14 Aug 25 - Trip/Conditions Report: Bishop Pass/Mt. Agassiz West Slope

Staff member (and trained photographer) Marion (@minntucker) took some of her time off this week and went up to Bishop Pass and Dusy Basin with the objective of summitting Mt. Agassiz via the West Slope. A great beginner alpine scrambling adventure for those of any skill level! Read below for all the details.

Trip Report: 

Current As Of: 14 August 2025*

Activity During Report: On and off trail hiking, Class 2-3 alpine scrambling (depending on route used)

Trip Information:

I set out from the South Lake trailhead (9,768’) in late afternoon of August 13, enjoying the cooler weather brought on by an earlier thunderstorm. My intention was to camp overnight in Dusy Basin, just beyond the highest point of Bishop Pass (11,972’) and summit Mt. Agassiz (13,899’) the next morning.

It’s approximately 5.6 miles to get from the South Lake parking lot to the top of the pass, over a well defined trail whose biggest challenge is the +2,000’ of elevation gain, particularly the final set of steep switchbacks crawling up to the top of the pass.

Running alongside Long Lake, Saddlerock Lake, and Bishop Lake, there are plenty of opportunities on the trail to refill and filter water before crossing the pass. Arriving at Dusy Basin, I found a spot to set up my tent not too far from the base of Agassiz and close to a lakefed stream. The Basin offers plenty of places to camp, with beautiful views of peaks in every direction.

With a small daypack and a bottle of water in tow, I left camp around 7am, opting for a chute on the southwest side. The first section featured a lot of loose, kitty-litter scree that made for slow uphill progress. The scree eventually became larger talus blocks, including some fairly vertical sections that required more technical movement. I enjoyed the thoughtfulness of this route and found the quality of the granite made for excellent sticky smearing, but would not generally recommend this route because of its more technical nature. I wore a pair of La Sportiva Jackals just like the ones we sell here in the store.

My approach for the ascent popped me out on the ridge line above Agassiz Col. Traversing the ridge to the summit made for some fun scrambling over big talus and offered great views before getting the full panorama at the summit. The summit itself offers gorgeous views in all directions, particularly stunning views of the Palisades and surrounding lakes. If you’re traveling in a group, there are plenty of spots to sit and hang out before making your descent. The summit can/register was there so be sure to sign it to commemorate your summit and share a joke from your day with following groups.

For the descent, the route following a chute on the west side is pretty much a straight shot down and is the easiest and most direct option. The first section leaving the summit involves scrambling over large talus blocks. Some basic route finding is required, but the talus felt firm and secure. The talus eventually becomes smaller, looser rock, with some patches of dirt that make for slightly less secure movement. There are some patches of snow in the chute, but none that gets in the way of the route itself.

It took me 4 hours to ascend and descend, which worked out perfectly with my goal to be off the peak before noon. The Sierra is prone to afternoon storms, so it’s highly recommended to start early when trying to tackle any summits. Overall, I appreciated the “choose-your-own-adventure” options offered by Mt. Agassiz and liked the chance to engage with some more technical scrambling. For those looking to keep their hike in the lower classes, sticking completely to the traditional banana-shaped chute on the west side is a solid route option. I encountered several parties making their way up this route as I was descending.

Back at the base, it’s a simple hike back to the South Lake trailhead, made much easier by being mostly downhill the whole way. With an early enough start, it’s more than doable to summit car-to-car in a day. For those looking to experience a Sierra summit or getting into peak bagging, Mt. Agassiz is an approachable place to start so give it a look!

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Views of the lush greenery and majestic granite along the Bishop Pass trail en route up to the pass itself

A starry night in Dusy Basin!

Looking down at Bishop Pass as Marion starts up the west slope of Mt Agassiz

Further up the West Slope looking back down at Bishop Pass

Epic summit views from Mt Agassiz into the Palisades 

Panorama shots into the Palisades from the summit

An elusive Pika in its native habitat - gotta love the Sierra!

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