Harrison Pass - TR

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!
quentinc
Topix Expert
Posts: 890
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:28 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Los Angeles

Harrison Pass - TR

Post by quentinc »

Since I've gotten some requests for more photos of the Harrison Pass area (from the recent thread on "backcountry conditions"), I figured I should do a brief trip report. Last weekend I did a 3-1/2 day trip from Onion Valley > JMT > Forester Pass, then cross-country over Harrison Pass to Lake Reflection, and back to Onion Valley via Junction and Vidette Meadows.

As others have noted, the skies have been quite clear for the first time in a while. Even though I've been by Bullfrog Lake maybe 30 times, the view of East Vidette (and Deerhorn) always amazes me.

Image

The route from the JMT just south of Forester towards Lake South America affords some nice views, at least when done cross-country:

Image

A good view of the Kaweahs:

Image

Looking north (Mt. Ericson rt.) from the unnamed pass leading into the upper Kern basin:

Image

This brings me to the Harrison Pass photos I posted on the backcountry conditions thread:

Image

Image

I was about to turn around before I discovered a plausible route to the south (left) of the snowfield:

Image

The view north from Harrison Pass (Deerhorn Mt. rt.):

Image

This is the second stage of the descent from Harrison Pass. I'd forgotten how much talus there was -- it was all talus going through the basin above this too:

Image

Still, I was happy I hadn't come down Lucy's Foot, which I did about 15 years ago and said never again. This is from the north, and it doesn't even begin to capture the mayhem of refrigerator-sized rocks coming loose all around you:

Image

I made it to Lake Reflection that evening; here is a picture from the next morning:

Image

Bubbs Creek was amazing. Just a short way off the trail, this cascade was like my very own mist falls:

Image

Also, the wildflowers were the best I can remember for late August.

Image

Image
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by Cross Country »

That was great. Thank you. Thank you. When I saw Harrison from below (long ago), I made note. Years later from the South I chose Lucy's foot because Harrison looked so mean from afar. I obviously choose wrong. I though that I might die or be injured coming down LF. Lucy's foot is nasty coming down on the North side. I was alone. Looking back on this experience it was great, only because I made it. Also I was probably not in danger because there a man following me. I didn't know this, but he did. We camped together at the lake just below the pass and at the end of the trail from below. We had a good fish dinner that night. Backpackers really are the good guys.
User avatar
gary c.
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1479
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:56 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Lancaster, CA

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by gary c. »

Beautiful pictures, especially that one over Bullfrog Lake.
"On this proud and beautiful mountain we have lived hours of fraternal, warm and exalting nobility. Here for a few days we have ceased to be slaves and have really been men. It is hard to return to servitude."
-- Lionel Terray
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by Cross Country »

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, sort of. I like the one from Reflection way better. Bullfrog is easy, Harrison and especially LF are not. Each to his own. I taught art and yet I'll take substance over esthetics(?) anytime, but of course that's just my point of view.
User avatar
Snow Nymph
Founding Member
Posts: 2042
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 6:43 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Contact:

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by Snow Nymph »

Nice trip! :D
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison


http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
copeg
Founding Member & Forums Administrator
Founding Member & Forums Administrator
Posts: 2109
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 9:25 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Contact:

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by copeg »

Thanks for posting. Saw the photos of Harrison in the conditions thread, and was hoping more was to come.
User avatar
cgundersen
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1338
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:07 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by cgundersen »

quentin,
My computer is severely fickle and I could not access your latest set of photos, but even so, the guy I took the trip with a couple years ago took a few shots (in the link) when we were in the heart of the loop (we did essentially the same trip as you did except that we went up Vidette and over Deerhorn saddle rather than visit Reflection/East Lake). The only point of the photos, aside from illustrating the scramble up to Deerhorn saddle is that one gets a nice comparison of Harrison versus Ericsson in the shots from astride Deerhorn. Really, a tossup! But, as commented by others, both these routes win hands down over Lucy and Milly.
cg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10845599@N ... 546429200/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
windknot
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1934
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:07 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Contact:

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by windknot »

Thanks for the report! Gorgeous pictures (especially of the harrowing Harrison Pass). They really help evoke that wildness of the Sierra.
User avatar
richlong8
Topix Expert
Posts: 837
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:02 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by richlong8 »

Wonderful trip report- superb photos. I almost think you should post a warning label, "don't try this at home"(I'm kidding). Your routes are not for the faint of heart, or the inexperienced.
User avatar
obxcola
Topix Novice
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:51 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Harrison Pass - TR

Post by obxcola »

Beautiful photo looking wsw across lake reflection. What did Longley look like?
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: crocodile235, freestone, Google [Bot] and 134 guests