High Sierra Topix

maverick wrote:

She was addressing Rogue Tom.

Gotcha, thanks. I was scratching my head for a moment.

Rogue mentioned pterodactyl as easy, but it is all relative as I have seen it sketchy ice and snow. Dry, yeah its easy.

Cyclamen pass is another one I can think of that has been difficult and easy for me, depending on your route.

WD pointed out a while back that 10 ft to the right or left can be the difference between loose, solid, class 2 or class 4.

Route finding is paramount to go the path of least resistence. Also not being afraid to turn around is important. Passes that are listed as class 3 can become easy class 2 via routefinding.

There is an unnamed pass i have been using that again, is either scary loose ball bearing on slabs, or solid class 3-4 rock.

Deer Pass, near Mammoth Lakes, is very easy. You can make a nice 1-2 day loop along the Mammoth Crest by starting George Lake trailhead, and then using Deer Pass to connect to Duck Pass (which is trailed).

I didn't find anything difficult about Don't Be a Smart Pass. The NE side was about 95% snow cover but it was not steep enough to cause a problem. If it was solid ice then I'm sure you would need to cut some foot holds. The snow was a perfect quality to get solid footing without falling down more than once or twice . The SW side was an easy walk down. I only slipped and fell to the ground one time while staying on the snow.

So just to sum up what i have heard from people:

Obviously these passes can be harder or easier depending on route taken and snow level but this is our opinion and collective experience with them.

Rae col
North glacier pass
Knapsack Pass
Harrington Pass
Gimme Pass
Crabtree Pass
Coyote Pass
Black Giant Pass
Gabbot Pass
Goat Crest Saddle
Bighorn Pass
Pilot Knob Pass
Rockwell Pass
Grouse Lake Pass
Pterodactyl Pass
Don't be a smart Pass
Grey Pass
Red Pass
Mt. Shin Pass
Harrington Pass
Rockbound Saddle
Pass Between Tower lake and Helen Lake (Hoover)
South Ridge of Hawks Beak Peak (Hoover)
Deer Pass

is there a point to this thread? if you want to get somewhere, you do.

Rlown wrote:

is there a point to this thread?

b]Sierra_Summits wrote:[/b]
i appreciate any ideas as i would like to put together a list of easy cross country passes
as i know my knees are getting less reliable!

Russ,

As stated by the OP, he or she is looking for easier Sierra passes because of knee issues.

Ditto Cartridge. From the north that is...the south would be one nasty slug up hill...

rlown wrote:is there a point to this thread? if you want to get somewhere, you do.

Indeed wondered same. OP must mean cross country passes that have names else it is meaningless as there are myriad passes without well known names.

I would disagree the list above are all "easy", whatever that means. And on some if one does not route find correctly there is considerable opportunity to get into difficulty. Not all the difficulty on crossing a pass is right at the top (North glacier pass), A person with a "bad knee" carrying a weighty backpack is not going to want to have to monkey about in talus period regardless of how easy it might be for an ordinary backpacker.

Instead just go to this page and read information on each pass, take the links to look at the topographic map, and search this site and the web for more info. Then come back here and get specific info.

http://sierrabackpacker.com/sierrapasses-new.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Knapsack Pass in Kings Cyn NP. Not so difficult into a stunningly beautiful basin below the Palisades.

Main reason for posting: There's actually a pass named "Dont be a Smartass Pass??????" Gotta admit, I thought Rouge was just funning with us .