Williamson and Tyndall are two of the most remotely located California 14ers.
Elevation:
Mt. Williamson – 14375’/4382m
Mt. Tyndall – 14018’/4273m
Difficulty: Intermediate or strong beginner
Length of Trip: 3-5 day options
Difficulty Rating: Class 3+
Overview
At 14,375’/4382m Mt. Williamson is the second highest peak in California behind only Mt. Whitney and the sixth highest in the contiguous 48 States. Mt. Tyndall is located close by to the NW on the opposite side of Williamson Bowl. At 14,018’/4273m it is the tenth highest peak in California. Both peaks are accessed via Shepherd Pass, which requires a long hike out of the Owens Valley floor starting at 6199 feet. Both routes are enjoyable climbs over trails, rocks, 3rd class terrain requiring the use of hands and feet, and some snow climbing depending on how much remains from the winter.
Williamson & Tyndall Itinerary Options
We offer this trip with itineraries ranging from 3 to 5 days. The 4-day option is the most popular. For folks who want to build in an extra day for weather or extra acclimatization we recommend booking it for 5-days. The 3-day option is recommended for those who are only interested in climbing one of the two peaks.
For all itineraries the group meets at the nearby town of Independence on the first day of the trip and drive to the trailhead at 6199’/1889m. We get an early start to beat the heat and ascend the Shepherd Pass trail. On the 4-day and 5-day options we camp the first night at Anvil Camp 10320’/3146m then ascend over the pass on the second day. On the 3-day option we ascend over Shepherd Pass on day-1 and make camp near the pass at 12000’/3658m.
Mt. Williamson – 14375’/4382m
Our route is the West Face or the Bolton Brown. Starting by headlamp the approach crosses Williamson Bowl to the base of the routes. Both climbs lead us up a series of rock ledges and chutes over class 3 terrain requiring the use of hands and feet. We bring a rope for protection for the more exposed sections of this route. During June and early July the routes usually have snow requiring crampons and an ice axe. We descend the West Face route back to camp. After the summit we return to our camp where we cook up a hearty dinner and prepare for our climb of Tyndall.
Mt. Tyndall – 14018’/4273m
Our route on Mt. Tyndall is the North Rib. This is a fun class 3 scramble that tops out on a ridge a short distance from the summit. Mt. Tyndall is a much shorter climb than Mt. Williamson. After descending back to camp we usually pack up and hike to a lower camp to allow for a quicker exit on the final day. Some strong teams even elect to hike all the way out.
With the combination of fun climbing and their isolated setting Mt. Williamson and Mt. Tyndall are two of the most spectacular “14ers” in California.
View a photo gallery from a Williamson/Tyndall trip here.
Cost
5-Day Trip
$2600 per person guided 1:1
$1600 per person guided 2:1
4-Day Trip
$2080 per person guided 1:1
$1280 per person guided 2:1
3-Day Trip (one peak only)
$1560 per person guided 1:1
$960 per person guided 2:1
Dates
Any date between June 1 and October 31.
Use the booking button below or contact our office to arrange a trip.
