High Sierra Topix

I set out from Twin Lakes one morning last October to see if I could make it up Whorl Mountain and down in a day.


Even I, a shameless snob for granite, had to admit this wasn't bad:


I crossed the pass...


...& strolled up Secor's bench...


...but found wherever the bench ends, and the first chute starts, to be ambiguous. Eventually I figured I'd gone too far towards the south ridge, and cut back north and uphill, hoping to intercept one of the chutes. If I did, I never knew it. I climbed until I could see I would shortly be outclassed, and called it a day. (As it was, I made the last mile back by starlight.)


Still, I wouldn't have called the effort a wasted one.


Any advice, though, on not missing my exit next time?

GPX track certainly fixes the problem. Alternatively, just ensure you're well south of the summit before you start climbing.

I climbed up chute #2 directly, took the book way down. IDK, it all seemed kinda the same to me. But once you get to the chockstone cave, the route gets really fun . I thought it was on the easy side of Sierra class 3. Go late in the year, that chockstone cave will take a while to melt out.

Thanks for that, c9. That link is super-helpful. Chockstone or bust!

Well, maybe not bust.

https://www.snwburd.com/bob/trip_reports/whorl_1.html
look at pictures

Hello Sam, Sam, and Kristine,

Cool climbing, which I'd love to get to too!
Sam, does Sam's linked photo show the same notch/"3rd chute" that is seen your 5th photo?
Or Sam, does Sam's 5th photo show the 3rd chute you linked?

Now I'm hoping for clarification from a Sam.

p.s. I love that 2nd photo, is it taken from Horse Creek Pass?

Gazelle, thanks for another helpful link.

Ian, yes, that 2nd photo is on the way up to Horse Creek Pass. Alas, I don't think the 5th photo is anywhere near the 3rd chute. But it was my first time. Now I'll be better prepared to go forth.