North America, United States, California, Sierra Nevada, Mount Williamson, North Face

Publication Year: 1978.

Mount Williamson, North Face. The 2200-foot high north cliffs are impressive, even when viewed from far up Owens Valley. In contrast to the popular west and southeast sides, only two north-side routes are known to exist. My wife Ruth and I ascended just left of center in 1957, using a swing traverse. Tim Ryan, Fred Wing, and I climbed the right-hand portion of the face on May 30, 1976. We cramponed up a steep couloir that slants to the right, then ascended the rocks. Tim led the crux pitch on aid chocks. We tied on for the night at 13,880 feet, and reached the 14,375-foot summit early the next morning. NCCS IV, F5, Al.

John D. Mendenhall