Re: Kerrick / Matterhorn Canyon Loop (Cross Country Routes)
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 1:54 pm
If your main interests are as you state "camping, photography, fishing", you picked a great line. For your first xc trip, it should be challenging. Not in-so-much that it is technical, but convoluted, forested terrain.
You will find that in places, the line you have drawn on your map will not be followable and that you will be altering your planned travel route somewhat regularly. For instance right off the bat, traversing from Rock Island Pass to RI Lake you will find is not just a nice walk thru alpslopes and granite slabs, but rather a timbered slope with lots of small rock bands that impede progress.
You will find the same thing bellow and above Doe Lake should you go that way. This is not to deter you in any way, just saying that northern Yosemite XC can be much different than the southern Sierra.
Camp Creek is not technical at all, it just has less convoluted terrain then Doe Lake which while pretty, limited. You just need to go up toward the head of it before turning due south over the Tallulah pass.
Also, regarding the climbers route in Little Slide; it's much easier finding going up than down. And definitely don't expect to follow that ridge above Maltby Lake. The first time I went up that route I ended up the most cliffed out I've ever been and had to backtrack down the canyon a half mile before I could get off the thing! Stay in the drainage to the east!
Without getting into too much detail as that may spoil the adventure eh? Here's a few pics. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask!
You will find that in places, the line you have drawn on your map will not be followable and that you will be altering your planned travel route somewhat regularly. For instance right off the bat, traversing from Rock Island Pass to RI Lake you will find is not just a nice walk thru alpslopes and granite slabs, but rather a timbered slope with lots of small rock bands that impede progress.
You will find the same thing bellow and above Doe Lake should you go that way. This is not to deter you in any way, just saying that northern Yosemite XC can be much different than the southern Sierra.
Camp Creek is not technical at all, it just has less convoluted terrain then Doe Lake which while pretty, limited. You just need to go up toward the head of it before turning due south over the Tallulah pass.
Also, regarding the climbers route in Little Slide; it's much easier finding going up than down. And definitely don't expect to follow that ridge above Maltby Lake. The first time I went up that route I ended up the most cliffed out I've ever been and had to backtrack down the canyon a half mile before I could get off the thing! Stay in the drainage to the east!
Without getting into too much detail as that may spoil the adventure eh? Here's a few pics. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask!