If its 5-6 to EL, that would put it at 10.4 -11.4 to the summit, the same as the trail. Can that be right?
BTW, a little terminology. It is becoming common to refer to the whole North Fork route and the route above Iceberg Lake as the Mountaineer's Route, but that is not accurate. The Mountaineer's Route is the climber's route from above Iceberg Lake to the summit;, just as there are North Face, North Buttress etc climbing routes frpm roughly the same area. The approach to all these routes is up the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek.
I know, I am so old school and pendantic, but all of the history, as well as the Inyo NF termnology, are on my side.
As Yogi said, you could look it up. So there.
No, 5-6 miles for the entire trip from the parking lot to the summit.
No one's arguing or looking to argue about the terminology. Although I haven't heard of an established route up there called the North Buttress. There are the East Face and East Buttress trade climbing routes though...
