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Fifth Canyon

California > Eastern Sierra > Bishop Area > Wheeler Crest

Description

The next major canyon north of Mayfield Canyon. There are 3 major formations in this section of the Wheeler Crest, with just a few known routes (including a winter ice/mixed route). The Rocketship, The Forgotten Tower, and The Space Needle (9600+) line the righthand side of the canyon in ascending order as one approaches.  

Getting There

Drive as for the Mayfield Canyon/Grey Towers approach, but go straight rather than make the final turn left to MC. Drive as far as your rig can comfortably go and hike the rest of the dirt road towards the mouth of the canyon. Explore the best approach roads with a high clearance 4x4 rig and by using Google Earth.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 18
● Milkylala - The Rocketship
Sport, Alpine 7 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Milkylala - The Rocketship
 18
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport, Alpine 7 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The Rocketship (center) and environs, Fifth Canyon
[Hide Photo] The Rocketship (center) and environs, Fifth Canyon
Fifth Canyon Stone. Rocketship in center with Forgotten Tower up and left
[Hide Photo] Fifth Canyon Stone. Rocketship in center with Forgotten Tower up and left

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Ben Horowitz
Bishop, CA / Tokyo, JP
[Hide Comment] Approach drive is vaguely Subaru-able (depending on your abilities, love of shoveling, and care for your car) as of 11/25/23, after lots of road maintenance near some washouts... Actual location of the formation is : 37.46226, -118.65432 Nov 25, 2023
Alex S
Bishop CA
[Hide Comment] The road is in decent shape as of Nov 24 some high clearance is still nice to have, and the dry stream crossings still have steep entrance and exit slopes.
Hiking up the canyon to the rocket ship formation took about 1 hour 40mins. the first bit of the stream is chocked with brush, but there were vague sandy hill side game trails to follow 50 to 100 ft above the stream bed on the north side. eventually the brush thins in the steam bed and it obvious to drop down and boulder hop your way up hill. a bit after the canyon take a sharp turn left thru a narrows after with its easy boulder hoping and barley any brush up to the formations. Nov 10, 2024