TR: 07/16 - 19/23, Desolation Wilderness, Bayview TH, Dicks, Clyde, and Aloha

[dlopilato]

Thanks for the intel! I really enjoy Clyde Lake and shared it for a night with a solitary pika end of July last year. I cannot believe how different it looks this season. I exited over Mosquito pass and cross-country to Island Lake on the other side of the ridge above Clyde, visible in your pictures. No chance I would step foot on that snowfield this year!

[FeetFirst]

How are the brookies doing in there? (any pics?)

Thriving! 3 12"+ brookies within minutes of each other. Full on out-of-water hard strikes. One of them looked more like a rainbow to me, but he spit the hook right as I was landing him so I didn't get a good look.

[FeetFirst]

Thanks for the intel! I really enjoy Clyde Lake and shared it for a night with a solitary pika end of July last year. I cannot believe how different it looks this season. I exited over Mosquito pass and cross-country to Island Lake on the other side of the ridge above Clyde, visible in your pictures. No chance I would step foot on that snowfield this year!

You're welcome. I've come over that ridge from Island Lake to Clyde before too - no snow - and even then it was a bit tedious. Lots of loose stuff and micro navigating some steeper stuff. I came down more east/southeast though, so it sounds like we took different routes.

[dlopilato]

Thanks for the intel! I really enjoy Clyde Lake and shared it for a night with a solitary pika end of July last year. I cannot believe how different it looks this season. I exited over Mosquito pass and cross-country to Island Lake on the other side of the ridge above Clyde, visible in your pictures. No chance I would step foot on that snowfield this year!

You're welcome. I've come over that ridge from Island Lake to Clyde before too - no snow - and even then it was a bit tedious. Lots of loose stuff and micro navigating some steeper stuff. I came down more east/southeast though, so it sounds like we took different routes.

Yeah, sounds like! Did you descend directly to Clyde? I went up to the top of Mosquito Pass, then followed the ridge between Clyde and Aloha up to what I believe is the Slabs of Insanity approach, but from there worked my way around west/northwest to the pass that drops down into Island. The pass itself is cool, a perfect little flat notch in the granite. And the ascent up the ridge above Mosquito offers some great views of Aloha. I did find some graffiti up there though

Coming down the boulders to Island Lake was not particularly fun, and I had a hard time negotiating all the micro-terrain on the south side of Island. Lots of unnecessary up and down I suspect. Now I'm curious if I'd like the pass better ascending from Island. Twin Lakes TH>Clyde Lake>Schmidell via Rubicon Valley/Blakely trail>Doris>Rockbound TH would be a great trip when I'm looking for a quick Desolation loop.

[FeetFirst]

Lovely photos and a great trip report! The rainbow was a particularly lovely shot. Eye opening amount of snow still in the passes, but it did not look too badly sun-cupped yet. Good for you for getting out there!

Thanks! Yeah, sun-cups weren't an issue, yet. Plus, very warm days and nights so the snow was soft enough to get a decent bite into it.

[FeetFirst]

Yeah, sounds like! Did you descend directly to Clyde? I went up to the top of Mosquito Pass, then followed the ridge between Clyde and Aloha up to what I believe is the Slabs of Insanity approach, but from there worked my way around west/northwest to the pass that drops down into Island. The pass itself is cool, a perfect little flat notch in the granite. And the ascent up the ridge above Mosquito offers some great views of Aloha. I did find some graffiti up there though

Coming down the boulders to Island Lake was not particularly fun, and I had a hard time negotiating all the micro-terrain on the south side of Island. Lots of unnecessary up and down I suspect. Now I'm curious if I'd like the pass better ascending from Island. Twin Lakes TH>Clyde Lake>Schmidell via Rubicon Valley/Blakely trail>Doris>Rockbound TH would be a great trip when I'm looking for a quick Desolation loop.

No, I descended northeast into the canyon on gentler terrain till I hit the river then headed south to Clyde. This was about 10 years ago so the details are a little fuzzy, but I do remember being super anxious about it.



Did you go over what I've marked above as "pass 1"? I'm almost positive I went over at what I've marked as "pass 2," but looking at it now, 1 looks better. Either way, dropping in or climbing out of Island Lake is tedious.

That does sound like a fun loop!

[dlopilato]

Yeah, sounds like! Did you descend directly to Clyde? I went up to the top of Mosquito Pass, then followed the ridge between Clyde and Aloha up to what I believe is the Slabs of Insanity approach, but from there worked my way around west/northwest to the pass that drops down into Island. The pass itself is cool, a perfect little flat notch in the granite. And the ascent up the ridge above Mosquito offers some great views of Aloha. I did find some graffiti up there though

Coming down the boulders to Island Lake was not particularly fun, and I had a hard time negotiating all the micro-terrain on the south side of Island. Lots of unnecessary up and down I suspect. Now I'm curious if I'd like the pass better ascending from Island. Twin Lakes TH>Clyde Lake>Schmidell via Rubicon Valley/Blakely trail>Doris>Rockbound TH would be a great trip when I'm looking for a quick Desolation loop.

No, I descended northeast into the canyon on gentler terrain till I hit the river then headed south to Clyde. This was about 10 years ago so the details are a little fuzzy, but I do remember being super anxious about it.



Did you go over what I've marked above as "pass 1"? I'm almost positive I went over at what I've marked as "pass 2," but looking at it now, 1 looks better. Either way, dropping in or climbing out of Island Lake is tedious.

That does sound like a fun loop!

Yep, that's exactly where I crossed. I'd recommend that route if not for the Island Lake bit. I had some trouble above Clyde navigating around patches of snow and little ledges. But it was all flat enough to feel safe, and on the plus side there was running water even in a drought year, so you could make camp with a great view if you found a suitable spot!