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Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:01 am
by peninsula
Been a long time since posting at this site. For some reason or other, I had trouble logging in and thus my prolonged absence.

I am preparing to leave for my annual Sierra backpack adventure in another couple of days. I have always had my eye on Lamarck Col and figured this is as good as any time to go for it. I plan to go over Lamarck and come back via Snow-Tongue Pass after spending time exploring the area. I'll spend a night or two in Humphreys Basin before exiting via Piute. I'm shooting for Muriel Lake in Humpheys unless others suggest better alternatives. I'm in this for the fishing and photography. And I'm interested particularly in any feedback regarding Snow-Tongue.

Thanks

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:55 pm
by maverick
Very steep and tricky loose rock, Snownymph has a TR with pic's of the pass.
Why not Packsaddle Lake Pass which is easier and then you can visit Lake 11236 area
which is quite pretty with great views to the south towards Evolution, Emerald Peak
and Le Conte Divide.
It has been a long time since your Dumbbell Lakes trip.

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:24 pm
by peninsula
maverick wrote:Very steep and tricky loose rock, Snownymph has a TR with pic's of the pass.
Why not Packsaddle Lake Pass which is easier and then you can visit Lake 11236 area
which is quite pretty with great views to the south towards Evolution, Emerald Peak
and Le Conte Divide.
It has been a long time since your Dumbbell Lakes trip.
Good suggestion, maverick. Packsaddle does look to be an easier route over Glacier Divide, but I do not intend trekking as far west as either the pass or Lake 11,236. However, if I do change plans depending on how the trip unfolds, I'll definitely keep Packsaddle in mind.

I plan staying on Darwin Bench for as many as three nights. My next destination figures to be Lake 11,092, which is why Snow-Tongue makes for a more convenient location even if it is a bit more of a talus/boulder slog. I wanted to have at least two nights in Humphreys Basin.

Read your TR and see you made Dumbbell! Good for you... sounds like a great trip. It has been a long time since my Dumbbell trip. I'm very much looking forward to getting back into the Sierra. This will be my first September trip in all the 20-plus years I've been exploring the eastern escarpment.

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:43 pm
by maverick
Planning to visit the 4 lakes west of the Mt.Goethe's ridge/shoulder?
They have some great views up McGee Canyon from that area!
Since your spending 3 days on the Darwin Bench I can see why Snow-Tongue
is more convenient for you to exit over Piute.

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:00 pm
by peninsula
maverick wrote:Planning to visit the 4 lakes west of the Mt.Goethe's ridge/shoulder?
They have some great views up McGee Canyon from that area!
Since your spending 3 days on the Darwin Bench I can see why Snow-Tongue
is more convenient for you to exit over Piute.
You got it. I'm looking to check out the lakes to the east of Mt. Goethe as well. I have not been in this area since the 80's... I am anticipating some awesome views. I'll never forget camping at Evolution Lake near the outflow looking out over the valley.

I'm carrying 10.1 pounds of camera gear. Fishing is also a priority.

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:04 pm
by giantbrookie
maverick wrote:Since your spending 3 days on the Darwin Bench I can see why Snow-Tongue
is more convenient for you to exit over Piute.
I'd guess the fact that Snow Tongue is convenient to keep the fishing focus on certain spots (11236 doesn't have fish) probably factors into the route choice decision. I'd might be inclined to do the same (although I can think of one reason to "swing west" via any of the three western Glacier Divide Passes: Packsaddle, Lobe, and whatever they call the one NW of 11236).

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:17 pm
by peninsula
giantbrookie wrote:
maverick wrote:Since your spending 3 days on the Darwin Bench I can see why Snow-Tongue
is more convenient for you to exit over Piute.
I'd guess the fact that Snow Tongue is convenient to keep the fishing focus on certain spots (11236 doesn't have fish) probably factors into the route choice decision. I'd might be inclined to do the same (although I can think of one reason to "swing west" via any of the three western Glacier Divide Passes: Packsaddle, Lobe, and whatever they call the one NW of 11236).
I take it Lobe Lakes have fish??

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:32 pm
by maverick
What camera gear are you hauling along on your trip?
I bought a new camera 2 months ago but have not been able to get out with it yet
because of illness in the family.
Hopefully I'll get out this month.

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:43 pm
by peninsula
maverick wrote:What camera gear are you hauling along on your trip?
I bought a new camera 2 months ago but have not been able to get out with it yet
because of illness in the family.
Hopefully I'll get out this month.
Nikon D700 camera with two backup batteries. Lens: 17-35 mm wide angle zoom lens and 60 mm macro. Two Singh-Ray NDG filters. Kasemann heliopan circular polarizer. B&W Pro UV filter. Gitzo G1058 graphite tripod with a Giottos MH 1302 ball-head. Tamrac Digital Series holster camera case.

Re: Snow-Tongue Pass

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:23 pm
by giantbrookie
peninsula wrote:I take it Lobe Lakes have fish??
I believe they do, as does Packsaddle, I believe, but neither of those are priority spots (ie places with large fish), so far as I can tell. It is safe to say that if you stick to your original game plan you will likely see some very nice sized goldens, rainbows, and hybrids . Muriel, by the way, is not a bad spot, in that it has both brookies and goldens of decent size (appear to run to a shade over a foot), but it doesn't have the really big fish that lurk in a few of the lakes. The flip side is that smaller fish also mean more fish; some of the so called premium spots in this region have low enough population densities that many visitors think they're fishless.