High Sierra Topix

I went over Lamarck Col last year on July 12, and was able to stay on rock to the left of the snowfield all the way up. It did not seem strenuous or scary to me, but I was not carrying a backpack! There's a picture on my trip report here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13122&p=98461 .

tie wrote:There's a picture on my trip report here:

Thank you very much for your reply, and I've read your trip report with interest! Actually your picture of the ridge is the one that I go back to and think, "that ice field looks steep!" It's a relief to know that you avoided it altogether. Of course the snow field will probably be different this year.

Could you (or anyone else viewing) answer a question: Where on the ridge is the Col? I've found another post putting it at the green arrow, but I wish I could know for sure in advance. It's getting over or under that hump of rock between the two arrows that scares me. So, green arrow, or red arrow, or neither!?

The Col is the green arrow. Check out this page, it has pictures with routes drawn in: http://www.scaruffi.com/travel/evolut.html

tie wrote:Check out this page

Thank you. That is the trail description I saw but wanted to double check.

jawcar, I'm pretty sure the col is not the green arrow, nor is it the red arrow shown in the photo above. See my attached photo from late summer 2006 for the location of the route.

In answer to your question that started this thread: yes, by all means go for it -- your group should be up for the challenge. The route up to Lamarck Col from Upper Lamarck Lake is heavily used and there is a well defined trail most of the way. Once you locate the very good switchbacks that head up the shoulder SE of Upper Lamarck Lake and into the sandy slope of the cirque that terminates at the col, the route is easy to follow. To the left of the tarn below the snow field is a well defined rut in the snowfield. Follow it to the break in the ridge and you will see the sign marking the pass.

Mike

Mike has the correct area for Lamarck Col, though the red arrow is close too, the gps coordinates are 37.1904900, -118.6673300, you can see the passes location on the ridgeline compared to where the small lake is at the bottom of the screen shot taken on Google Earth.

Lamarck could use a profile in the Info Booth for anyone so inclined to do so.

I've done the loop you refer to. I agree with sssdave, 4 days is short time. Getting to Darwin Bench in one day is too much. Darwin bench is beautiful and an area you could explore for a full day. Evolution Canyon was beautiful, but I zoomed through it when i was there in July due to swarms of mosquitos. The hike from Evolution Canyon into Humphries basin was long and hard. Humphries basin is incredible with so much to see and explore. If you do this in 4 days you will be rushing.

I recommend hiking in over Piute Pass and exploring Evolution Basin. You could easily spend a week there. You could also do a much more manageable loop from there by going over the cross country pass Carol Col and over into French Canyon and then around Pilot Knob and back into Humphries Basin.

I'm sure you will enjoy whatever you decide!

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maverick wrote:you can see the passes location on the ridgeline compared to where the small lake is at the bottom of the photo taken on Google Earth.

Thank you again for your reply, Maverick. It makes sense to me that it would be as far left as you and Mike indicate. And google earth shows a use trail descending to the west from that point.

Now if only I could have a good report of the condition of the snowfield right before we set out....

6/1/2016
Follow the converging lines to the pass - boot tracks and ski run. This corresponds exactly with Mike M's yellow line just to the right of the "mini Muir hut" shaped rock. Bonus: you can see the same pyramid shaped rock in the foreground, as well as jumble of rocks on the left at the start of the ascent in both photos: