7/5/2024 Route: West Ridge from Noname en route to Ruby Posted On: 7/7/2024, By: supranihilest Info: From our camping meadow in Noname we departed south towards lake 11,754 north of the Twin Thumbs. A good trail on the east side of the creek quickly petered out and the bushwhacking began. We crossed the creek at about 11,020 feet and bushwhacked up steep slopes to the southwest. All manner of willows, downed trees, and other tall plants impeded progress but once above treeline the route to the Twelve/Monitor saddle is obvious and easy on nice tundra. The ridge up to Twelve is mostly Class 2 with a short little Class 2+ down climb and Class 2+ final climb to the summit. The rock near the summit isn't the best but the scrambling is easy enough it doesn't matter. We descended back to our packs at the saddle then took the obvious trail down into Ruby Basin. That trail also eventually peters out, though it looked like there were two trails, one on either side of the basin. The terrain from the upper saddle is steep and the trail is all kitty litter so it wasn't too enjoyable with a heavy pack. We camped at the meadow at about 11,600 feet which had access to Ruby Creek. However, beware there are active marmots here. One chewed a hole in my tent and shredded Whiley's sleeping bag and sleeping pad, munched on her brand new pack, and cut a couple of Jeremy's tent guy-lines. |
