Dorothy Lake Pass area (Hoover/Yosemite/Emigrant intersectio
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:26 pm
Hi,
I came through Dorothy Pass many years ago on the PCT, and have always wanted to return. We stopped at Bonnie Lake, just off-trail (gorgeous).
We'd like to return to explore these lakes (Dorothy/Bonnie/Helen area). Also, I've always wondered about the high lake country in the southeastern section of Emigrant Wilderness, and that could be a logical add-on.
Route advice please? Here are some parameters:
Intermediate-advanced backpackers
OK with class 2/3, but prefer a "mostly trail" trip this time, some easy x-country good
SCENERY is #1 priority.
Prefer high country, alpine lakes, and eastside desert walking.
Want to avoid "long viewless forest slogs" or cow country. (We remember Walker Meadow as cow country, would not want to linger there if still true.)
We don't fish.
8-12 miles/day on-trail, 5-8 off-trail.
4-5 days.
Willing to do shuttle-trip.
For trailheads, my first wild guess would be that we start at Leavitt Lake (it's closest to our destination, and it's high elevation which we like), and hike out Buckeye Flat (we thought it might be a pretty eastside desert hike?). There are also some longer entries, e.g. Sonora Pass (been there), or Twin Lakes via Buckeye Pass/Peeler Lake. Leavitt Meadows we heard is a relatively viewless slog, but correct me if you feel otherwise. Yet another option we heard about is to start our trip with a x-country entry into Blue Lake/Deadman Lake, joining the PCT above Deadman.
Very best lakes in the Bonnie/Helen/Dorothy area?
Very best lakes in southeastern Emigrant Wilderness?
Is Tower Lake worth an extra day's hike out of our way? We probably wouldn't climb Tower Peak.
Blue Lake/Deadman entry, that would add a day. Worth it? How difficult is the x-country?
What are we missing?
What is overrated?
Sample itinerary:
Day 1 - Leavitt Lake to High Emigrant Lake or Grizzly Meadow
Day 2 - Some kind of loop around a bunch of lakes in SE Emigrant Wilderness
Day 3 - Hike to Dorothy/Bonnie/Helen area, explore
Day 4- Out via Buckeye Flat
Thank you in advance!
Elizabeth
I came through Dorothy Pass many years ago on the PCT, and have always wanted to return. We stopped at Bonnie Lake, just off-trail (gorgeous).
We'd like to return to explore these lakes (Dorothy/Bonnie/Helen area). Also, I've always wondered about the high lake country in the southeastern section of Emigrant Wilderness, and that could be a logical add-on.
Route advice please? Here are some parameters:
Intermediate-advanced backpackers
OK with class 2/3, but prefer a "mostly trail" trip this time, some easy x-country good
SCENERY is #1 priority.
Prefer high country, alpine lakes, and eastside desert walking.
Want to avoid "long viewless forest slogs" or cow country. (We remember Walker Meadow as cow country, would not want to linger there if still true.)
We don't fish.
8-12 miles/day on-trail, 5-8 off-trail.
4-5 days.
Willing to do shuttle-trip.
For trailheads, my first wild guess would be that we start at Leavitt Lake (it's closest to our destination, and it's high elevation which we like), and hike out Buckeye Flat (we thought it might be a pretty eastside desert hike?). There are also some longer entries, e.g. Sonora Pass (been there), or Twin Lakes via Buckeye Pass/Peeler Lake. Leavitt Meadows we heard is a relatively viewless slog, but correct me if you feel otherwise. Yet another option we heard about is to start our trip with a x-country entry into Blue Lake/Deadman Lake, joining the PCT above Deadman.
Very best lakes in the Bonnie/Helen/Dorothy area?
Very best lakes in southeastern Emigrant Wilderness?
Is Tower Lake worth an extra day's hike out of our way? We probably wouldn't climb Tower Peak.
Blue Lake/Deadman entry, that would add a day. Worth it? How difficult is the x-country?
What are we missing?
What is overrated?
Sample itinerary:
Day 1 - Leavitt Lake to High Emigrant Lake or Grizzly Meadow
Day 2 - Some kind of loop around a bunch of lakes in SE Emigrant Wilderness
Day 3 - Hike to Dorothy/Bonnie/Helen area, explore
Day 4- Out via Buckeye Flat
Thank you in advance!
Elizabeth