Matt's β | Cloudripper Loop

Heading up the Bishop Pass Trail.

Turnoff to Chocolate Lakes.

First view of Cloudripper's west face from the Chocolate Lakes Trail.

Uppermost Chocolate Lake.

Ascending a boulder field on the east bank of the lake.

Nearing the chute.

At the entrance of the chute. Class 2.

View back. Chocolate Peak is the colorful peak in the middle. Behind it, Hurd Peak. In the distance, Mount Goode and the various peaks of Evolution Crest.

Class 3 obstacle.

Class 2 most of the way, if sticking to the middle of the chute.

Massive granite walls on the sides of the chute.

View back down the chute.

The chute forks just below 12,800 feet. Stay right of the gendarme visible right of center. All other branches will lead to treacherous Class 4/5 terrain.

Approaching a Class 3 obstacle at the entrance of the correct subsidiary chute.

Closeup of the Class 3 obstacle. I climbed up the left side.

Class 3 slabs just below the ridge.

Gaining the ridge crest. View south toward Mount Sill and North Palisade.

View southeast toward Big Pine Lakes.

View west, the way I came.

Short Class 2 traverse to the summit of Cloudripper.

Cloudripper summit. View toward Big Pine Lakes and the Palisades Range.

Starting my descent along the ridge crest.

Closeup of the Sky Haven ridge to the east.

Vagabond Peak comes into view.

Arriving at the saddle between Cloudripper and Vagabond Peak.

Class 2 up Vagabond Peak's southern slope.

Crossing over to the north side of Vagabond Peak, headed east toward the summit.

View back toward Cloudripper.

Vagabond summit. View southwest.

View west. Below is Thunder and Lightning Lake.

View north.

I briefly contemplated hiking to Sky Haven (left of center), but it would make for a big outing and I was feeling tired. I always underestimate Sierra miles.

Descending Vagabond Peak's north slope toward Green Lake.

View back.

Instead of following this gradual slope, I veered left and took a more direct line to Green Lake.

Shortcut to Green Lake.

View back the talus slope.

Approaching a marsh.

View back from the marsh.

A use trail cuts through the marsh.

Exiting the marsh through a small forested section.

Green Lake.

Following Green Lake Trail. Brown Lake is visible left of center.

Around 10,200 feet, I left Green Lake Trail and followed this pipeline all the way to back to Bishop Pass Trailhead. The views into the valley were beautiful, with aspens trees displaying their peak fall foliage.

Cloudripper Loop

Info

Peaks bagged

Report

Nearby trips