Gentoo-California Ridge Hike

Girdwood-Gentoo-California Peak Ridge
August 30th, 2009
Mark Stevenson, Adam Lewis, Trond Jensen

On Sunday, August 30th, Mark, Adam and I tried to climb California Peak via the Southeast ridge and also the South ridge. On both routes we found ourselves cliffed out and decided to return the same way we had come (i.e. over Gentoo Peak, 4196 ft). The obvious route up to the saddle between California peak and Rubbletop Peak and then up the northeast ridge of California was left for some other time.

At the outset, Mark proves to be a real tree hugger.

No real Alaska adventure without some real bush-whacking.

Actually, there is now a very decent trail from the Califonia Creek trailhead up to the tundra below Gentoo peak. Presumably, this trail has been made by people hiking the Penguin ridge from Gentoo to Penguin Peak.

View from Gentoo Peak towards California Peak (left hand side of picture). The ridge traverses to sub-summits before terminating in the California Peak East ridge (our main objective of the day).

Along the way we saw several Mountain Goats such as this guy.

Eastward looking panorama from the summit of Gentoo. Left to right is Raggedtop Peak (5215 ft), Girdwood valley and Mt. Alyaska (4423 ft), and Turnagain Arm. In the background are the peaks of Prince William Sound.

Westward looking panorama from the summit of Gentoo. Left to rigth is Turnagain Arm, Penguin Ridge, Peak 4740, Bird Peak (pronounced summit pyramid in the ridght center of the picture, 5505 ft), California Peak (4974 ft), and Rubbletop Peak (4987 ft).