Mazamas — For the Love of Mountains
Located in an ignored area of Oregon this is a walk up peak with minimal technical climbing skills needed. There is some 3rd class climbing along a moderately exposed ridge near the top. You will find views from Hood to Shasta on the roomy summit, but probably not too many other people.
Activity Notes
Celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of fall with a two-day climb of Oregon's rather reclusive Diamond Peak. At 8,750 feet high, this is the 11th highest mountain in the Oregon Cascades and the highest summit between Bachelor Butte (aka Mt. Bachelor) and Mt. Thielsen. Should we be fortunate enough, we will be able to see the last remnant of Diamond Glacier. We start our outing later in the morning of Saturday, September 23, at the Rockpile Trailhead (#3632), backpack in about 3 miles to Marie or Rockpile Lake or perhaps a small tarn higher up where we will camp (either at the lake or nearby) and enjoy a restful afternoon. We will start for the summit on September 24th early in the morning and once we return to camp, we pack up and head out to the trailhead. Rockpile Trailhead is about 190 miles from the MMC and takes about 4 hours to reach by automobile. This is a non-technical climb, but requires endurance, tolerance for scree, and ability to negotiate some third-class rocky areas. Participants should be in good condition.
| Other Information | |
|---|---|
| Driving Distance from Portland | 180 miles |
| Driving Time from Portland | 3 hours |
| Distance - Round Trip | 11 miles |
| General Route Info | Several trailhead options exist for the start of this climb, all to the south of Diamond Peak: Rockpile Lake (≈5200 ft elev.), Diamond Peak (5489 ft elev.) and the PCT at Summit Lake (5601 ft elev.). Amount of cross-country travel and distance to summit varies depending upon which TH is chosen. All eventually end up on the south ridge. Access to any of these trailheads is limited by snowpack. |
| Expected Duration | Car to car in one day |
| Relevant Books | 75 Scrambles in Oregon, Best Non-technical Ascents by Barbara Bond Climbers Guide to Oregon by Nicholas Dodge |
| Relevant Maps | USGS 7 minute series, Diamond Peak and Emigrant Butte. |
| Useful Links | GPS Track GPS Coordinates Map |
