Olancha Peak

South Sierra Wilderness, CA
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Trip info

Distance21.6 mi
Elevation gain6,600 ft
Route typeOut & back
Duration10 hr
CruxClass 2
Quality8/10

Peaks bagged

1
Olancha Peak
SPS
SPS★
Vagmarken
CaWHP
12,123 ft / Prom. 3,083 ft
SPS
Sierra Peaks Section
SPS★
Sierra Peaks Section Emblem Peaks
Vagmarken
Vagmarken Sierra Crest List
CaWHP
California Wilderness High Points

Trip report

Starting from the Olancha Pass Trailhead at the end of Sage Flats Road.
Entering the South Sierra Wilderness.
Sections of the Olancha Pass Trail are unconsolidated from its dual use to herd cattle from Sage Flat to Summit Meadow.
The turnoff for the cattle trail (left), which ascends the canyon directly. Olancha Pass Trail, while 1.3 miles longer, offers a gentler, more scenic approach.
Turning right to stay on the Olancha Pass Trail.
Approaching a small saddle (left of center) where the Olancha Pass Trail merges with the cattle trail and crosses over into an adjacent canyon.
After the saddle, climbing up this slope to gain the Sierra Crest.
View back from just below Olancha Pass.
Olancha Pass. The trail continues on the right, maintaining elevation for about two miles as it passes Summit Meadow.
View back toward the pass.
Summit Meadow Camp.
A fork in the trail. Stay right for the northbound PCT.
Joining the PCT, headed north toward Gomez Meadow.
Sign at the PCT junction.
The PCT gains elevation immediately.
Entering a meadow. In the dry fall months, the creek on the right may be the last chance to get water. There was just a trickle here in mid-October.
View back.
The trail flattens out around the 10,000-foot mark.
Emerging from the forest, expansive views to the west.
View back toward Monache Meadow.
First glimpse of Olancha Peak from the PCT.
Leaving the PCT for Olancha Peak's east slope.
Steep, but stable terrain.
View back.
The slope gets rockier with increasing elevation. Here, I'm contouring ever-so-slightly north.
Another view back.
Above the tree-line, Olancha Peak's summit comes into view.
Start of Class 2.
View back the talus slope below Olancha Peak's summit.
Class 2/3 below the ridge crest.
Gaining the ridge crest. View south toward Ed Lane Point (left of center) and Monache Meadow (right).
Passing several solar panels on the south side of the summit.
Olancha Peak summit. Facing northeast.
View down Olancha Creek into Owens Valley.
View north toward Mount Kaweah (left) and Mount Langley (right).

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