Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The Eastern Sierra's Five Fingers Traverse seemed like a brilliant idea.... until it wasn't.
We set out to create our own ridge traverse across all five granite “fingers” — a rugged and never before documented route with class 3/class 4 scrambling, unestablished class 5 lines and summit blocks, route finding, and unreal desert-to-alpine views.
This is not your typical Eastern Sierra hike. With no established beta for the exact route we attempted, we navigated challenging rock, technical terrain, and constantly changing conditions. Here's what went down and why opted to turn around.
There's a good reason that this is a hidden California hike...but don't worry, we're determined to come back and make a successful attempt when the time is right!
📍 Location: Five Fingers / Inyo Mountains near Olancha, California
🥾 Region: Eastern Sierra / Inyo County
#EasternSierra #HikingCalifornia #SierraNevada
The Eastern Sierra's Five Fingers Traverse seemed like a brilliant idea.... until it wasn't.
We set out to create our own ridge traverse across all five granite “fingers” — a rugged and never before documented route with class 3/class 4 scrambling, unestablished class 5 lines and summit blocks, route finding, and unreal desert-to-alpine views.
This is not your typical Eastern Sierra hike. With no established beta for the exact route we attempted, we navigated challenging rock, technical terrain, and constantly changing conditions. Here's what went down and why opted to turn around.
There's a good reason that this is a hidden California hike...but don't worry, we're determined to come back and make a successful attempt when the time is right!
📍 Location: Five Fingers / Inyo Mountains near Olancha, California
🥾 Region: Eastern Sierra / Inyo County
#EasternSierra #HikingCalifornia #SierraNevada
