mineral king

[maverick]

Hi Tomal,

Welcome to HST! Please read: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205

[Wandering Daisy]

I did a end of September loop in Sawtooth and out Franklin Pass (3 days); probably would reverse that if I did it again. Also a 4-day loop Fourth July; Farwell Gap, Silver Lake, Franklin Pass and out. A cornice blocks the trail over Franklin Pass early season. I climbed the cornice (had an ice axe). Both trips I had plenty of time to take photos and enjoy myself. The nice thing about a shorter trip is that your food weight is less.I have not done timber Gap-Blackrock.I did not think Sawtooth Pass was that bad. It was at the end of the season, and I was in great shape, and my pack was really light. The Farwell Gap trail was in poor condition - lots of recent avalanche debris.

I disagree that going long distances each day is miserable or you cannot also enjoy yourself. Personally, I like crack-of-dawn starts, long-mile days and do not mind big elevation gains. I carry a 20-22-pound pack for a 3-4 day trip. PS, age has little to do with this- I am old. If this is your style, neither pass out of Mineral King will be a big deal.

You can also get to Little and Big Five Lakes via Crescent Meadow. On a 6-day (6/24-6/29 2014) trip we started at Crescent Meadow, then to Hamilton Lake- Nine Lakes Basin- Little Five Lakes - return via Tablelands (cut off the Elizabeth Pass trail to Peradctyle Pass, and out to Wolverton (shuttle bus back to Crescent Meadow). This was a very scenic route. We also had time for several little day-hikes- upper lakes in Nine Lakes Basin, Big Five Lakes, lakes towards Blackrock Pass. The pace was rigorous, but I never felt overly rushed.

PS. It takes nearly an hour to get up to Mineral King. Coming from the Sacramento area, this adds nearly 2 hours before starting on the trail. There is a ranger station at Mineral King and you can get permits there, if you get there before closing time.

[maverick]

The OP has not indicated their experience level, or how many miles a day they can do, and more importantly, how many days is the trip planned for. The OP may have never done a couple of thousand of feet in a day, at altitude before.
Maybe it would be more prudent that we wait till the OP provides us with some more information about themself, before making any specific recommendations.

[tomalbritton]

Any thoughts, suggestions about going over glacier pass and then xcountry to black rock pass?

[Gazelle]

Personally I think the old trail to glacier pass is the way to go but as Maverick said the trail is kind of cross country and should be consider off trail. From there one can go to Hands and knees pass or black rock pass once again Hand K is potentially class 3 and black rock is still some cross country to reach from spring lake but you can see black rock trail from spring lake. What hiking experience do you really have???

[tomalbritton]

I would classify myself as intermediate to experienced. Not expert. Most recently did off-trail in the Sawtooths last summer (we're from Alabama) but the topography there lends itself to easy route finding. Wasn't a big deal. Am taking 19 year old son and three friends with me and my son is as experienced as I am. He's hiked his whole life and with me.