Route Advice: Cross country North Lake loop
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 7:39 pm
Intro:
I have a permit for the North Lake trailhead on August 4
I'd like to travel cross country the majority of the time.
Just looking on comments if these seems too ambitious or feasible etc. as cross country stuff is difficult to predict pace and what not.
Any alterations you would make?
I would like to stay class 2 mostly but am comfortable with some class 3 stuff
I'm level ~3.5, good shape and what not.
I'm interested in seeing Ionian Basin but not real interested in camping there for long as its quite desolate and I do like those trees.
Potential Route
I've done the John Muir Trail section and while beautiful it's pretty crowded right in there and i'd rather avoid that.
And from what I can tell McGee Lakes look awesome. Leaning towards dropping down toward Colby meadows and going up McGee Canyon
instead of going to Lake Sabrina via JMT and cutting over.
Day 1
North Lake to Lamarack Col to Darwin Bench
Day 2
Darwin Bench to Mcgee Lakes
possible side trip to peak near emerald pass
Day 3
Mcgee Lakes to Wanda Pass to Ionian Basin to Lake 11939 near Black Giant Pass
possible side trip mt goddard
Day 4
Black Giant Pass to Echo Col to Echo Lake
possible side trip black giant, chardybis
Day 5
Echo Lake to North Lake
Can add an extra day somewhere for side trips
All approximate not set on camping at these specific places, very flexible.
A couple questions:
Snow on Lamarack and Echo Cols in early August? Prefer not to carry an ice axe. I'll be checking here for trail reports as time goes on and what not.
Would you climb Mt Goddard or the Black Giant or Chardybis? Or Black Giant and Chadybis? Or Goddard and Black Giant and Chardybis?
In Wanda Pass out Black Giant Pass? Or jump back on the JMT til Muir Pass and go over Black Giant pass and back out Black Giant Pass?
Is McGee Canyon used frequently? I found some info on it but not a whole lot. Just leave the JMT somewhere near Colby Meadows, cross Evolution Creek and head up canyon?
Thanks duds. I'll come back and post some nice pictures like all you guys so nicely have.
I have a permit for the North Lake trailhead on August 4
I'd like to travel cross country the majority of the time.
Just looking on comments if these seems too ambitious or feasible etc. as cross country stuff is difficult to predict pace and what not.
Any alterations you would make?
I would like to stay class 2 mostly but am comfortable with some class 3 stuff
I'm level ~3.5, good shape and what not.
I'm interested in seeing Ionian Basin but not real interested in camping there for long as its quite desolate and I do like those trees.
Potential Route
I've done the John Muir Trail section and while beautiful it's pretty crowded right in there and i'd rather avoid that.
And from what I can tell McGee Lakes look awesome. Leaning towards dropping down toward Colby meadows and going up McGee Canyon
instead of going to Lake Sabrina via JMT and cutting over.
Day 1
North Lake to Lamarack Col to Darwin Bench
Day 2
Darwin Bench to Mcgee Lakes
possible side trip to peak near emerald pass
Day 3
Mcgee Lakes to Wanda Pass to Ionian Basin to Lake 11939 near Black Giant Pass
possible side trip mt goddard
Day 4
Black Giant Pass to Echo Col to Echo Lake
possible side trip black giant, chardybis
Day 5
Echo Lake to North Lake
Can add an extra day somewhere for side trips
All approximate not set on camping at these specific places, very flexible.
A couple questions:
Snow on Lamarack and Echo Cols in early August? Prefer not to carry an ice axe. I'll be checking here for trail reports as time goes on and what not.
Would you climb Mt Goddard or the Black Giant or Chardybis? Or Black Giant and Chadybis? Or Goddard and Black Giant and Chardybis?
In Wanda Pass out Black Giant Pass? Or jump back on the JMT til Muir Pass and go over Black Giant pass and back out Black Giant Pass?
Is McGee Canyon used frequently? I found some info on it but not a whole lot. Just leave the JMT somewhere near Colby Meadows, cross Evolution Creek and head up canyon?
Thanks duds. I'll come back and post some nice pictures like all you guys so nicely have.