Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Mt. Carillon via Cleaver Col (7/10/2020)

This was a bit ambitious but it went (ambitious because my fitness is pretty mediocre right now). Hot day, t-shirt weather at the top, felt pretty hot at various spots even at 12,000'+. The approach to Cleaver Col is a slog, the climb to the col is steep and fun at the top and the ridge to Carillon was a little spicier than expected as we summited via a class 4 chute.

I had never been up Cleaver Col and I wanted to scout it out for several future projects including Mount Morgenson, The Cleaver, Tunnabora Peak and a Whitney/Russell double starting with the Russell north ridge. Obviously when my fitness is better.

It was a pleasure to descend from the Russell-Carillon saddle down to Upper Boy Scout Lake without the slog of climbing it.

Climbing up the cirque


Looking down at the little lake at the top of the cirque


Tulainyo lake


The Cleaver


Russell


Climbing up to Carillon


Summit photo


Whitney and the MR (MR looked pretty good)