Aperture Peak

Overview

Aperture Peak is a dramatic crag rising from the headwaters of Big Pine Creek, near the Palisades in the eastern Sierra Nevada.

The Peak was first ascended in 1934 by David Brower and Hervey Voge.

Outstanding views are afforded from the top of the Palisades area, and the surrounding Bishop Pass area. There is no easy route to the summit, the standard route being steep Class 3.

Getting There

Primary access is from the Bishop Pass or North Fork Big Pine Creek areas.

To get to Bishop Pass: take Highway 168 West out of Bishop towards Lake Sabrina/South Lake/Aspendell. After ten miles or so, take the signed turn of for South Lake. Take this road until it ends, and hike the Bishop Pass Trail up to Bishop Pass.

To get to the North Fork of Big Pine Creek: take Glacier Lodge Rd out of Big Pine up towards the Big Pine Creek Recreation Area. The road dead ends, and then take the North Fork of Big Pine Creek Trail up to the numbered Lakes at its headwaters.

Red Tape

All overnight use in the John Muir Wilderness requires a permit from May 1-November 1. Permits are issued on a quota basis, with 60% of the quota space reservable in advance, and 40% available on a walk-in basis.

Info is here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/permitsres.shtml

There is no red tape on day use.

Camping

There is fine camping near any of the numbered lakes up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek.

There is excellent camping at Bishop Pass (the lake just SE of the pass has a number of previously impacted campsites).

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Images

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