Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

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soquelca
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Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by soquelca »

Hi,

I have six nights to be in this wonderful wilderness. I would like to make it to Shamrock Lake and back within that time frame. The only way to do this I think is after the first pass out of Crown Lake to go down Slide Mountain Canyon along Piute. From the other forums I have read the lower part of this section is bushwackin time. Has anyone done this to Doe Lake? I am thinking of Turning up Big Meadow creek and then heading south from there. The other route might be from Saddlebag to Mccabe to Wilson Canyon and over from there. Wow..all over the place. Any advise would be helpful..Thanks : :)
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maverick
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by maverick »

Hi Soquelca,

Welcome to HST!
Please read: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Thanks
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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soquelca
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by soquelca »

Hi,

Opps sorry. I have been hiking for 25 years and have had some cross country experience. I am 47 years old and can usually hike 10 to 12 miles a day with out to much discomfort. I am more of a slow but steady hiker...;). My husband and I have been all over and have always wanted to exporle this area.

thanks
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wildhiker
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by wildhiker »

I did this route back in 1975! I remember it was easy cross-country through a beautiful pristine canyon with granite walls. The only difficult part was "The Slide" coming off Slide Mountain at the head of Slide Canyon. This was an enormous landslide that created a jumble of boulders all the way across the canyon and several hundred feet up the other side. My companion and I decided to head straight through this boulder field - in retrospect, I think that was a mistake. It was very difficult, with a lot of "chimneying" between large boulders. Even though I hate to gain elevation unnecessarily, I think it would be better to head up the slope on the east side of the canyon and go completely around the slide.

Here's some notes on the route if you are coming down Slide Canyon from the north after you get past "The Slide" - reference this Gmap4 topo:
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... illshade=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You basically follow the stream down - we stayed on the east side. When you get to Big Meadow Creek, stay on the east edge of the meadow until Camp Creek, and then ascend through woods up Camp Creek and then leave it and go over the low pass to the south to Doe Lake. We passed Doe Lake on the east side and headed up its inlet creek to some little tarns where there is an obvious low pass to the SW to Sister Lake, and then down slabs to Smedberg Lake where you hit the PCT.

-Phil
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maverick
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by maverick »

As mention from the previous poster do not climb through/over "The Slide" but
circumvent it to save a lot of time and energy.
As you get closer to Benson manzanita will get thick in some places, but not to
bad or comparable to bush near area's like Edith Lake, Murro Blanco, or Goddard
Canyon.
There is ample water, and beautiful meadows on the way down that make this
area a gem, and very rarely visited.
On can also follow Rock Creek up to the head of Crazy Mule Gulch and go over to
Rock Island Lake, which is worth exploring.
Since pictures are worth 1000 words let them speak from others:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5390" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here are some more pictures of this area:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowleypics ... 715867958/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowleypics ... 715867958/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowleypics ... 715867958/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowleypics ... 715867958/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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soquelca
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by soquelca »

Thanks so much. Seeing the pictures and reading about the area is great. I can hardly wait.. What a great group...so helpful. Thanks again.
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maverick
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by maverick »

Please post a TR when you get back, would love read about and see this area
again. Thanks
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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soquelca
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by soquelca »

Hi,

Just returning from thru hike in desolation wilderness, fun but crowded. Oh well did some nice off trail to Pyramid lake and over to Ropi lake and around that area. Hard to get lost here but had great weather and lots of swimming.

Maverick, you sent me a link from Tehipitetom posted 8/9/2010 in which he gives a great description of cutting off crown lake going right up to the pass. He refers to a post by Secor and he mentions that his directions were good. Is there any way I can find that post by Secor. I am new to this so maybe there is a search? I have been reading these to my husband and they are sooo helpful. Thanks again.
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maverick
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by maverick »

Sorry but not sure where he read that. Secor is an author who wrote "The High Sierra
Peaks, Passes, and Trail" book. There was no earlier posts that have any route
descriptions by him.
Did find some more photo's that may make things easier for you here: http://www.richapple.com/backpacking/sl ... rrentImg=5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Maybe Tom will chime in.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: Hiking slide mountain to Doe lake

Post by sierraholic »

Just got back yesterday from a circumnavigation of the Sawtooths in northern Yosemite. Came in up HOrse Creek Pass, down Spiller Canyon, northwest on the PCT to Matterhorn Canyon, past the south side of the Sawtooths (Burro and Mule Pass), and out to Twin Lakes. I saw barely any downed trees from the Great Blowdown until we got to the head of Slide Canyon. From the low point along the trail behind the Sawtooths (head of Slide Canyon), there were hundreds of downed trees. Along the trail, it has all been cleared with some serious sawing. We experienced some more downed trees up Mule Pass and all the way down to Barney Lake. There were also lots of widowmakers waiting to come down. I have no proof, but Slide Canyon could be ugly with hundreds of trees down across the "trail". Be careful out there and give yourself lots of time when going off trail.
"Not all who wonder are lost!"
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