Best 5-night backpacking trip?

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by maverick »

Hi JT

Sorry, but me no say visit Timber Gap.
I recommended going up to Columbine from Spring passing Cyclamen's on it's
eastern side, so the OP could visit/camp at the Columbine area which he would miss
if going over Glacier.
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by Cross Country »

Sorry about that. I read your entry July 27 which recomended Timber Gap and missed a later entry. I still like my route but you're route is probably better. Nevertheless isn't my pic of Mike really cute?
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by maverick »

Yeap, and a great big smile too!
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by Cross Country »

I finally have a BP pic of Mika as an adult (26yo) at my fovorite lake.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
adornowest
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:54 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

trip reprot

Post by adornowest »

We just got back from our trip. Maverick -- thank you so much for all your help. We had a great trip thanks to your advice. Our route:

Day 1: Franklin Lakes
Day 2: Little Claire (unfortunately altitude sickness dissuaded us from going to Amphitheater Lake)
Day 3: Big Five (with a swim at a tarn in route)
Day 4: Little Five incl 10410, Spring Lake
Day 5: Spring Lake to Columbine and out over Sawtooth Pass

I highly recommend this route. There was a nice variety of scenery, which generally gets better throughout the trip, and every night ended at a beautiful lake. Once past Franklin Lakes and while east of Sawtooth we hardly saw anyone and had all camps to ourselves. One of the most beautiful areas was between the Little Five trail junction and Lake 10410, and our favorite camp ground was Spring Lake. I also think that Cyclamen is quite beautiful, especially from its shore gazing up at the rock wall. We didn't find the social trail between Cyclamen and Columbine, but had a great time finding our own route up the east side. And skiing down the west side of Sawtooth was incredible fun. My only regret is that we didn't get to Amphitheater and that we didn't have a little more time to get to the Nine Lakes Basin, which seems like it is an easy strike from the Little Five.

Thanks again, maverick, your advice really helped us fine tune this trip and made it great! Instead of going up Sawtooth, we came down. (Incidentally, the descent from Franklin Pass is wonderful.) Instead of wasting a day via the Timber Gap, we had a great time climbing between the lakes. Instead of hanging out at the Little Five trail junction we explore 10410! Thanks again!
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by maverick »

Your quite welcome, and looking forward to helping out on your next trip if you need it!

PS You are going to post a full TR with pic's, right?
User avatar
adornowest
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:54 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by adornowest »

Yes, I will post a TR with photos once the official photographer sends me some photos.

Incidentally, how much more difficult is a class 3 pass then the Cyclamen to Columbine portion? We met the ranger as we descended Black Rock, and if I understood her correctly, she seemed to imply that Glacier Pass was easier than Spring to Columbine (maybe she meant less effort than Spring to Sawtooth?). For Cyclamen to Columbine, we climbed straight up a seem on the NE side, and then just contoured around. The only tough part was crossing a large boulder field right before the pass to Columbine, much of which was covered with snow, which meant only the huge boulders were above snow line, necessitating some taking packs off and the like to wedge ourselves up them.

I ask because I'm trying to calibrate what I am willing to do on future trips. This was no problem -- I never felt my life was in danger.
Last edited by adornowest on Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by maverick »

The Cyclamen to Columbine is a low class 2 route.
Some cross country passes are rated right on, and some are off, but at least
you'll know the approx difficulty level when planning.
Some are difficult because of steep icy, some for steep/endless talus, others
steep/endless scree, some a mix of the two, others for there endless boulder
fields, and then there are those that you need very good route finding skills to
avoid cliffs and drop offs with a mix of the above thrown to spice up your life.
If you have a particular route in mind, ask about it, and I am sure you will get
some feed back on this site that will help you plan a safe trip.
User avatar
giovanni
Topix Novice
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:34 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by giovanni »

maverick, i'm considering a trip from mineral king but settling for a shorter loop due to time constraints. which of these two loops would give me more interesting scenery?

1. timber gap to pinto lake, little five lakes and then looping around to columbine lake and sawtooth pass

or

2. starting by going down towards franklin lakes/pass and again looping again through the columbine lake and sawtooth pass section
User avatar
adornowest
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:54 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: Best 5-night backpacking trip?

Post by adornowest »

Franklin Lake was the only campsite we shared with others, and it was quite a crowd. It also struck me as in a way the least impressive of the lakes, partly because it is formed by a man-made dam. Perhaps the higher lake is a better place to camp if you don't mind even higher elevation your first night. Little Claire is a beautiful lake with great camping, but much of the route on either side of it is routine. I'd opt for the greater diversity of the Little and Big Five. The country around the Little Five (for instance, on the way to Lake 10410) definitely deserves exploration -- I thought it was the best of the trip.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 153 guests