Desolation Wilderness Overnight Day 2

(Click on any Photo to Enlarge) We woke to clear skies on a chilly morning. The above photo was our tent view of Dick's Peak bathed in morning sunlight. Our departure time was the usual 7:00am. We loaded our water and snacks into the summit pack and headed up the PCT to Dick's Pass. It took us a little less than a hour to get to the pass. Dick's Pass from the North is pretty easy. The use trail that starts the climb to Dick's Peak is 2 switchbacks down the South side of the Pass.
The photo above is from the Pass looking toward the route up the ridge line.
We left the PCT and started our ascent. The first part of the climb is really a use trail on talus and scree. Route finding is a non-issue on this climb. As we continued up we came to the loose Class 2 chute that is the crux (if you will) of the whole climb. The chute is just below the false summit. This is where Christi started giving me the 'Glare' that says she wasn't happy about the route. I assured her we were close to the top and that the hardest part was behind us. She continued upward and made it to the ridge that separates the false summit from the actual summit. From there it is an easy scramble to the top. Before we knew it we were standing on top of Dick's Peak enjoying a fantastic morning view. This would be Christi's first summit register entry. I think I was more excited than she was. We signed the register and took the obligatory photos.
Christi really didn't want to descend the chute so we chose a different route down to our campsite. From the col between the false summit and the peak, we left the ridge route and headed North down the face of Dick's Peak.
This is just a scree field that is easy to go down but a lot of work to go up. Christi was much happier with the descent route. After 20 minutes of scree surfing we came to the highest tarn that eventually feeds Fontanellis Lake.
Following the drainage to the next tarn then turning East to head back to Dick's Lake. We were back at the campsite at 10:15am. We lounged around and had breakfast in the sun. At about noon we decided to head down to the the car at Emerald Bay. The walk out was uneventful and the 7 miles was covered in 2 1/2 hours. Another great trip. Next is Banner Peak for my birthday!