"After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, which is the most horrible thing in the world."
--Oscar Wilde on Absinthe
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Lundyhiker - Jan 13, 2023 6:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 1976
Lundyhiker4th of July 1976, United States bicentennial! Three of us climbing to the summit from Burro Lake and we could see four other hikers coming across the ridge from the Virginia Lakes approach. When we logged our climb into the canister, the four names just logged prior to our entry were very prosaic and interesting… and the names included Jeff Beck, Alvin Lee, and two other notable musicians. I have always wondered what happens to the log books from the canister’s after they are collected? It was an interesting thought that some of the most famous musicians of the time were climbing mountains in California on the day we celebrated our independence!
wmolland - Jul 21, 2021 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2021
From Virginia LakesA nice walk up from Virginia Lakes. Minus the first little bit of cross country near the pass there are use trails one can follow pretty much all the way to the summit.
ScarsPapa - Jul 13, 2021 12:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2021
2021 Alpine warm-up #2Fun class 1 summit. Struck out from Virginia Creek TH, spent a night at Teapot "Lake" (tarn) to acclimate. Very active thunderstorm day on Friday, about 5 hours worth, but the rain cores were not on top of me, a little hail and rain was all with some lightning and thunder.
Some gains and losses then finally pushed up the shoulder.
Met a SUPER cool 7th grade world history teach from Long Beach (Doug), very well met and an honor to share the peak with!
Beautiful views - Lyell off in the distance, Dana (check), Conness and North Peak (check)...Dunderburg (check), White Mountain Peak (check). A bunch in the Emigrant Wilderness and central Hoover Wilderness.
Great beginner alpine hike!!!
hightinerary - Aug 4, 2019 5:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2019
Excellent...views.
Romain - Aug 25, 2018 6:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2018
From Virginia LakesUneventful hike from Virginia Lakes in under 5 hours CTC. Seeing Burro Lake makes it all worth it. I really wonder what gives it this color, and could find nothing on this online. The views of the Conness group and of the Whorl-Matterhorn-Twin Peaks-Virginia Peak group are outstanding. Trip report
labgloves - Aug 11, 2017 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2017
Snow hikeSnow hike
Liberator16 - Jul 31, 2017 10:12 am Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2015
Day Hike from Virginia LakesNice day hike up from Virginia Lakes. Steep scrambling but nothing harder than class 2. Very cool view of Mt. Conness from the summit of Excelsior.
Deb - Sep 4, 2016 11:20 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2016
NE RidgeMy main purpose for climbing this peak was to look for skiable snow. Overcast day with high winds made this boring hike even more unpleasant and the snow I found was frozen. Decided to bag Slate Ridge and Black Cat on my way down....then skied off Dunderberg.
colinr - Aug 27, 2016 12:32 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2016
For the views!Paid a second visit to see morning views and build acclimatization.
boyblue - Dec 16, 2015 10:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 1981
East Ridge2 day x-country loop from Lundy Canyon with an overnight at Burro Lake.
seano - Sep 10, 2015 7:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2015
From Virginia LakesDay 1 of a backpack around northern Yosemite. Pretty straightforward talus slog from the pass above Summit Lake. Trip report.
trexkerry - Aug 22, 2015 12:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2015
From Virginia LakesDaytrip from South Lake Tahoe, 2 hour drive to Virginia Lakes TH, and then a fun hike up to Excelsior. This was a fun one, very scenic, fantastic views. TR will get posted HERE.
bechtt - Aug 21, 2015 2:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2015
NE RidgeOn my way back home after Tahoe peak bagging. Surprised to pretty much find a use trail all the way up to the summit. Pizza at Whoa Nellie's capped a great trip.
colinr - Oct 14, 2014 1:44 am Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2014
Virginia Lakes TH Fall Colors TourThe family and I went on a weekend fall colors tour with stops along the east side of Sonora Pass, Little Walker River Rd, Upper Summers Meadows Rd, Green Greek Rd/TH, Dunderberg Meadow Rd, Virginia Lakes TH, Conway Summit, Lundy Canyon, and a return home via Tioga Pass. I toyed with the idea of much longer options for a significant dayhike, but a virus had me at less than 100%; so I settled on a Saturday evening jaunt up Excelsior. A bit of patchy snow still lingered up high on north facing slopes. The summit views did not disappoint; my brief sunset stay convinced me I ought to come back for morning views sometime. The stunning color display on short drives and family hikes made up for being too tired for any peak hikes Sunday.
mengbo - May 19, 2014 1:24 am Date Climbed: May 18, 2014
Day HikeDay hike on a VERY windy day from Virginia Lakes trailhead. Still lots of snow in the early season. Crampons were used for early morning hard snow. No register on the summit. 3h20m up and total time is 5h50m.
calipidder - Jul 15, 2013 9:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2013
Bear on the summit!Okay, not QUITE on the summit but very close, wandering around the west slope just below the summit pile. Really enjoyed this hike. A casual 3.5 hour climb, 45 min at summit, and quickie 2 hour descent. Great one for a Sunday before the ~5 hour drive home.
fedak - Jun 30, 2013 1:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2013
From Virginia LakesCool and calm at 12k as much of the west sweltered under record temperatures.
Sky Pilots in bloom atop the ridge.
Hit a couple of the nearby minor peaks after Excelsior.
Pics and commentary hear.
thexcat - Oct 15, 2012 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2012
From V. LakesWith PG. 3.5h to summit, 3 to descend. Great conditions, light dusting of snow, sunny, no wind. PG hit a dead dear on 680 before we met, damaging underside of his car.
cab - Sep 4, 2012 11:19 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2012
From Shepherd CrestLast peak of the day after North Peak and Shepherd Crest.
HikeMonkey - Jul 30, 2012 8:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
NE RidgeMike R. and I hiked up from Virginia Lakes on our way to spend the night by Summit Lake. A beautiful day for a walk and amazing views.
We noted Gordon's register entry -- very amusing.