June is a fantastic month for mountaineering. While many Northern Hemisphere peaks are still covered in snow, the Intermountain West offers an ideal window to climb ultra-prominent summits. To make the most of this opportunity, I’m booking an affordable Lufthansa flight from Vilnius to Los Angeles. My goal is to ascend several of these impressive…
Trip: North America 2024
Mount San Antonio
I intentionally kept this peak as a backup for the trip since it’s relatively close to the airport. If I run out of time, I can save it for next time—it’s not going anywhere. I woke up early, a bit south of Bishop, and drove towards the Mount San Antonio trailhead. It was a bit…
Arc Dome
Arc Dome was on my to-do list last November, but too much snow and limited time got in the way. This time, I was determined to tackle it and add another ultra-prominent peak to my list. After finally hiking Arc Dome, I can say it’s a fantastic trek with lots of open space and stunning…
Wheeler Peak
There are 455 peaks in the world with 300 km or more isolation, and Wheeler Peak is one of them. It boasts over 2000 meters of prominence, nearly reaching 4000 meters, and features on at least 60 different peak lists. That’s the reward you get after climbing this majestic peak. But wait, there’s more! It…
North Schell Peak
Hurrying towards North Schell Peak, sunlight bounces off something in the distance. My brain screams “reflection,” but a nagging voice whispers, “roll down the window, buddy, is that thunder?” Turns out, the little voice was Einstein today. Another flash, then a rumble confirms it – storm’s brewing, maybe 6 km out by the sound of…
Bonneville Salt Flats
Until today, I’d only seen the vastness of the salt flats on a flat TV screen. This experience had always piqued my curiosity – I yearned to see, feel, and truly understand these unique places. Today, that day finally came. On my way from Flat Top Mountain to North Schell Peak, I stopped at the…
Flat Top Mountain
This peak wasn’t in my original plan. But again, I check my calendar, I check the map, and bang… I have time and there’s an unclimbed-by-me ultra-prominent peak in relative proximity. Such a coincidence. Of course, I find a way to the peak. At the trailhead, there’s a big parking area (no overnight stays mentioned…
Pilot Peak
This peak is officially my favorite of the trip. It’s remote, has challenging access, and is wonderfully wild. No real trails mar its landscape. The views are captivating, and it’s just hard enough to remember yet easy enough to conquer in a day. By my standards, it’s almost ideal peak. Getting to the trailhead is…
Mount Lewis
After an easy hike to Star Peak, I still have plenty of time and no plans for today. Consulting maps and satellite images, Mount Lewis looks like an easy target and is more or less on the way to Pilot Peak. Obviously, I head towards it and soon park on the unpaved roadside, not far…
Star Peak
Waking up in Reno and drove a couple of hundred kilometers to the geothermal plant. I then turned right onto a reasonably good unpaved road, which soon became steep and then even steeper. A few sections really required a high-clearance 4WD car. Although it’s not impossible with a mini SUV (I switched to manual gear…
Virginia Peak
Early afternoon, after a few hours’ drive from Mount Rose south of Reno, I approach Virginia Peak, northwest of Reno and near Pyramid Lake. It’s the second Ribu today. I drive up unpaved Microwave Rd., and the road name hilariously matches the warning sign at the top about potential radiation—maybe I’ll shine today like casino…
Mount Rose
Checking the calendar and map of the peak I want to climb, it becomes obvious that I have a buffer day. Since I appreciate the price and comfort of the casino hotel in Reno, I decide to stay an extra night. I plan to bag two Ribus and spend the rest of the time catching…
Mount Eddy
There are three ultra prominent peaks in relative proximity: Mount Shasta, Lassen Peak, and Mount Eddy. After a successful Lassen Peak climb, my attention turned to Mount Eddy. Like with most of the other peaks on this trip, there was a risk of being inaccessible due to snow. I gave it a try and relaxed…
Lassen Peak
At this season Lassen Peak is a bit of a lottery. It is high enough and far north enough to be covered in snow in mid-June. After reading some month-old reports, I concluded it was worth trying. It was still unclear how high I could drive or how much of the national park road would…
Telescope Peak
Last year, I aimed to hike Telescope Peak in November, but storms had closed the route a long time ago. This time, Death Valley National Park’s website says nothing about road closures. Time to try again! Mihai mentioned it hit 45°C in Death Valley last week, so I expect little snow on top. At the…
Frankfurt to Los Angeles
Grabbing a window seat means a chance to observe mountains on the way, and I won this mini-lottery today. It was a bit cloudy and misty over Greenland, and Canada, Montana, and Wyoming were also shrouded in mist. But once we reached Utah, Nevada, and California, I had the chance to glimpse canyons, ridges, and…