Find Nearby Peaks

Climbing and access information for this peak, formerly Gooseberry Peak, is on Page 267 of the book. Livingston Douglas provided the additional comments and photos and Brett Sergenian provided his GPS track that you will find below. Updated November 2021

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Mount Darcy is a complicated summit located above Christian Gulch. I climbed it from Christian Gulch via the East Buttress/South Ridge route with Dana Hansen in 1991. The route is a bit roundabout, but enjoyable and challenging. Please note that there has been one fatality on this route when Michael Darcy fell during a solo climb in 2012. USGS Grouse Creek Mountain

Livingston Douglas provided the following comments on the route:

I repeated Tom Lopez’s first ascent route on Mount Darcy (the East Buttress/South Ridge Route) in 2014. The East Buttress is a bit testy and should not be taken lightly—it’s a full-on Class 3, perhaps even Class 4 to some (especially if you get off-course). The lower section of the East Buttress is a steep slab with minimal handholds. I friction-gripped it with my boots and had to sit down to descend it. The middle section of the East Buttress is a crumbly knife-edge that angles upward and to the right.

Thankfully, once atop this knife edge, the terrain is much easier, actually flattening out before a final, easy Class 3 face climb onto the South Ridge. The South Ridge is choppy but it goes as advertised (Class 3).  Stay to the left/west of the ridge crest to avoid any ridge difficulties. Remember that Michael Darcy, a careful and conscientious climber, took a fall about 300 feet below the summit on this very South Ridge and perished from his injuries. So watch your footing here.