NorthStar Chronicles Oct. 2015 Oct. 2015 | Page 23

The route (cont.) NOTE: Be very careful here not to follow the north ridge of this top all the way down. You will end up in Death Valley which is called that for some strange reason. So be alert for orange flagging indicating a bit trail LEFT down to Col 708162. The trail is a bit hard to spot, but emerge onto open ridgeline at a cairn. View again. Optional descent For a descent that is easier on your knees, try the west ridge route, which is much more eroded after the 2013 flood. Please refrain from hurting yourself here. It works best as a down route. Turn right and follow the ridge through mini pines to minor top #5. For a view, go down the north ridge for a bit to an opening. But don’t descend all the way to the col. Backtrack to the lower top again, where the really steep bit ends. Looking from the lower top at the first bit of the descent ridge.