Mount Clarence King is a striking peak located along the King Spur in Kings Canyon National Park. It commands incredible views of not only the Sierra Crest to the east, but much of SEKI, from the Palisades in the north to the Kaweahs to the south.

According to the late RJ Secor, Mount Clarence King and its 5.4 summit block was the hardest summit in nineteenthcentury Sierra mountaineering. Even by modern standards, this mountain is no walk up. The peak is remote, the moves are exposed and the consequences are both high and apparent. The final 5.4 summit block requires a sobering mantle move while hanging over an 800ft+ sheer drop. Even with a rope the consequences of a fall could be high (though many people free solo this entire route without breaking a sweat).

This peak is also known for being one of the more technically difficult summits on the SPS list and is one of only fifteen Emblem Peaks in the Sierra, which is a designation reserved for peaks with noteworthy prominence in the local geography and outstanding summit views.

On this trip, we approached Mount Clarence King over Baxter Pass, travelled through the Sixty Lakes Basin, traversed the southern route ramp to the mountain's saddle, and ultimately summited via the South Face.

Also, as the garbage quality should reveal, all drone footage is old, random footage shot well before the National Park ban went into effect.

Finally, on this trip I teamed up with:

(1) @HikingNerd
   / @hikingnerd  

(Here's a link to Hiking Nerd's video of the same trip:    • The hardest rock climb of the 19th ce...  )

(2) @KarlSchmidt
   / @karlschmidt313  

Song:

The Beta Band Dry the Rain