Pingree Rosaco and Hyatt Lakes area, Emigrant

[d_silva1]

I think I've heard there is an area of wind fallen trees that make it difficult getting to one or the other of these lakes. Anyone have info on this?

Also, how hard is it to take the route over Rosaco Lake to Pingree? We do a lot of crosscountry in the higher Sierra, and have good navigation skills. But since we are having our packs dropped off at Pingree, it would be pretty essential that we were able to find Pingree from Rosaco.

[Carne_DelMuerto]

I can't speak to any tree falls, but navigating between Rosasco, Pingree, and Big Lake is very easy. Here's my TR from a few years ago:

http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... 50&p=45984

[balzaccom]

I agree. Pretty straightforward. Lovely granite.

[kpeter]

Here is another (my) trip report from two years ago. I found it quite straightforward getting from Rosaco to Pingree. Whenever you are off granite you are likely to find remnants of the old trail.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14590

Once you come through the notch SE of Rosaco there is a stretch of obvious trail down to a granite area that serves as the intersection of several trails/cross country routes. (The old trail coming down from Buck Meadow comes steeply down a set of ducks from the NNE into this same granite intersection.) I saw ducks scattered here and there but they were neither useful nor necessary at this point. You just head east across the granite and head uphill for the low point--which is Pingree. About half way up you will come to a very small outlet stream--if it has not dried up. I found it a nice musical accompaniment on my way in to Pingree. Once at Pingree there is a beautiful old woodsy camp on the northern shore, plus lots of other areas besides. That camp looks like it is one frequented by horse packers.

As for tree falls, I hiked south on the old stock trail from Buck Meadow to the granite intersection and up to Pingree in June of this year (different trip report. This is the way to Pingree that doesn't go via Rosaco.) That old stock trail had quite a few tree falls here and there, but nothing we couldn't get around--the trail does disappear here and there, but it is easy enough to pick up again. I presume if you are having packs dropped off at Pingree that the stock will come down that old route and perhaps the packers were referring to the tree falls there. It would certainly be an inconvenience for stock.

If you are having packs dropped off at Pingree, are you planning to hike all the way to Pingree on your first day?

[kpeter]

If possible, the moderators should merge these two duplicate threads.

[SSSdave]

Question: Who needs a use route in Emigrant glaciated granite landscapes?
Answer: A person without a topo or one that keeps it in their pack.

[Wandering Daisy]

That area of Emigrant is more than granite slabs. I did a trip early this summer, as well as many previously. The use-trails are faint in places, recent drought and bark beetle kill have laid down much more deadfall, and there is plenty of thick bushwhacking, tricky little cliffs, brush-choked lake shores, and micro-route-finding challenges. Getting to Hyatt Lake from the southeast is full of brush near the lake. I suspect the better route is from the west or southwest. When you are deep in the forest, navigation can be a bit difficult. It is not like the high Sierra.

I think the various opinions on difficult of travel depend on when the person went (if you have not been there in the last few years, or early season you really do not know what it is like now), season, and lucking out finding a good route. It is pretty easy to get off route and into some miserable stuff. More power to those who know or find the perfect route, but a lot of us mortals (who, by the way, are pretty good at maps and route-finding) run into stretches of difficulties.

The somewhat maintained trail in from the north will get you quite easily to Pingree. There is also a use-trail up to Rosaco from Cherry Creek if you cross about half mile downstream from the main trail crossing. Navigating to other lakes is not so easy.

[balzaccom]

Agree about Hyatt from Bourland, Daisy. If you miss that immediate and hidden Creek crossing and clmb to the Eastern shore, the bushwhack to the lake is miserable.

But from Rosaco to Pingree is a much easier kettle of fish...