Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Mount Tom question

Looking at climbing Mount Tom shortly and was wondering if conditions would be better from Pine Creek or Horton Lakes.

It will be easier from Horton Lakes, but there are still a few snow patches. The approach road might require 4WD or a high clearance vehicle. From Lower Horton Lake the old mine road has been partially destroyed in a few places, but not bad overall. If you are tempted to spend the night in one of the cabins...don't...they are mouse hotels.

The route from Pine Creek follows the Gable Lakes trail until above 8,000 and then more or less follows the old tram-way. It's pretty hard going. And some snow patches. Start at the Pine Creek pack station parking area.

Is the turn off from Gable Lakes obvious? Is it effectively a scramble from here? Don't see any information about the tram way.

Here is a report and topo from a few years ago:

http://www.mtnmouse.com/california/sne15_gable_lakes.html

In the Pine Creek approach you can see the line on the topo marking the old tramway. No, the branch from the trail is not obvious, even in the best of conditions. In the topo the route that follows the tramway it looks impressive, and steep. I haven't hiked the Gable Lakes trail in a few years, but recent first person reports from locals indicate that the trail has been heavily damaged by large avalanches and rock fall during this last Winter. The avalanche that came down almost to the paved Pine Creek road, caused massive damage under the tramway and in the canyon. As the snow continues to melt there has been continuous rock-fall across the Gable Lakes trail. In ideal conditions it is possible to follow the trail marked on the topo until reaching the old mine road from Horton, and then proceed up class 2 terrain.

You can see that the approach from Horton Lakes is much easier and safer, and is the one I have climbed and recommend.

Thanks Bob. I've read about the Horton Lakes approach as well - on this one, would a 4x4 SUV with low clearance make it to the trailhead?

Probably, but take it easy.

I did Tom via the Horton Lake the last weekend in June (24-25). The trail was clear to the lake, though the creek was running high and had flooded the meadows where the crossing is. If the wooden bridge wasn't there, we were looking at a chest-deep ford. It may have subsided some by now, but judging from the snow on the surrounding slopes the water could stay high for at least another month.

The switchbacks above the lake were clear in the beginning, then we had to traverse across a number of fields as we reached the ridge with the metal rod. The old road was mostly under a solid, sun-cupped cover all the way to Tungstar Mine. From there, we were able to stay on snow in one of the chutes up to about 13,000 ft, bypassing the loose crap the mountain is infamous more. The final scramble to the summit was snow-free and the rock more solid.

Getting to the trailhead requires sturdy 4WD with high-clearance. We piled 7 people in a Ford F-150 4x4 because that was our only vehicle that would make it all the way. Past the cattle guard the road gets really rough, and it's particularly horrendous in the last mile or so. I do not recommend anything less than a truck attempt getting to the end of the road.

I ended up starting from Pine Creek rather than Horton Lakes. Conditions were great with creek crossings manageable given good snowbridges. The terrain was harder than I expected, and gave me a good drubbing. I was jetlagged (came over from Europe a few days earlier) and getting over a cold - so decided to turn around right around the plateau before the final push to the summit. The talus was pretty awful.

Glad you made it down safely.

Did you reach the plateau that joins with the Horton approach?

Yes, even in the best of conditions, Mt. Tom is one huge sliding talus pile. I hate it. Two steps up, one step back.

I turned around ~200' below where the class 3 chute crested at the plateau -- felt really sick and knew it would be a mistake to continue. I'm glad that I did because it was really mentally and physically exhausting finding my way through the maze of talus, brush and snow to get back to the Gables Lakes trail.