Trip Advice: Ansel Adams Wilderness (east side)
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:27 pm
I got some great advice on this forum when planning my 2012 hike in the Western Ansel Adams Wilderness (viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8190" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) and my 2011 hike in the Desolation Wilderness (viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6814" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). Now I'm asking for volunteers. I need advice for my 2013 hike in the Eastern Ansel Adams Wilderness (for which I just go the permit).
I'm an experience backpacker who is comfortable going cross-country. For this trip, I want to introduce some friends to backpacking. They are newbies but in good shape. My proposed itinerary:
Day 1: Reds Meadow to Thousand Island Lake
Day 2: Day hike over North Glacier Pass to Mt. Davis (spend a second night at Thousand Island)
Day 3: Cross-country to Lake Ediza and to Minaret Lake
Day 4: Cross-country to the Minaret Mine, then to the trail, and then down to Devil's Postpile
I know most of this terrain very well. I've been over North Glacier Pass twice. I've been on the cross-country route from Lake Ediza to Minaret Lake three times. I've been to the Minaret Mine twice from Minaret Lake.
My questions:
1. How is the hike from Thousand Island Lake to Mt. Davis? I intend to do this as a day hike without packs. Is it strenuous? How is the route finding?
2. My idea to go cross-country from Thousand Island lake to Minaret Lake in one day -- is it unrealistic? I know the area from Lake Ediza to Minaret Lake, but I've never been cross-country from Thousand Island to Lake Ediza. This area is on the Roper route and is often crossed by climbers on their way to Ritter and Banner Peak, so I'm assuming there is a use trail through here. Am I correct? How long does it take to go cross-country from Thousand Island lake to Lake Ediza? Might it be easier just to take the trail from Thousand Island to Ediza?
Thanks in advance for your help. I love this forum.
I'm an experience backpacker who is comfortable going cross-country. For this trip, I want to introduce some friends to backpacking. They are newbies but in good shape. My proposed itinerary:
Day 1: Reds Meadow to Thousand Island Lake
Day 2: Day hike over North Glacier Pass to Mt. Davis (spend a second night at Thousand Island)
Day 3: Cross-country to Lake Ediza and to Minaret Lake
Day 4: Cross-country to the Minaret Mine, then to the trail, and then down to Devil's Postpile
I know most of this terrain very well. I've been over North Glacier Pass twice. I've been on the cross-country route from Lake Ediza to Minaret Lake three times. I've been to the Minaret Mine twice from Minaret Lake.
My questions:
1. How is the hike from Thousand Island Lake to Mt. Davis? I intend to do this as a day hike without packs. Is it strenuous? How is the route finding?
2. My idea to go cross-country from Thousand Island lake to Minaret Lake in one day -- is it unrealistic? I know the area from Lake Ediza to Minaret Lake, but I've never been cross-country from Thousand Island to Lake Ediza. This area is on the Roper route and is often crossed by climbers on their way to Ritter and Banner Peak, so I'm assuming there is a use trail through here. Am I correct? How long does it take to go cross-country from Thousand Island lake to Lake Ediza? Might it be easier just to take the trail from Thousand Island to Ediza?
Thanks in advance for your help. I love this forum.