Route: Mono Pass, Pioneer Basin, visit
Stanford Col, cross
Crocker Col, visit
Hopkins Pass, Hopkins Creek Basin, small lake west from Lower Hopkins Lake,
cross over the ridge to both Grinnell Lakes and their basin, trail out through Mono Pass.
Mono Pass had some unavoidable snow stretches. Easy to cross. The lake on top of the pass has thawed by the time we hiked out.
Upper portions of the three basins had significant areas covered by snow. Uppermost lake of each basin was mostly frozen, but other lakes were ice-free.
N side of Stanford Col looked fine to cross (some snow, of course), although a long talus slog.
NE side of Crocker Col had some snow. The snow was actually easier to climb than surrounding lose talus. We used trekking poles.
Hopkins Pass had cornice and steep snow on north side. I don't know whether it was passable.
McGee Pass has some snow areas to cross, but looks OK.
Looking at Third Recess and Fourth Recess - they had plenty of snow coverage.
All creek crossings were fine.
Mosquitoes were bad in Hopkins Lakes basin (everywhere except Hopkins Pass), and OK in Pioneer Basin and near Grinnell Lakes and Mono Pass. Bad in the valley below Grinnell Lakes.
Click on photos for larger versions.
Ask me for any more info or photos.
Fourth Recess (left) and Third Recess (middle right).
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Crocker Col, NE side.
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Approach to Crocker Col, NE side. Highest lake in Pioneer Basin in background.
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McGee Pass (middle).
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Hopkins Pass, N side - somewehere here.
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Upper Hopkins Lake and
Grinnell Col (right).
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Red and White Mtn. (top), Grinnell Lakes (upper Little G.Lk. barely visible under ice),
Pace Col.
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