Woods Lake Basin to Baxter Lakes Basin cross country

[RollingTree]

Anybody have any feedback on the Woods Lake to Baxter Lakes cc, (i.e. Sawmill pass to Baxter Pass cc), over Baxter Peak, (or perhaps even Grasshopper Pass -t though it seems the N Baxter ridge is safer)? Only info I've found is Secor's minimalist info and good detailed (now updated) info from the guy who documented the "Southern Sierra High Route."

http://www.adventurealan.com/southern-s ... shr-guide/

Besides the direct route over Baxter, I'm also curious about the possibility/rating/difficulty of following the ridge line between Baxter peak and Baxter Pass.

Of course the snow makes the likelihood of simply retreating to an on trail alternate JMT/Woods Creek crossing route a distinct possibility this year, since I won't be equipped w/ crampons/ice axe, though I'll try to shoot for August ish to give it a chance.

Bruce

[maverick]

Hi Bruce,

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

[RollingTree]

Adding the relevant data to my original post per Maverick's suggestion:

Level of backpacking experience - Level 4 - Comfortable with trail and/or x-country travel.
Terrain comfortable with - Some class 3 with minimal stretches of exposure, but not extended class 3. No class 4. Steep snow (i.e foothold chopping required) for only very minimal sections/preferably no steep snow, no significant head walls. Prefer avoiding extended unpredictably unstable scree slopes (finer sandy consistently predictable loose slogs okay). Any arduous but stable suffer fests okay (long stretches of boulder hopping, sand slogs, extended 4 point class 2-3ish scrambles. Route finding that is an extraordinary challenge to avoid straying into class 4 undesirable.
Bruce

[maverick]

You can stay class 2 on both routes, Grasshopper Pass or Baxter Ridge Route. After ascending the southwest slopes of Baxter from the lakes, west and below Baxter's summit there is a chute that leads down and places you onto the north ridge, descend to the saddle east and above the southern end of Stocking Lake. Continue in a northwestern direction to another large chute (steep and loose) and head north on the ramps above the lake, stay above the lake and shoot for the outlet stream which you can follow north using an old trail.

PS Here are two reports, with pictures that can give you the lay of the land and route ideas:
http://peaksforfreaks.blogspot.com/search?q=baxter
https://kathywing.smugmug.com/Californi ... /i-7m7KP3T

[RollingTree]

Thanks Maverick. From photos and reports I'd gotten the impression Grasshopper was class 3 on the N side, but that would be the more direct route. Which route did you find to be safer on the N side...Grasshopper Pass or via the Baxter N ridge?
Bruce

[maverick]

Sorry Bruce, but gave more info than usual, my policy is not to elaborate on specific routes in detail, it takes away from the true adventure spirit becoming a crutch to some and not allowing one to develop a free and independent mind. Folks who indicate Level 3 and above should possess the skills and navagational acumen to solve most routes and if someone is over their head I will let them know.

[RollingTree]

I'm very late on this, but here's a bit of data from my N to S crossing of Baxter Peak, Woods lake to Baxter Lakes from mid Sep 2017 since there's not a ton out there on this. Figured I should give back a little since this site provides so much useful info. Much thanks for that!
As I noted in my orig post, Alan Dixon's Southern Sierra High Route provided the only N side crossing data I could find, and it proved good.

http://www.adventurealan.com/southern-s ... shr-guide/

Re: My curiosity regarding Grasshopper Pass (the saddle between Acrodetes and Baxter): It looked sketchy. Just found a post in this thread (Jul 14, 2016), on it as well:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/top ... /#comments

Re: My curiosity regarding ridge line Baxter peak to Baxter Pass: Blatantly clear even from a distance when seeing on site that the N section of ridge approaching Baxter Peak is prob at least class 4 plus minimum. Continuous razor like and very convoluted.

Expanding upon the "Southern Sierra High Route" documented above (read first). The couloir / gully and short stretch of talus leading up to it is all quite steep and loose, but after the first 100' or so firm rock walls lining the couloir provide hold security much of the time. Care certainly required, but okay if one is comfortable in steep, loose scrambling. May be challenging if not comfortable on such w/ a pack. The ridge is relatively easy but a long slow (large/stable) talus scramble. The last stretch of the ridge before the summit gets very steep, but still large blocks and stable. Straight up ridge, (or more accurately a few feet left), is clean/good class 3 climbing w/ some exposure, but not bad at all (if you're comfortable climbing). Nothing excessively challenging in hindsight, but that depends on individual comfort levels. Personally I'm much more comfortable w/ stable class 3 and some limited exposure than loose stuff. YMMV. Mentally taxing though... especially going solo. Some early morning ice glazing added a bit of challenge/stress in my case. The above noted journal recommendation was to bear right of the last stretch of steeper ridge up another couloir (if I remember correctly), but that route was snow covered in early Sep this year when I hiked it.

Secor (author of the High Sierra) mentions Grasshopper Pass over the saddle W well below Baxter, but as typical w/out much detailed explanation, and not sure if he actually traveled that route, and of course his abilities/perceptions tend to high bar. Though much much shorter / more direct, It would definitely be less interesting, and very possibly more sketchy. It looked extremely steep, (and prob loose and hairy?), from below, but looking at it later from above looked more feasible(maybe??). Prob all depends on if stable or loose.

Alternatively, taking the ridge all the way up from Sawmill Pass is the obvious route by map, but looked like it might have problematic sections...hard to tell. Prob why Mr Dixon above recommends the couloir.

Baxter peak proper is actually another several hundred yards directly E up a gently rising talus stretch, which I didn't bother with.

The S side is relatively less challenging, fairly straightforward, consistently medium angle, stable, large talus slope, but very long / slow / arduous / tiring talus hop of an hour plus minimum.

Here are a few photos and a short vid:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brucelemo ... 886448474/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brucelemo ... 886448474/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brucelemo ... 886448474/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brucelemo ... 886448474/

Bruce