High Sierra Topix

If you where NOBO and had to choose either Muro Blanco or Arrow Creek/Basin which would you take and why?

My experience on Arrow Creek was one of my best (and I really had a lot) -- great views, a real feel of remoteness, fishing (there might still be footballs in the large lake). I can't say anything good about Muro Blanco.

jthomascarter

Have you hiked Muro Blanco?

Arnot's High Sierra book states that if headed NOBO it will take 2-1/3 to 3 days to complete.

I was reading older posts regarding Muro Blanco and it sounds like a few of the members/moderators have been through the canyon. I sure would like to hear some first hand accounts.

Both are great, though I would prefer to descend MB if I had a choice.
Both will offer complete solitude, especially Arrow Lakes Basin.
You will be stuck on one side of the river when doing the MB, and there
is a lot of bush to get through especially at the bottom section.
MB has some pretty meadows that come to life in early summer with
wildflowers, and creeks coming from higher lake basins above MB can
put on quite a show, as can the river it self.
ALB is really nice, with quite a few pretty little lakes scattered around in
it, also some pretty falls/cascades on the way up from PV.
Be forewarned that the skeetrz are horrendous in ALB, so be prepared!
If I had to choose it would be ALB.

By NOBO do you mean northbound?

I have been down Muro Blanco and it is a classic bushwhack. I was there in late August 1986. The river was low enough so I could cross safely when I needed to avoid particularly gnarly terrain -- you just have to be prepared to get your boots wet. The descent is not steep. From the junction of the JMT with the south fork of the King's River, it took one long day to get down to Paradise Valley. Even that late in the season I ran into some snow bridges. It is a dirty, dusty hike towards the bottom and not all that scenic in terms of expansive views.

Never been up or down the Arrow Creek drainage but that looks fun and doable.

Mike

If you go down Arrow Creek be sure to read about it in the Secor book. You don't want to hike all the way down the creek. It's difficult class 3. Secor describes the best rout (relatively easy class 2).

MAV,
It sure would be nice to have one early freeze to get rid of those bloodsuckers. Sept doesnt seem to be to bad...

The more I read the more I’m leaning towards ALB. The TR’s sound very appealing and positive. Most accounts of hiking Muro Blanco seem to be southbound, while ALB seems to have a good amount in both directions.

Mike M,
Yep, I’m looking to hike north bound.

Thanks everyone for your input, it is much appreciated

Secor's book just shipped today, looking forward to reading it, several times!

Muro Blanco is an exceedingly difficult canyon. Rocks, potentially high water, bushwhacking...

I'm not sure what would motivate either choice- there are so many great routes and life is short, why end up having to choose between these, both iffy (with MB upstream super-iffy)? There are so many quality routes from just about any entrance I'm curious why it comes down to these only?

I may as well add my $00.02 worth. Go ahead and go down the Blacno. Depending on the time of year, don't expect it to be a fun trip. Here is the story of my hike down the Blanco:
http://www.doylewdonehoo.com/ctcc/ctcc44.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I would much rather explore Arrow Creek, starting from Bench Lake, then over to Arrow Creek, and exiting to the south in the basin drainage west of Window Peak. I scouted most of the last part of the route and it is very do-able.