Mt. Dade
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.68 mi
- Elevation gain
- 4,209 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Very difficult
- Elevation loss
- 4,206 ft
- Max elevation
- 13,562 ft
- TrailRank
- 32
- Min elevation
- 10,241 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Coordinates
- 502
- Uploaded
- August 4, 2017
- Recorded
- August 2017
near Scheelite, California (United States)
Viewed 324 times, downloaded 2 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
The epic climb of Mt. Dade! A fantastic mountaineering adventure, Mt. Dade is one of the best experiences I've had climbing in the Sierra. An easy warm up hike, followed by some off-trail hiking, followed by a 1,000-foot snow climb at 40-45 degrees, followed by a 1,000-foot scramble to the summit. This is a big test for day hikers, as it took us 14 hours to complete. Ice axe and crampons required, but the reward is all worth it. Best done in June when the snow is consolidated, but not yet melted, this is big climb, but worth it! Standard amazing views from the summit, but all the fun is in getting there.
Waypoints
Waypoint
12,700 ft
Hourglass end
12,700 elevation
Waypoint
10,600 ft
Leave Trail
We left the trail here, heading southwest (hiker's right) and headed through some trees, and over a small hill. When you get to a small pond, you are on the right track. From there, head around the left (east) side of the lake, follow the creek, and ascend the boulder field on the far end of the lake. This will take you up to Treasure Lakes.
Summit
Fountain
11,200 ft
Treasure Lakes
Comments (2)
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We left the trail here, heading southwest (hiker's right) and headed through some trees, and over a small hill. When you get to a small pond, you are on the right track. From there, head around the left (east) side of the lake, follow the creek, and ascend the boulder field on the far end of the lake. This will take you up to Treasure Lakes. /outdoor-trails/mt-dade-18977786#wp-18977789
Elevation gain/loss is a bit off. More like 3,900' total climbing. Not a ton, but very arduous and energy-sapping going up the Hourglass.
Also, this was done after the monster snow year of 2016-2017, so most of the route was done on snow. With lower snow levels, a slightly different route around lakes and so forth may have to be taken, but the general route shown here is right.