Route Climbed: Trail from Camp Sacramento Date Climbed: October 23, 2005
This was a tougher trail than I expected. Great views of Lovers Leap and Pyramid peak along the way. On the summit, an amazing view of Lake Tahoe and Desolation Wilderness. It was definently worth the trip.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: September 25, 2004
Good workout with not too many views for the first half but the end result is well worth it. On a clear day you can see Lake Aloha, Lake Tahoe, Echo Lake (Lower and Upper), and numerous lakes and peaks in the Desolation Wilderness region.
Route Climbed: Horsetail Falls, Lake in Woods to Echo Lk trail. Date Climbed: Augst 7, 2005
A hot long day, a great hike with great scenery. We exited Camp Sacramento which makes for a great loop hike. Lunch at Lake in Woods with a cool swim was a welcome respite.
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: July 2001
Climbed with my wife, Amy, and our dog CJ. Found out Amy was deathly afraid of heights when we topped out on the rocks. Thought I was going to have to carry both of them back to the car. It was very hot that day.
Route Climbed: East Ridge and Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: 1990's
Use to ascend in winter and summer when I lived in Incline Village. Horsetail Falls is my faviorite part about this whole area.
Mosquitos don't do well at Tahoe elevation, but for like 4 weeks, watch out up at these lakes. We camped along Lake Aloha and got nailed one year. I remember that like it was yesterday. Cheers!
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: 23 Jan 2005
It was a very warm sunny day with no wind at all. The views where really cool because Tahoe was completely covered in fog due to an inversion. The snow coverage was good and I used snow shoes all the way to the top.
Route Climbed: SW Ridge and E Ridge one time Date Climbed: Numerous times in the 1980s until present
For the least amount of effort, Ralston has one of the best views of Desolation, the Echo Lakes region and peaks to the south. Its wind-blown summit has sculptured some grotesque looking trees. I have climbed it dozens of times in the summer and snowshoed many times in the winter.
Route Climbed: Ralston Peak Trail Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2004
Nice peak with great views. I didn't know much about this peak other than the trailhead was off of US-50 and the summit trail was named after the peak. I was pleasantly surprised on my first, albeit unintentional, visit to the Desolation Wilderness.
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: June 15, 2004
Climbed up the East Ridge during a week of fieldwork in the Desolation area. Started from the Echo Lake parking lot and descended the NE rib to Ralston Lake and the PCT. Lots of class 3, and not a few tourists. No Juniperus occidentalis on the East Ridge!!! ^$%#^&!!!
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: June 13, 2004
The southwest ridge trail seems quite popular and was easily accessed from HWY 50 and made for a moderate half day hike. Funny how Ralston is such an unassuming peak but has such stunning views.
ckerth - Feb 27, 2006 7:47 pm Date Climbed: Feb 26, 2006
Southwest RidgeHad a great time snowshoeing to the top. It was very windy towards the summit though. Nice views of Desolation and Tahoe.
Sierra Scrambler 30 - Oct 23, 2005 8:29 pm
Route Climbed: Trail from Camp Sacramento Date Climbed: October 23, 2005This was a tougher trail than I expected. Great views of Lovers Leap and Pyramid peak along the way. On the summit, an amazing view of Lake Tahoe and Desolation Wilderness. It was definently worth the trip.
mparker - Oct 13, 2005 1:31 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: September 25, 2004Good workout with not too many views for the first half but the end result is well worth it. On a clear day you can see Lake Aloha, Lake Tahoe, Echo Lake (Lower and Upper), and numerous lakes and peaks in the Desolation Wilderness region.
ClimbingJunkie - Aug 31, 2005 8:12 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: August 31 2005Climbed with my 11 year old son. Good day hike. A must for anyone who just wants a good workout and a view!!
Richard McJagger - Aug 16, 2005 9:00 pm
Route Climbed: Date Climbed: Summer 2003From Lake of the Woods, on the trail along the ridge from the North.
DaveWillmott - Aug 9, 2005 12:34 pm
Route Climbed: Horsetail Falls, Lake in Woods to Echo Lk trail. Date Climbed: Augst 7, 2005A hot long day, a great hike with great scenery. We exited Camp Sacramento which makes for a great loop hike. Lunch at Lake in Woods with a cool swim was a welcome respite.
davis13 - Jul 31, 2005 9:22 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: July 2001Climbed with my wife, Amy, and our dog CJ. Found out Amy was deathly afraid of heights when we topped out on the rocks. Thought I was going to have to carry both of them back to the car. It was very hot that day.
bbirtle - Jul 7, 2005 1:02 pm
Route Climbed: From/To US Route 50 Date Climbed: Sept 26, 1999Uncrowded, fine weather, fine view from the summit -- especially to the rugged wilderness to the North.
Dow Williams - Jun 26, 2005 1:11 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge and Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: 1990'sUse to ascend in winter and summer when I lived in Incline Village. Horsetail Falls is my faviorite part about this whole area.
Mosquitos don't do well at Tahoe elevation, but for like 4 weeks, watch out up at these lakes. We camped along Lake Aloha and got nailed one year. I remember that like it was yesterday. Cheers!
Eric L - Jan 27, 2005 11:29 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: 23 Jan 2005It was a very warm sunny day with no wind at all. The views where really cool because Tahoe was completely covered in fog due to an inversion. The snow coverage was good and I used snow shoes all the way to the top.
Matthew Holliman - Nov 18, 2004 9:25 pm
Route Climbed: Traverse from Echo Peak over to Talking Mtn/Becker Peak Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2004Fun hike/scramble/bushwhack around Echo Lakes: Flagpole Pk-Echo Pk-Ralston Pk-Talking Mtn-Becker Pk.
tahoeberne - Aug 13, 2004 10:36 pm
Route Climbed: SW Ridge and E Ridge one time Date Climbed: Numerous times in the 1980s until presentFor the least amount of effort, Ralston has one of the best views of Desolation, the Echo Lakes region and peaks to the south. Its wind-blown summit has sculptured some grotesque looking trees. I have climbed it dozens of times in the summer and snowshoed many times in the winter.
John - Aug 8, 2004 1:03 am
Route Climbed: Ralston Peak Trail Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2004Nice peak with great views. I didn't know much about this peak other than the trailhead was off of US-50 and the summit trail was named after the peak. I was pleasantly surprised on my first, albeit unintentional, visit to the Desolation Wilderness.
ScottyS - Jun 18, 2004 3:12 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: June 15, 2004Climbed up the East Ridge during a week of fieldwork in the Desolation area. Started from the Echo Lake parking lot and descended the NE rib to Ralston Lake and the PCT. Lots of class 3, and not a few tourists. No Juniperus occidentalis on the East Ridge!!! ^$%#^&!!!
chskier - Jun 13, 2004 9:04 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Ridge Date Climbed: June 13, 2004The southwest ridge trail seems quite popular and was easily accessed from HWY 50 and made for a moderate half day hike. Funny how Ralston is such an unassuming peak but has such stunning views.
ed james - Feb 28, 2004 4:37 pm
Route Climbed: Ralston Peak Trail Date Climbed: January 31, 2004Great snowshoe ascent in the winter with fantastic views of Desolation Wilderness and Lake Tahoe.
derbilly - Feb 24, 2004 3:16 am
Route Climbed: South Slope Date Climbed: January 25, 2003Nice snowshoe trip with excellent views.
Dave K - Nov 14, 2003 12:04 am
Route Climbed: Main Trail Date Climbed: January, 2001Fun snowshoeing trip to the top!
steeleman - Nov 13, 2003 11:20 pm
Route Climbed: "Ralstonia" Bowl via Baldy, Traverse to Echo Peak Date Climbed: April 2003Click here for the trip report.