Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Mt. Johnson (7/24/21)

Mt. Johnson via East Ridge (not SE slopes). Pretty cool route. Was not in the mood for anything long and I really enjoyed the short approach and high start. I had read that the east facing chute before the SE slopes went at a nice class 3 so decided to try that. Glad I did. This was an unexpectedly stellar route. Nearly everything was super solid and the moves were easy and fun without much sustained exposure. I descended the class 2 SE slopes and then returned the same way (via a pretty long boulder field). The summit register was from 1975-ish and pretty empty and I was bummed that there was no pencil or pen in there to sign (need to remember to carry one with me).


Looking down at Treasure Lakes (off trail for a few minutes):


Mt. Johnson comes into view



Tarn 11,309'


Took the chute in the middle


Took this photo looking down while putting the poles in the backpack


Summit up ahead


Summit register 1st page


Summit views down to JMT


Treasure Col and Mt. Gilbert


Sandy slopes on way down (Trapezoid lurking above)


South Lake the lowest I've seen it