Pyramid Peak / Mount Agassiz / Mount Price / Dicks Peak / Granite Chief / Tinker Knob
Ascents of Pyramid Peak (West Ridge from Lake Sylvia, class 2), Mount Agassiz (Traverse from Pyramid Peak, class 3), Mount Price (Traverse from Mount Agassiz, class 2), Dicks Peak (From Dicks Pass / Glen Alpine, class 2), Granite Chief (From the Pacific Crest Trail, class 1), Tinker Knob (From the Pacific Crest Trail, class 1), July 28-30, 2025
Timeline:
July 28, 2025. Ascents of Pyramid Peak, Mount Agassiz and Mount Price. I woke up early and drove from Mammoth to South Lake Tahoe. I had pondered several approaches for Pyramid Peak, including a grand traverse from Dicks Peak, over Jacks Peak, Price Peak and Mount Agassiz, but the latter option seemed like a bit much, especially considering my late start. My friend Ronald Kleber, who lives not far and had climbed the peak several times, recommended the Lyons Creek approach, and I decided to follow his advice. I drove to the Lyons Creek trailhead and set out on the trail at 10:06. A couple of parties were getting ready for their hikes, including a group focused on the wildflowers that were abundant in this area. The trail follows Lyons Creek, initially in the remnants of a forest that burnt out during the 2021 Caldor Fire. I made good time on the gentle trail, reaching Lake Sylvia at 11:49, five miles in (a 20 min/mi pace). I sat on a log in the shade to eat my sandwich, and then contoured the lake on its northern shore (the southern shore might have been a bit shorter). I gained a class 2 talus slope that rises toward a saddle southeast of the lake, and broke one of my carbon poles there. I continued on up the slope to the broad West Ridge of Pyramid Peak, reaching the summit at 13:52. Seated comfortably there were a father and his two teenage sons, who had hiked up from Twin Bridges. We chatted a bit, they kindly took some photos of me on the summit, and then departed. I stayed for a while longer, enjoying the spectacular view of Lake Aloha and of the peaks of the southern part of Lake Tahoe (Dicks Peak, Mount Tallac, Freel Peak). I contemplated my next steps. One option was to return the way I had come, but this seemed lame. Instead, Mount Agassiz and Price Peak beckoned to the northwest. It looked like there could be some scrambling on the initial part of the traverse, but nothing bad. Off I went, staying on the crest of the ridge (some class 3) to reach Mount Agassiz at 16:01 and Mount Price at 16:34. The highlight was Agassiz, which is not officially named on the maps, but which sports a great summit that overhangs spectacularly on its northeastern side. From the summit of Mount Price I came down a broad and flat slope past a tarn, and then down steep slabs toward the inlet of Lyons Lake. There, I crossed paths with a large party of fishermen who were camped at the northern end of the lake (17:35). I continued on, regaining a good trail and cruising back to the trailhead (19:24). I then drove 30 miles to the Lily Lake / Glen Alpine trailhead, near Fallen Leaf Lake, where I would be well positioned to climb Dicks Peak the following day. The parking lot was quite full, but I found a great isolated spot to spend the night. This marked the first time in many years that I had returned to this beautiful area. I had dinner and went to bed early. (9:15 hours elapsed, 7:49 hours moving, 14.49 miles, 4,167 feet of elevation gain)
July 29, 2025. Ascent of Dicks Peak. This would prove to be a relatively short day. I left the Glen Alpine trailhead at 7:14 and went by the structures that form Glen Alpine Springs, the first resort in the Tahoe area founded by Nathan Gilmore in 1863. I continued on along the trail, came to the turnoff to Gilmore Lake (8:29) and on to Dicks Pass and then, along a good use trail, to the base of the eastern aspect of Dicks Peak. There was a large group there contemplating the steeper terrain past where the use trail ends. They seemed very hesitant, and asked me about the route difficulty. I had no idea, having never been there, but it did not look too hard to me. Indeed there is hardly anything harder than class 2 on this route. However, the younger members of the group, who tried to climb the steeper bit, retreated, and the rest of the group did not even try. So I ended up having the summit to myself (10:23). It was still early, so I contemplated a traverse to Jacks Peak, ultimately deciding against it. I retraced my steps and, near Dicks Pass, I met two gentlemen from Alaska on a hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail. They mentioned they were also doing a list of the highest peaks in Alaska - something that probably puts the SPS list to shame. I continued on, retracing my steps, reaching my car at 13:39. There was still a lot of day left, and I was hungry, so I went for a burger at the Fallen Leaf Marina. This had a bit of a surreal feel, as it was full of rich Northern California people vacationing in luxury. Having just stepped off from the trail, I must have looked like a homeless person in comparison. After this nice lunch, I drove back to South Lake Tahoe and then north along Highway 89 toward Olympic Valley. I stopped for some groceries on the way, and reached the Palisades ski resort by mid-afternoon. It was still early, and I was regretting my decision not to go for Jacks Peak. I went to check out the three campgrounds that line the road between Squaw Valley and Truckee, but all of them were extremely noisy and did not seem appealing. So I resolved to park at the Granite Chief trailhead and spend the night there instead. First, I went to dinner at the Jax Diner in Truckee (where I ordered way too much food). I then went to bed relatively early. Around midnight a security guard for the Olympic Valley Inn woke me up and asked me to move my car. I refused, and he relented, but told me not to park at the trailhead during the day. This seemed odd, but I did not want to risk getting towed, so in the morning I moved my car to the location he had indicated, in the main parking lot. (6:25 hours elapsed, 5:41 hours moving, 16.63 miles, 3,437 feet of elevation gain)
July 30, 2025. Ascents of Granite Chief and Tinker Knob. The forecast called for some afternoon thunderstorms, and I would face an almost 20-mile day, so I got up at 5:00, moved my car as I had been instructed, and had breakfast. I set out from the parking lot at 6:06. The initial portion of the trail was beautiful, past granite cliffs, wide meadows, and lush forests. I reached the junction with the PCT at 7:51, and the summit of Granite Chief at 8:47. There were threatening clouds to the northwest, and I could see some rain in the distance. I retraced my steps to the PCT junction (9:44) and headed north along the trail, reaching the summit of Tinker Knob at 11:32. I had the summit to myself, and enjoyed the great views, made more dramatic by the gathering clouds. I then retraced my steps, stopping for lunch around 13:00 near a stream. I was back at my car at 15:15 as the first drops of rain started falling. I faced several options for the drive back, and chose to go through Reno, first along highway 80, then 580, then 395. This was longer but easier than the alternatives, especially in the rain, since it prioritized highways rather than mountain roads. I was back in Mammoth in time for a late dinner. (9:15 hours elapsed, 8:09 hours moving, 19.49 miles, 5,349 feet of elevation gain)
Trip Totals: 24:50 hours elapsed, 21:38 hours moving, 47.61 miles, 12,953 feet of elevation gain