North slope from the East : As described at Summitpost.org: Above Red Lake, the route is generally either strewn with large boulders, or steep and loose with lots of sand and rock ready to rain down on anyone below you. You are best to choose those areas that have vegetation or more solid rock, though this is only found in the section immediately above Red Lake.
Depending on the snowfall for any given year, and what time of year you climb, you will find varying degrees of snow in the upper canyon. In either case, it is easier to climb to the right of the headwall where the route is less steep and shorter. If you enjoy climbing snowy couloirs, you can find these to your left. Some are more than class 3, so be careful! Secor rates the route up to the North Slope from the east as class 3, but in a dry year in August, we found it no more than steep and loose class 2. Once you reach the top of this ridge, you might be surprised to find you are not on the Sierra Crest, but on a NE ridge leading up to it. Follow this ridge to the crest, then climb the seemingly endless boulders on Split Mtn's North Slope to the summit. Many of these boulders are loose, so caution is advise, particularly since you're likely to be tired at this point.
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Trailhead:
Getting to Red Lake Trailhead may be the most difficult part of climbing Mt. Tinemaha. You will need a high clearance 4WD vehicle. In addition, be prepared for scratched paint as the road is narrow and overgrown in some portions and the desert shrubs will add some nice pin-striping to your vehicle if you come into contact with them. The usual route to drive to the Red Lake trailhead is to turn west on Crocker Street out of Big Pine off Hwy. 395. The drive from Big Pine to the trailhead will take approximately one hour. Comprehensive directions can be found at: http://www.climber.org/DrivingDirections/redlake.html
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Difficulty:
Class I when no snow- Go early season like we did for a more adventurous alpine experience.
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Aesthetic Rating:
Spectacular views
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Distance:
3.6 miles to Red Lake and 2.0 miles to the summit.
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Type:
Overnight
