High Sierra Topix

I'm planning a trip in early August across HST with a set of older boy scouts (all 17). They have all done multiple 7 - 10 day long trips, with short cross country sections. They would like to do a cross country portion to the trip. After some review our thought was to head up to nine lakes area cross over Prya-Queen and back across to junction meadows and on HST normally.

Would appreciate thought and recommendations on this idea or other options for a cross country trip that ends with a Whitney summit.

Thanks
Ron

Hi Ron,

Welcome to HST!
Even though QPC in the easiest of the three passes from the west it is still not
any easy pass to do. You mention they have done some short cross country
sections, like what? I do not feel recommending any particular areas before
some understanding of there skill levels, especially when it comes to difficult
class 2 passes/cols.
Wallace Lakes Basin is a beautiful area with relatively easy cross country travel
that should be considered, 9 Lakes Basin should stay on you list to check out also.
By the way, what numbers are we talking about? What is a set, two?

You have to consider more than Pyra Queen Pass at the top. There is a lot of talus, some very steep and unstable. On the west side, getting around the lake below the pass is very tedious. When I came down there was a line of icy snow all across the path downwards and had to lower my pack on a string, then chop steps with a rock. I cannot think of 17-year olds I know, even if they are competent outdoorsmen, who have the patience to slog through several hours of difficult talus. There is a big potential for injury. I personally would not take young people for whom I was responsible, over Pyra Queen Pass. You can however do a lot of fun day-hike exploring around Nine Lake Basin.

I second Wallace and Wales Lake - nice travel, spectacular scenery, and quite safe.

You may consider from the bridge (above Bearpaw Meadow) turn up the Elizabeth Pass trail, leave the trail and go to Lonely Lake, then off trail down to Pear Lake and out to Wolverton.

WD wrote:

You may consider from the bridge (above Bearpaw Meadow) turn up the Elizabeth Pass trail, leave the trail and go to Lonely Lake, then off trail down to Pear Lake and out to Wolverton.

Nice suggestion! But ... Ron, if any of the kids want to fish this is not the place.

Mike

How many days can you spend on the trail for this hike? And how many miles are you and your boys able to hike? Also is the idea of this hike to actually do allot of the High Sierra Trail or are you open to bigger tours off the trail?

It's hard for me to suggest cross country routes when so many factors come into play with other people. I have always been the risk taker and take the attitude that if a pass is crossable without ropes then I can cross it but I have never had a line of young boys in tow that I am responsible for.

I second 9 Lakes Basin and Wallace/Wales Lakes. Cross-country is relatively easy and both areas are spectacular. The view of the Great Western Divide from Wallace is especially wondrous.

If you do Pyra-Queen Col be ready for a LOT of talus. And you will be doing it the hard direction. I went up the east side and down the west side; the talus is larger and more stable on the east side. On the west side it is smaller and much looser. And the chute at the top of the west side would be a challenge, it's really steep and loose. Much easier to descend on the west side.

If you are up for it, it will get you to spectacular country. Cross Kaweah Basin, go over the divide to Picket Creek (beautiful area!) and drop down the slabs to the Colby Pass trail below Gallats Lake.

It it turns into another dry year, you probably won't have the icy band that Wandering Daisy encountered. I certainly didn't see it last year, and I went the third week of July.

As WD said, going past the large lake on the west side of Pyra-Queen can be tedious if you're not good on large talus. It is nothing but a half mile of desk-sized rocks. I have been blessed with very good balance and good ankles, and I enjoy boulder hopping, so it was actually fun for me. But when I got to the end of the lake I had to wait for close to an hour for my hiking companion, who is more cautious on talus and rocks than I am. There is plenty of opportunity for sprained ankles or worse for people inexperienced with large talus and boulder hopping.

Like Rogue Photonic, I don't have a problem recommending such a route to experienced adults, but, as a former scout leader, I become much more cautious when recommending it for scouts. I have seen scouts do things on backpacking trips that would make their parents cringe, and they don't need a risky environment to add to the mix. I am much more conservative when I am responsible for scouts under 18.

Be ye scouts men? Then thou must climb Eagle Scout Peak instead! Tis just southwest of Kaweah Gap. Grand views indeed in every direction with bergs in famous deep blue Precipice Lake directly below.

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=36.54161,-118.55098&z=15&t=T" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instead of climbing up directly from the noname pond at 10,000, which has more steep sections, continue south dropping until 9600, then take the route west up between the two streams draining the deep blue lake 11061 (my name: Blue Sky Lake) and the noname roundish lake at 11320+. The two streams become remarkably luke warm in summer by midday as waters flow over wonderful sun heated smooth granite slabs directly oriented east into the warming morning sunshine. And at peak season there is all manner of hanging wildflower gardens with little slab pools. Sitting in the pools one has birds-eye views of magnificent Kaweak Peaks Ridge. Cross the saddle northeast of lake 11061 where the only short steep section has ho hum talus.

Thanks for all the responses.. Here are are a couple of answers to questions folks had...
- Maverick: In the Sierras, the only x-country we have had done is a exploration and overnight from Deadman's Canyon to Big Bird Lake, and over to the lake about Big Bird. Most of our x-country is in local SoCal mtns San Gorgonio and San Jacinto.

- WD: Big thing the guys want to do is climb Whitney, last summer that they will all be going out. They had wanted to do JMT but logistics to get adults didn't work out.

- OldRanger: Only fishermen in the group is me... I was amazed were I caught fish last trip in Deadman's canyon

- Rogue: Looking 7days on trial. Strange as it is, I'm normally more concerned about the adults (we require at least 3 per trip). They tend to think they are in better shape and more capable than they are.

- SSSDave: If we end up following HST then we will definitely grab Eagle Scout

We took another look and might look into coming down from Kersarge Pass, seems like a lot of places to wander. First day doesn't like a lot of fun with a full pack.

Thanks again...

Although starting at Kearsarge puts you onto switch backs the second you hit the trail it's a beautiful way to go to Whitney and it gives you allot of good places to jump off the trail and explore or climb peaks.