the sun came out. The first leg of the ridge line is easy high meadows, then it is is scree and loose rock for the remainder, with a reprieve just as you get near the summit. There is no trail and no beta that I could easily find for the North ridge, therefore I made my way along the ridge as much as I could, but with a few spires that forced me to down hike then back up to try and find an easier way. All the while the loose rock made for careful foot falls and slow going. The summit was great, and I was tired, then I had to go back the way I came, it made for a long day. 5 Miles from camp to the summit and back that took me 6 hours. A video of the upper route can be seen here https://youtu.be/fVUkS4YrIG4 Wonky tent with a view Snow is here, but not over there. Sunsets are such easy post card shots. Not really much of a trail, you just kind of find your way up to the ridgeline. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Grizzly Peak A North ridge in October

After talking with a local back country Ranger she said I had to camp at Grizzly lake, and I am the highly suggestable type so off I went. The drive to the Grizzly lake Trail head can be done by a Subaru or better, which explains the large number of car campers along the way. The hike along Grizzly Creek trail is easy enough with a steep bit at the end that even I could do with a full pack as it is only 3.4 miles to just below the lake where I made camp. I found a great spot away from the main trail and near a good water source, though when I went to setup my tent I realized I forgot one of the poles... yeesh. I used a trekking pole to span the difference and it worked well enough, I was thankful there was no weather predicted and none arrived. The lake itself really is a gem and should not be missed. A quick video of my camp and the lake can be seen here https://youtu.be/EsFFCaOMRDk

The next day I was up early, well before dawn and made my way up some steep sections to gain the North ridge just as the sun came out. The first leg of the ridge line is easy high meadows, then it is is scree and loose rock for the remainder, with a reprieve just as you get near the summit. There is no trail and no beta that I could easily find for the North ridge, therefore I made my way along the ridge as much as I could, but with a few spires that forced me to down hike then back up to try and find an easier way. All the while the loose rock made for careful foot falls and slow going. The summit was great, and I was tired, then I had to go back the way I came, it made for a long day. 5 Miles from camp to the summit and back that took me 6 hours. A video of the upper route can be seen here https://youtu.be/fVUkS4YrIG4

21019_02 — Snow is here, but not over there.

21019_03 — Sunsets are such easy post card shots.

21019_04 — Not really much of a trail, you just kind of find your way up to the ridgeline.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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