Mount Goethe / Pilot Knob / Four Gables
Ascents of Mount Goethe (Northeast Ridge from Alpine Col, class 3), Pilot Knob (East Ridge, class 2) and Four Gables (South Slope, class 2), with René Renteria, July 10-12, 2017.
Timeline:
July 9, 2017. We left the parking lot at North Lake at 10:25 and, after a long lunch break beneath the south slopes of Mount Emerson, near Loch Leven, we reached Piute Pass at 14:22. We found a suitable camp near the outlet of Muriel Lake at 15:15. It started to rain around 18:00, but we were then greeted to a magnificent sunset with the sun dipping under the clouds. We were in the tent at 20:30. (A 4:50 hour day).
July 10, 2017. We left camp at 7:00 and made our way into the Goethe Cirque. We reached Alpine Col at 9:07, avoiding most of the talus by staying on the firm snow (crampons). We traversed the Northeast Ridge staying on its very crest as much as possible, and reached the summit of Mount Goethe at 11:39. We left the summit at 12:06, descending steep snow of the Southeast slopes toward Lake 11,910, approaching Alpine Col from its southeastern side. We were back at Alpine Col at 13:41 and descended toward Goethe Lake. We took a lunch break near the shores of the lake at 14:15, and were back in camp at 15:57. We stayed in camp all evening, cooking and enjoying the visit of a persistent marmot. (An 8:57 hour day).
July 11, 2017. We packed camp and left at 7:30, hiking across the wet upper reaches of Piute Canyon toward Pilot Knob. We dropped our packs near Square Lake at 10:15 and headed for Pilot Knob with daypacks, reaching the saddle to the east of the peak at 11:45. After lunch, we reached the summit of Pilot Knob at 12:48, staying on the summit for ½ hour. We were back at Square Lake at 15:21 and hiked toward Desolation Lake to find a new campsite. We found a suitable (if exposed) spot near the tarn just north of Desolation Lake. We were in camp at 17:30 and in the tent at 20:00. (A 10 hour day).
July 12, 2017. We left camp above Desolation Lake at 7:47 and reached what we believed to be the summit of Four Gables at 9:03. This is the highpoint of the narrow cirque marked on USGS maps as "Four Gables". Not finding a summit register, we circled the ridge counterclockwise in search of a possibly higher point. This afforded great views in all directions – French Canyon, the Horton Lakes drainage, Humphreys Basin, and north toward Bear Creek Spire, etc. Not finding a register on any of the obvious highpoints, we started our descent, skirting the western aspect of Peak 12,801. This peak seems like an easy ascent from the head of the drainage, so we headed up the class 2 West Slope of that peak. Much to our surprise, we found the Four Gables summit register chained to the summit block, and signed in. The summit of Peak 12,801 (Four Gables?) was reached at 11:13. All in all, this was a nice morning tagging all the highpoints in the area, and taking in the great views in every direction. We were back in camp at 12:34, ate lunch, packed up and left at 13:24. We reached Piute Pass at 16:30 under an impending thunderstorm (some light rain), and were at the car at North Lake at 19:10. (An 11:23 hour day).