Kearsarge Pass - Trip Advice

[cgundersen]

Hi Seisner,
Mav may have more-recent info on Deerhorn; my only time over that ridge (~5 years ago) was before my wife switched to digital, and I'm too lazy (for now) to scan old photos. Ascending the ridge from the South should be a cinch. The surface is mostly hard sand/gravel with nothing tricky. There are rock outcroppings in the middle, so the easiest ascents are to either side (and the east side is probably the best). Once you reach the Deerhorn saddle, the initial descent is pretty wide open. However, when I was there in mid-September, the surface was tricky in places with sand/gravel on a very hard substratum and it can be easy to lose one's footing. Once you make it through that part, the next several hundred meters are through a jumbled talus field. If you're comfortable with boulder hopping, it'll go reasonably quickly,because the angle is not bad and nothing is loose. Still, it's a long pitch of big rock, and I know we were relieved when we finally got off it. Although there were clear signs of human activity further down the "Vidette canyon" (by the lower lakes), Deerhorn showed little sign of travel. And, personally, I really like those sequestered little lakes beneath Stanford & Ericsson. There are a couple of good spots for tents and great potential for alpenglow.
CG

[maverick]

Cg's description seems right on.
The 2 times I went over was in the spring and there was quite a bit of snow
still on the ground.
Copeg has a few shots of the lake on his site, and I add another 2 of the pass.
http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/v ... dette.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~rlilly/High_ ... dle_S.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~rlilly/High_ ... dle_N.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post a TR and pic's please when you get back!