Leavitt Peak (11,570'), south of Sonora Peak

Hike: Carson Iceberg Wilderness

Date: 11/6/99
With whom: solo


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St. Mary's Pass to Sonora Peak

Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 9427' to 11459'

the view to the south from the St. Mary's parking area sign at the trailhead the hills along St. Mary's pass

I woke up this Saturday morning at 6am and couldn't go back to sleep like so many of the previous nights since the time change. I didn't have anything planned and all my friends were busy so I hopped on the internet to find a hike, something new and adventurous. I finally decided on Sonora Peak, which is in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness just north of Yosemite. I left at about 7:15am. It was a 4-hour drive, but I didn't mind; I like driving.

a view of Stanislaus Peak (11,233') through St. Mary's Pass one of the first views of Sonora Peak after coming through the pass the pathless route to Sonora Peak

I called the Summit Ranger station after they opened up at 8:00am to make sure the drive and trail was open and to find out the weather conditions (my backup plan was to go to Yosemite). The ranger said that the road and trails were open with only a light dusting of snow on the northern slopes (he had hiked to Sonora Peak just a few days earlier). I asked him what the temperature was and he said it was 30 degrees at the station and would be 9 or 10 degrees at the summit. I was a bit shocked, but I was somewhat prepared for cold weather having brought my Patagonia capilene underclothes, fleece, and shell. As it turned out, he must have been talking about the overnight temperature or the temperature at that very moment because by the time I reached the parking area, it was in the low 60s. It was a beautiful drive up and I enjoyed carving up the uncrowded, twisty mountain roads with my Z. At first, I missed the turn into the parking lot, which I only realized after I passed the sign that said "Sonora Pass." I turned around and eventually found the dirt road which took me to the dirt parking area.

As I began hiking, the thinner air was noticeable. I'd normally be attacking the trail at a rapid pace, but I had to take it easy and even take breaks because of the altitude. Fortunately, this was a very short hike distance-wise. Most of the grass was brown and dry, but there was a little stream of water running down beside the trail. As I made it through the pass, there was the "dusting" of snow to which the ranger referred. Stanislaus Peak was very distinct (I considered hiking over to it after completing Sonora Peak, but ended up not doing that so I could get back to the city sooner).

a view from 300' below the summit of the mountain range to the south talus slope up first view of the summit
view from the summit of Leavitt peak and surrounding mountains view of Stanislaus Peak from the summit of Sonora Peak a picture of me at the summit
a 360 degree view from the summit. Leavitt Peak left, Stanislaus Peak center.
Leavitt Peak and surrounding range the summit of Sonora Peak
me again the summit of Sonora Peak in the foreground and Leavitt Peak in the background view to the east from the summit
view of Stanislaus Peak from near the summit of Sonora Peak view from back down at the pass view of Stanislaus Peak from the pass
who is this guy? Leavitt Peak viewed from the return hike on St. Mary's pass hills to the west of the pass
Leavitt peak Leavitt peak

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