McGee Lakes - Davis Lake; Goddard Creek Pass - Beta?
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 11:59 pm
Using Maverick's "Suggestions for Requesting Trip Advice," I'd describe myself as a Level 4 and my partner on this trip as barely a level 3, but quite fit. Looking to avoid Class 3 terrain and hoping the Class 2 isn't too exposed. I've done a ton of searching and reading on these forums, as well as referring to multiple maps and Secor's book. There are two areas I can't seem to find much specific info on:
1. The pass between McGee Lakes and Davis Lake
2. Goddard Creek Pass (between Martha Lake and Ionian Basin)
Does that mean that these are relatively straightforward and inconsequential pass crossings? (Obviously any pass can become more serious with inclement weather, but otherwise...) Any info on that would be much appreciated. Also, if you feel like looking over my itinerary and letting me know if you think my mileages are reasonably close to reality, that would be helpful too. Eventually I'll plot this on NatGeo's TOPO! program, but haven't gotten to it yet.
Incidentally, Secor includes a decent amount of detail on Goddard Creek Pass, but he tends to "sandbag" non-climbers with brief, down-played descriptions, so I'm looking for opinions from mere mortals.
We'll be doing this hike during the first week in September. We plan to leave a car at South Lake and start at North Lake.
Day 1: North Lake Trailhead to Lower Lamarck Lake; over Lamarck Col, down Darwin Canyon to Darwin Bench [7 - 8 miles?]
Day 2: Descend to Evolution Valley and take JMT north about 1.5 to 2.0 miles to the east end of McClure Meadow; make a “difficult crossing” of Evolution Creek (might not be too difficult this year, with so little snowpack); go south and ascend McGee Canyon to McGee Lakes [4 - 6 miles?]
Day 3: Head south over “Pass 11,720+” to Davis Lake; cross from S shore to N shore at eastern peninsula; from Davis Lake’s outlet, go southwest and then south, following a bench at about 11,200’ and then climbing to another bench between 11,400’ and 11,600’ to the small lakes that lie about 1.0 mile NW of Mt. Goddard and about 0.8 mile N of Martha Lake [5.5 - 7.0 miles?]
Day 4: S to Martha Lake, then E over Goddard Creek Pass to Ionian Basin; make camp at the lake immediately SE of Mt. Goddard (I haven't had a chance to check exact elevations of unnamed lakes yet); ascend East Slope of Mt. Goddard if time and weather allow [3.5 - 4.0 miles?]
Day 5: Move camp to the lake immediately N of Scylla; ascend Northwest Slope of Scylla [3.5 - 4.0 miles?]
Day 6: Move camp to easternmost lake in Ionian Basin; ascend NE Ridge of Charybdis and West Slope of Black Giant if time and weather allow [3.5 miles to lake? Additional 3.0 – 4.0 miles to ascend peaks?]
Day 7: Cross Black Giant Pass N to JMT; S on JMT to Little Pete Meadow [7.0 - 8.5 miles?]
Day 8: S on JMT to Le Conte Ranger Station; hike Bishop Pass Trail to upper Dusy Basin [5.0 – 6.5 miles?]
Day 9: Cross Bishop Pass and exit at South Lake TH [6.0 – 7.5 miles?]
Oh and one more thing: Are there decent campsites at (or near) the lakes that I've mentioned in Ionian Basin? Most of the photos I've seen of the area make it look like the whole basin is just a sea of talus!
1. The pass between McGee Lakes and Davis Lake
2. Goddard Creek Pass (between Martha Lake and Ionian Basin)
Does that mean that these are relatively straightforward and inconsequential pass crossings? (Obviously any pass can become more serious with inclement weather, but otherwise...) Any info on that would be much appreciated. Also, if you feel like looking over my itinerary and letting me know if you think my mileages are reasonably close to reality, that would be helpful too. Eventually I'll plot this on NatGeo's TOPO! program, but haven't gotten to it yet.
Incidentally, Secor includes a decent amount of detail on Goddard Creek Pass, but he tends to "sandbag" non-climbers with brief, down-played descriptions, so I'm looking for opinions from mere mortals.
We'll be doing this hike during the first week in September. We plan to leave a car at South Lake and start at North Lake.
Day 1: North Lake Trailhead to Lower Lamarck Lake; over Lamarck Col, down Darwin Canyon to Darwin Bench [7 - 8 miles?]
Day 2: Descend to Evolution Valley and take JMT north about 1.5 to 2.0 miles to the east end of McClure Meadow; make a “difficult crossing” of Evolution Creek (might not be too difficult this year, with so little snowpack); go south and ascend McGee Canyon to McGee Lakes [4 - 6 miles?]
Day 3: Head south over “Pass 11,720+” to Davis Lake; cross from S shore to N shore at eastern peninsula; from Davis Lake’s outlet, go southwest and then south, following a bench at about 11,200’ and then climbing to another bench between 11,400’ and 11,600’ to the small lakes that lie about 1.0 mile NW of Mt. Goddard and about 0.8 mile N of Martha Lake [5.5 - 7.0 miles?]
Day 4: S to Martha Lake, then E over Goddard Creek Pass to Ionian Basin; make camp at the lake immediately SE of Mt. Goddard (I haven't had a chance to check exact elevations of unnamed lakes yet); ascend East Slope of Mt. Goddard if time and weather allow [3.5 - 4.0 miles?]
Day 5: Move camp to the lake immediately N of Scylla; ascend Northwest Slope of Scylla [3.5 - 4.0 miles?]
Day 6: Move camp to easternmost lake in Ionian Basin; ascend NE Ridge of Charybdis and West Slope of Black Giant if time and weather allow [3.5 miles to lake? Additional 3.0 – 4.0 miles to ascend peaks?]
Day 7: Cross Black Giant Pass N to JMT; S on JMT to Little Pete Meadow [7.0 - 8.5 miles?]
Day 8: S on JMT to Le Conte Ranger Station; hike Bishop Pass Trail to upper Dusy Basin [5.0 – 6.5 miles?]
Day 9: Cross Bishop Pass and exit at South Lake TH [6.0 – 7.5 miles?]
Oh and one more thing: Are there decent campsites at (or near) the lakes that I've mentioned in Ionian Basin? Most of the photos I've seen of the area make it look like the whole basin is just a sea of talus!