Merriam Peak / Royce Peak / Mount Julius Caesar
Ascents of Merriam Peak (Northwest Ridge, class 2), Royce Peak (South Slopes, class 2) and Mount Julius Caesar (South Ridge/Southwest Slope, class 3), June 9-12, 2014
Timeline:
June 9, 2014. After a comfortable night in Mammoth I picked up my permit at the Mammoth ranger station and drove to Pine Creek. I departed the trailhead at 10:52 and was in camp below Royce pass at 17:00. (A 6:08 hour day).
June 10, 2014. I left camp at 5:45 and reached the summit of Merriam Peak at 8:40. I was back at the Royce-Merriam saddle at 9:40 and proceeded on to the summit of Royce Peak. I was on the summit of Royce at 10:45, and back at the saddle at 11:44, where I took a nice lunch break. I was back in camp at 14:15 and spent a leisurely afternoon reading. (An 8:30 hour day).
June 11, 2014. I left camp at 6:15 and crossed beautiful Granite Park (a highlight of the trip). I reached Italy Pass at 9:20, and the summit of Mount Julius Caesar at 10:35. I was back at Italy Pass at 11:30 and took a lunch break. I was back in camp at 13:47. (A 7:30 hour day).
June 12, 2014. I packed up camp and left at 7:37. I was at Pine Lake at 9:00 and back at the car at 11:00. I went to Mammoth for a day of rest. (A 3:23 hour day).