Lee Vining

Two obscure classics, Red Rocks prolific first asc...

Description 

Lee Vining Cascade is a great ice climbing area that is located just outside of Mammoth. There are plenty of routes to climb, from single pitch to three pitch classics such as Chouinards, Spiral Staircase, The Heel Toe, and the Bard Harrington. The area recieves shade pretty much all day and starts forming usaully aroung Early November.

You can go online and type in Lee Vining ice conditions for weekly updates on how fat the ice is. The website is Sierra Mountain Guides and they post conditons for all of the classic routes. It will also tell you how to drive in from where ever you may be. There are a few nice little places in town that you can rent rooms for reasonable prices. One is called Murphys' which I usually prefer because you can get a room with three beds for about 40 to 60 bucks. Make sure you tell them your there to climb because they give ice climber discounts!

Getting There 

Lee Vining Cascade is located in the town of, you guessed it, Lee Vining. You can get exact directions on Mapquest.

Featured Route For Lee Vining

Main Line WI3-4  CA : Lee Vining : Chouinards

The main line is the most left ice line on the most shaped up part of the wall. You can climb variations to start the route or end it, as with many of these climbs. ...[more]

Add Photo Photos of Lee Vining

Dave Sorrick below Spiral Staircase in mixed condi...	Tomas Huber rockin' out at the world famous Lee Vi...	Lee Vining ice. Feb 2008. Bard-Harrington out du...