Tom Grundy's 2023 Sierra Challenge Day 4 Fourth Recess Peak Page

8-07-2023, After some fitfull sleep bothered by mosquitoes I got up and got ready. Quite a heap of people set out, I was slightly behind because I was turning on my spot tracker. By the time I got to the turnoff everyone had gone past it - so I took it and soon caught up to Bob Burd climbing across the swamp/stream on downed trees. By now everyone had realized their mistake and were hot on our heels. We continued on up the trail following it as best we could as it tried to hide in the talus and brush and so on. We generally headed towards the base of Half-Moon pass, but were not able to beat the fastest part of the pack there. Up we went over the top and then down the scree on the other side. I took a much better line down and took the lead (I think) again for quite a while. I was eventually passed by the fastest people near the outlet of Fourth Recess Lake. Then I headed somewhat up the slope aiming for Mono Rock. Yumi caught up to me somewhere near the top but then took a more direct but slower line. Clement was on the top when I got near, and Yumi came up before I left. In fact there were quite a few people heading up by the time I left.

the main group catching up to cross the swampy creek

starting down from Half-Moon Pass

Golden Lake reflections

the lead group passed me at the bottom of Fourth Recess Lake

Clement on the ridge

panorama from Mono Rock - Fourth Recess Peak is center right

I generally followed the ridge up towards the Challenge peak passing over a number of bumps along the way which did not count as bonus peaks although there was a nice down scramble on the S side of one of the bumps. Eventually I made it up to Fourth Recess Peak to enjoy my sandwich and the company of others up there. Then 4 of us headed down towards the 4th recess valley and hiked out that way - probably not the fastest, but it was scenic with at least a bit of good boot skiing. There was some route finding and scrambling down cliffs and bushwhacking but eventually we made it down to the Fourth Recess Lake. There Chris and I swam while the others continued on.

Yumi backtracks to avoid a steep downclimb - other dots on the way

view from ridge - Fourth Recess Peak is center right

looking back at the steep dropoff with people on top

people on the summit

view down to Fourth Recess Lake - we traversed down to the left

Chris dives into the lake

After the swim we headed along the shore of the lake eventually picking up a fisherman trail and then the main trail back to the Mono Pass trail which we followed up until we left it to continue to Golden Lake. There we headed back up over half moon pass and back to the cars. I packed up quickly and headed back to Bishop to eat, do some laundry, shower, and reload for the next 2 days.

outlet of Fourth Recess Lake - we came down on the right between the cliffs

Bob coming up over Half-Moon Pass

Total for the day 4, 2 peaks, one swim. Strava said 12.9 mi (moto gpower) and 6864 ft of elevation gain in 9:40.

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