Black Divide Crossing
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:37 am
Title: Black Divide Crossing
GENERAL OVERVIEW: This pass leads from the drainage basin found directly South of Black Giant and crosses the Black Divide above Lake 11,654.
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 3
LOCATION: Kings Canyon National Park to the West of of Lake 11,654 HST Map
ELEVATION: 12,800
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt. Goddard
ROUTE DESCRIPTION: The West Side of this pass is a couple hundred foot Class 2 slope that is mostly small boulders and talus.
The East side of this pass drops directly along the ridge-line that extends down towards Lake 11,654. This entire ridge may be followed all the way down. There are several gendarmes along the way which would have to be bypassed. The initial down climb is Class 3 with several moves that required physically down-climbing. If one is reversing the direction these moves would require technical Class 3 which involves the use of hands for lifting yourself up the rock. After a certain point you can drop off the ridge-line below a red section of rock. There will be a chute present, but do not take it. You should go around the chute and climb down to the talus field below from there. Unfortunately when Rogue Photonic & I went down this way we ended up on some Class 4 terrain. This can be avoided if you keep an eye out for a better way that involves more ledges which will still be Class 3. After this you follow all the way down a large moraine field that is only conditionally stable to the outlet of Lake 11,654.
GENERAL OVERVIEW: This pass leads from the drainage basin found directly South of Black Giant and crosses the Black Divide above Lake 11,654.
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 3
LOCATION: Kings Canyon National Park to the West of of Lake 11,654 HST Map
ELEVATION: 12,800
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt. Goddard
ROUTE DESCRIPTION: The West Side of this pass is a couple hundred foot Class 2 slope that is mostly small boulders and talus.
The East side of this pass drops directly along the ridge-line that extends down towards Lake 11,654. This entire ridge may be followed all the way down. There are several gendarmes along the way which would have to be bypassed. The initial down climb is Class 3 with several moves that required physically down-climbing. If one is reversing the direction these moves would require technical Class 3 which involves the use of hands for lifting yourself up the rock. After a certain point you can drop off the ridge-line below a red section of rock. There will be a chute present, but do not take it. You should go around the chute and climb down to the talus field below from there. Unfortunately when Rogue Photonic & I went down this way we ended up on some Class 4 terrain. This can be avoided if you keep an eye out for a better way that involves more ledges which will still be Class 3. After this you follow all the way down a large moraine field that is only conditionally stable to the outlet of Lake 11,654.
