High Sierra Topix

TITLE: Rae col

GENERAL OVERVIEW: Connects the lakes below Glen Pass with 60 Lakes basin

CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 1-2

LOCATION: John Muir Wilderness HST Map

ELEVATION: 3,570 meters

USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt Clarence King

HST Map:HST Map

This route serves as a connector between the un-named lakes north and west of the Glen Pass trail (JMT/PCT) and 60 Lakes basin. Although there is a perfectly serviceable trail connecting Rae Lakes and 60 Lakes basin, this route saves you from having to bottom out at Rae Lakes and then having to climb back over the ridge into 60 Lakes basin (a route that has always seemed unusually hot and sticky when I've done it). I have only taken this route by going from south to north (into 60 Lakes basin), but there will be a couple shots of what it looks like as you would see it from the 60 Lakes side. The approach from the south is basically class 1 (yes, you can make the ascent into this area a low class 2 depending on how you choose to go, but it's pretty easy to find simpler ascents). Once you hit the ridge overlooking 60 Lakes basin, it will become obvious that the best way down is northeast of the "bump" in the middle of the ridgeline. if you scout around a bit, you'll find a use trail that will take you all the way to the same lake that sits on the trail into 60 Lakes basin from Rae Lakes. Even if you do not find the use trail, it's an easy class 2 descent, as the photos will show.

I'm not sure that the correct notch is pictured (though it does work). Looking at topo that notch is more NW from Glen Pass, rather than NNW as Secor says.

After eyeballing it I went with the other notch to NW, which while a little steeper at an average of 30deg at the top was on trivial terrain. It was slightly cairned going up with some obvious paths (not that it means anything), but the top from the plateau was a solid use trail, and it drops you onto a nicer route out than the talus around the lakes to the N. It's a non consequential loose drop down to solid ground until you hit the pond, then an easy traverse over to the lake with all the JMT camps. Only talus is the brief cut to the JMT itself.

It definitely seems like one of those "you can do it either way" things, but someone else mentioned having to go through talus that way (maybe they were off track?) - the notch more NW was very straightforward - was going to go for the lower one and the route around the lakes by topo, but rerouted looking at terrain and found it well used and straightforward.