Whaleback | Climbing A Remote Peak in Kings Canyon National Park

This trip was a 4 day/3 night adventure deep into a remote part of the Sierra, in Kings Canyon National Park. We hiked from Marvin Pass to the Roaring River Ranger station, then slept at Cement Table Meadow. The next mourning we made our way into Big Wet Meadow and Cloud Canyon and up the East side of Whaleback mountain (11, 722 ft.). After summiting Whaleback we went to Colby lake and made camp. The next morning we climbed Colby Pass (12,000 ft.), which sits on the boundary between Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park. After looking over the pass and at the Great Western Divide we started the journey back out the way we came, sleeping that night at the Roaring River Ranger's station. In total we covered about 55 miles with ~12,000 ft of vert.

Whaleback is unique because it is about 25 miles from any trail head, making it one of the most remote peaks in the Sierra. It is difficult enough (mostly route finding and some 3rd class scrambling), to keep away climbers who haven't studied the beta. The first ascent of the summit was made August 5, 1936, by May Pridham and Adele van Loben Sels.

Whaleback is not the hardest or tallest mountain I've ever climbed; but it is probably the most remote peak I've ever bagged and was a fun challenge.

Info about Shorty's Cabin: Shorty Lovelace was a trapper who spent his winters traversing the high Sierra trapping beaver, marten, fisher and other animals for furs between 1910 and 1940 in what is now Kings Canyon National Park. When the Park was established in 1940, Shorty moved his trapping range to the Sierra National Forest. He built many small cabins between the 1940s and 1960s that he stocked with supplies to support his travels.

My gear: https://lighterpack.com/r/4q6nbx

00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Marvin Pass Trailhead
02:57 - Camping at Cement Table Meadow
04:41 - Big Wet Meadow: First View of Whaleback
05:46 - Shorty's Cabin
07:12 - Climbing Whaleback
10:11 - Summit of Whaleback
11:05 - Descending Whaleback
11:41 - Camping at Colby Lake
12:08 - Climbing Colby Pass
13:13 - Top of Colby Pass
14:23 - Heading to Roaring River Ranger's Station
15:01 - Camping at Roaring River Ranger's Station
15:40 - Heading out to Marvin Pass
17:23 - Back at Marvin Pass Trailhead