"After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, which is the most horrible thing in the world."
--Oscar Wilde on Absinthe
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Travissmith2251 - Aug 14, 2023 11:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2023
PLEASE HELP ANSWER A QUESTION University Peak Summit Register 6/25/23To my fellow mountaineers
My friend and Derek were climbing the peak on June 25th 2023 When we split up do to me being hesitant on the final push up the north face. Somehow on the summit plateau he took a fall from the summit plateau and lost his life that day. I was able to make it down and things have definitely been hard on me mentally for the last couple months but I have been managing. I was wondering if you happen to see summit register and possibly have a picture of the logs in the future can you contact me. I have been unsure if he summited and it would help a lot if i were to know if he summited or not. His name was Derek Thoele and it would have been on 6/25/23. Thank you all very much and please always remember to stay safe out there. "Getting to the top is optional, getting back down is mandatory." You can reach me on this but probably better on a call or text or email. (831)236-5215 travissmith2251@gmail.com
-Travis
Update 9/24- I found out though another climber that indeed he did make it up to the top and I do find a lot of solace in the fact that he had some time of pure bliss up there at the summit and was able to accomplish his goal before everything happened. Another climber was able to retrieve his ice axe up there and return it to us and that means the world to me as well. If any items are found up there again I would gladly pay for it to be shipped out. Thanks everyone -Travis
Rockawilliam - Jul 30, 2023 10:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2023
North FaceHiked up to the last tarn the night before and found a descent place to put up a tent for one. The next day, started on snow and jumped onto the rock rib. Was thankful to find a few cairns along that got me up to the summit ridge. A small exposed icy snowfield near the top required me to chop a few steps in. The views were outstanding. Descended down into Center Basin for my East Vidette climb the next day.
soowmmit - Aug 2, 2021 8:50 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2021
via north faceStarted from Onion Valley and summited via North Face route with some 4th class scrambling added in for adventure. Great views. Endless descent.
WayneFry - Jun 22, 2021 11:34 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2021
North FaceFrom Onion Valley climbed the north face route. Ascent was pretty straight forward. Things got a little more interesting and fun near the top. Firm snow and we had to poke around a bit to find the right summit with the registry box. Perfect weather and hardly any wind. We stayed up there about 30 minutes and headed back down the same route. Lots of loose scree and talus. Not nearly as fun :)
wmolland - Aug 12, 2020 7:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2020
From University PassA slog the final 750' to the pass and lots of sand from there to the top. Not terrible hard, but not the most enjoyable either.
Travissmith2251 - Aug 23, 2019 10:10 pm
SummitSecond attempt.
LincolnB - Sep 20, 2018 8:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2014
From University PassMy third and final (alternate) peak from Burd's 2014 Challenge
Diesel - Jun 29, 2018 7:34 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2018
From Kearsarge Pass TrailI intended to hike University Peak via University Pass, then come down and hike independence Peak. However, I realized that I could do a loop, which is a more attractive event. I went up Kearsarge Pass Trail about .5 mile passed Gilbert Lake, and then cross country to the base of the mountain. Solid ledges and then solid rocks to the notch. Due to some snow at the top, I could not find the easy way/ traverse of reaching the summit. I eventually reached the summit from the East. Going down to University Pass I was shocked to see how difficult that is going up. Why that route is the most popular one to get to University Peak baffles me. First of all, the trail to Robinson Lake is not fun, from the lake to University Pass is an infinite moraine, the pass was full of snow, but I imagine when the snow is gone to be full of scree. From the pass to University Peak is notching but scree. As far as I am concerned, the North ascent is the way to go.
Romain - Oct 31, 2017 2:38 pm Date Climbed: Oct 30, 2017
North FaceNorth face ascent. The descent turned into a kind of ordeal. We had planned to descend the SE ridge and then down University Pass to Robinson Lake and Onion Valley. We made it to the correct gully, but it was filled with iced up snow. Lacking ice gear and not wanting to climb back up the endless sandy slopes to the summit to descend the North Face route, we dropped into Center Basin and rejoined the JMT to the Kearsarge Lakes basin, and then up and down Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley, which we reached at 9 pm. Ugh. Trip report
CWessels - Aug 16, 2017 11:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2017
North Face/RidgeSeemingly hundreds of different route options on this face; can keep it class 3 for almost the whole way, and some opportunity for class 4 towards the top if you stay to climber's right (on the ridge, essentially). Rocks were solid. Long and good scramble.
oliverkalt - Apr 24, 2017 4:22 pm Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2017
N-face skiingExcellent ski tour. Had the whole gamut of conditions, high icy, then wind pressed, then corn, then slush
mengbo - Oct 8, 2016 1:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2016
via University Passuneventful. solo day hike.
tonyo - Aug 22, 2016 10:49 pm
North FaceFun climbing once out of the loose rock. University Pass decent not fun.
CameronGround - Jul 13, 2016 2:05 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2011
North FaceGood class 3 scramble with a pretty short approach, and really nice plunge stepping down the sandy east slope.
jdmorehouse - Sep 27, 2015 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2015
North Face Up, Uni Pass DownUp the North Face, down University Pass. Danger from loose rock and random rock fall on the ascent.
MaverickMerk - Aug 9, 2015 3:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2015
via North face/ribStayed on the rib all the way to the summit ridge. Made a mistake and traversed to the south instead of climbing directly up and towards the peak on the ridge. Found some unnecessary exposure to the south of the ridge... best to just stick to the top of the ridge, varying your route to the north of the ridge when necessary. Beautiful view from the top... perfect day. Found some decent screeing on the way down sticking well left of the rib.
SkyPilot84 - Sep 7, 2014 1:55 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2014
North FaceI dayhiked up the north face from Onion Valley. The lower part of the north face was not much fun, but it got better as I got higher. There were cairns everywhere along the summit ridge, and I confusedly climbed the wrong summit block at first but eventually found my way.
labgloves - Aug 25, 2014 8:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2014
Day 7, 2014 SCI climbed the wrong chute going toward university pass and ended up quite close to university peak. On a whim, I decided to hike to Bago, then out by the trail to OV.
farristj - Aug 11, 2014 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2007
university peak day hikevery steep climb. very rocky. brought ice cream to the lake nice treat.
colinr - Jul 25, 2014 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2014
up University Pass to Summit with return via Center Basin, JMT, & Kearsarge PassLong dayhike from Onion Valley. Started late from O.V. due to thunderstorms. Started up to Robinson Lake, but stopped for nearly an hour in the forest to wait out additional hail, rain, and lightning. Scrambled up University Pass, got snowed and hailed on some more, then summitted mostly in nice sun. Headed down to unnamed lake in Center Basin, cleaned up while enjoying views, then headed down to the JMT where I finally encountered other people. The stretch along Bubbs Creek, Vidette, and up to Bullfrog Lake was scenic for ordinary trail walking. Headed out from Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley under starlight.