mshields wrote:"Day 2 was on the JMT. Here was the first detour. I had been considering taking CG's suggested route of Upper Basin Crossing (UBC), to get into Amphitheater Lakes basin, but the weather looked very iffy. I also had hoped to climb Split Mountain, but also passed on that because of the weather. Exploring later in my trip, I found out this is what I missed out on, on the west side of UBC. [image] Uh...maybe next time (maybe not!)"
Is there a possibility he may have headed towards the Amphitheater Lakes Basin?
this should be forwarded to the SEKI search & rescue effors - just in case he decided to explore the entry into amphitheater basin on one of his days before the storm came in.
***** maverick, what would be the most likely "pass" to get over that ridgeline east of frozen lake pass into upper amphitheater? i sort of remember you talking about the route way way back.
aznother thing - i got caught in the october 2009 storm. it rained/snowed 8 inches where i hunkered down at big arroyo cabin. when the storm broke, i headed out over kawaeh gap. there was 1.5 feet of new snow and it was very slow going as near the pass, i was punching through almost every step. i camped on the south side above precipice lake and next morning, the soft snow from the previous day had frozen to become very icy. i had to be very careful down to precipice kicking in each heel of my steps as not to slip. having said that....
if i was larry, i would have hunkered down in thne woods in lower upperbasin or even head to bench lake and ride things out. possibly wait for the snow to melt back if possible.... but the daytime temps are only 30 so maybe the meltback is not happening. i'm sure SEKI has searched that out by now.
or he could have made the effort to get out over taboose (most logical way out) but if he did encounter these icy conditions, there is one section on the east side of the pass that's on a good slope and he could slip snd end up downhill from the trail if injured. that upper section should have also been checked out.
another long shot option would be to head south if he did explore pinchot as stated.... and he'd be getting out by going down the JMT to lower elevations and getting out to cedar grove.
hope he's OK and on his way out... or if injured, can do what he can to get noticed.
wishing for the best.