Backpacking Partner wanted: 9-10 day Dumbbell Lakes - Aug 20
Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:24 pm
Hello, I am seeking partner(s) for a couple long and ambitious trips... 9-12 days. One is very soon (thought I had a partner but not). If you are available, or can forward this to hikers with ability for these trips, that would be great. I need partners with light pack, good mileage and endurance, and off-trail skills, or at least willingness and physical ability. The target areas are the cream of the high Sierra. Please note that on-trail days can be 10-12 miles with a full 10-day pack, and up to 4,000' of elevation gain or more. Once we reach the target areas, it will be off-trail, with shorter distances and time to fish or relax.
Trip 1 Dumbbell Lakes: 9-11 days, 12-14 miles/day with 3,000-5,000' elev gain on trail, 5-8 miles/day off-trail with high class 2 passes. Lightweight packs preferred due to advanced difficulty of trip.
Window I am available: Aug 18 - Aug 27, but may be able to Aug 24 - Sept 2
Where: Target area is Kings Canyon NP, Cataract Crk, Observation Lake, Cataract Pass, Dumbbell Lakes, Lake Basin (Marion Lake), fishing and lake-hopping along the way.
Route: There are different approaches and exits, but all routes involve pushing long miles and elevation gains on-trail, and challenging class 2 xc travel and time for fishing and exploration once in the target area.
My prefered route is
1) Bishop/S. Lake, trail to LeConte Canyon
2) trail to Deer Meadow on Palisade Creek
3) XC up Cataract Crk to Amphitheater Lake & explore upper lakes
4) XC over Cataract Pass to Dumbbell Lakes & fish explore basin
5) XC over Dumbbell Pass to Marion Lake or upper Lake Basin & fish explore basin
6) layover in Lake Basin and move to Marion Lake
7) XC down Cartridge Creek (bushwack) to Middle Fork (MF) Kings river, to up-river 1 mile
8) trail (somewhat maintained) up MF Kings, past LeConte RS, up Dusy Branch to (XC) Rainbow Lakes
9) trail up over Bishop pass to S. Lake, lake-hopping along the way (don't want to 'throw away' the last day!)
10) just in case
I am also open to Kings Canyon Cedar Grove trailheads, but that would likely take 11 days with long trail days. Preferred route would be up Woods Creek, over Pinchot and Mather Pass to bottom of Cataract Creek, up to Amphitheater, Dumbbells, Lake Basin, the SHR to Copper Creek, and down to Roads End.
I have another long trip planned for September, and will post separately.
Thanks for considering this and passing it along. Clarification questions can be posted to this thread; seriously interested backpackers can pm, thanks so much.
Trip 1 Dumbbell Lakes: 9-11 days, 12-14 miles/day with 3,000-5,000' elev gain on trail, 5-8 miles/day off-trail with high class 2 passes. Lightweight packs preferred due to advanced difficulty of trip.
Window I am available: Aug 18 - Aug 27, but may be able to Aug 24 - Sept 2
Where: Target area is Kings Canyon NP, Cataract Crk, Observation Lake, Cataract Pass, Dumbbell Lakes, Lake Basin (Marion Lake), fishing and lake-hopping along the way.
Route: There are different approaches and exits, but all routes involve pushing long miles and elevation gains on-trail, and challenging class 2 xc travel and time for fishing and exploration once in the target area.
My prefered route is
1) Bishop/S. Lake, trail to LeConte Canyon
2) trail to Deer Meadow on Palisade Creek
3) XC up Cataract Crk to Amphitheater Lake & explore upper lakes
4) XC over Cataract Pass to Dumbbell Lakes & fish explore basin
5) XC over Dumbbell Pass to Marion Lake or upper Lake Basin & fish explore basin
6) layover in Lake Basin and move to Marion Lake
7) XC down Cartridge Creek (bushwack) to Middle Fork (MF) Kings river, to up-river 1 mile
8) trail (somewhat maintained) up MF Kings, past LeConte RS, up Dusy Branch to (XC) Rainbow Lakes
9) trail up over Bishop pass to S. Lake, lake-hopping along the way (don't want to 'throw away' the last day!)
10) just in case
I am also open to Kings Canyon Cedar Grove trailheads, but that would likely take 11 days with long trail days. Preferred route would be up Woods Creek, over Pinchot and Mather Pass to bottom of Cataract Creek, up to Amphitheater, Dumbbells, Lake Basin, the SHR to Copper Creek, and down to Roads End.
I have another long trip planned for September, and will post separately.
Thanks for considering this and passing it along. Clarification questions can be posted to this thread; seriously interested backpackers can pm, thanks so much.