TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
phenocryst
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:11 am
Experience: N/A

TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by phenocryst »

My first post. I got great info here to plan this trip to Lake Basin and environs.. thanks, everyone! A few items of note:

Cartridge Pass: The trail on the south side is easy to follow all the way from the Muir trail to the pass with just a few obscure sections where it's damp and/or grassy. From the river up it is just as shown on the old Mt Pinchot quad. We stayed on the north side of the Kings, encountered almost no bushwhacking and only had to cross the westernmost rockslide; the trail took us around the toes of the first 2. We lost the trail west of the slide before it turns uphill but had no trouble locating it using the old map. Others mentioned a tree down across the trail at about 10,320. This marks the beginning of a traverse west, so be sure to look for the trail before continuing.

The trail is (even) steeper on the north side but still easy to follow thru loose but generally non-dangerous talus.

Dumbbell Pass: The north side is not fun. Talus blocks are disconcertingly tippy and we were glad to have a little strip of soft-ish snow left to descend on (maybe a couple hundred feet. This was about a week ago). About halfway down we were not liking the prospect of a LONG boulder traverse around the east shore of the lake. There were some vegetated ramps leading north and west over the shoulder of the ridge that projects into the lake making the "dumbbell". We followed these and found a pretty good class 2 route down to the shore just west of the ridge and past the high-angle slabs, with easy boulder hopping around to the outlet.

Cataract Creek Pass: Snow is a non-issue at this point. The descent from Observation Lake to Palisade creek was more work than getting from the pass to the lake. There is a very nice section of trail about halfway down on the west side that takes you around some cliffs and the big rockslide that dams the ponds shown on newer quads, but it fades away above and below. I had heard there was a lot of avalanche debris in the lower canyon and was concerned there might be some windfall from the big wind storm last November but there were just a couple new trees down and the older ones weren't much of an impediment.

Creeks and lakes were down a little, no problems with crossings but still lots of water. Almost zero mosquitoes.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by maverick »

Hi Phenocryst,

Welcome to HST! Nice TR as your first post! Did you visit Marion Lake? Did you
have a chance to visit the pretty lakes on the south eastern side of Amphitheater
Basin up towards Lake 11309?
From your route description you were doing the Cataract Pass to Amphitheater
Lake route. Did you visit Observation Lake also?
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
User avatar
giantbrookie
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Posts: 3580
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:22 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Fresno
Contact:

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by giantbrookie »

Welcome aboard. I also assume by your screen name that you are a geologist? Nice route. What trailhead did you leave from and to which did you return (if you did a shuttle)? Dumbbell Lakes and environs are a very favorite spot of me and my wife. I'm glad you had an enjoyable trip.
Since my fishing (etc.) website is still down, you can be distracted by geology stuff at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/facu ... ayshi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
phenocryst
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:11 am
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by phenocryst »

Duh!! I meant Ampitheater Lake.
We went up Taboose and out Bishop pass. Wanted to go out thru Palisade basin but the weather had us a little nervous so we took the low road thru LeConte canyon. As another bit of info, I can report that there is excellent reception of KSRW-Independence at the lake halfway up the south side of Cartridge pass and a perfect spot to hear Howard Scheckter's weather forecast on KIBS-Bishop on a bench overlooking Palisade creek at about 9600 ft on Cataract creek.
We had a nice tour of Lake Basin including Marion Lake. We crammed a little bit more into the trip after that than we really had time for and didn't get quality time in the Dumbbell or Ampitheater basins. Too much to do, as usual, but compelling reasons to return. I intend to, but probably not via Dumbbell pass.
Thanks for the welcome. No, I'm not a geologist. I just like rocks.
User avatar
giantbrookie
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Posts: 3580
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:22 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Fresno
Contact:

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by giantbrookie »

Taboose-Bishop Pass. Nice. That's doing in the more difficult direction (because of opening day up Taboose). The all time daydream trip that I plan to do someday involves a Bishop Pass-Taboose route that will hit Dusy, the Barretts, Amphitheater, Dumbbells, Lakes Basin, Bench and some other spots. No doubt shuttling between those two trailheads really optimizes your time in this wonderful country.
Since my fishing (etc.) website is still down, you can be distracted by geology stuff at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/facu ... ayshi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
phenocryst
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:11 am
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by phenocryst »

That does sound like a dream trip. Thot I'd note that we deliberately went UP Taboose the first day so we wouldn't have to go DOWN Taboose on the last. Been there, done that! and hope I won't have to again.
I think it would have been safer to ascend than descend the unstable talus on the north side of Dumbbell pass but otherwise it was nice to stroll up the easy sides of the passes and let gravity help, not hinder, on the steep sides. All in all I would recommend the south to north option.
User avatar
richlong8
Topix Expert
Posts: 837
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:02 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by richlong8 »

Thanks for sharing. That is an area I would love to get up into someday. Any photos?
User avatar
Mradford
Topix Regular
Posts: 325
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2011 3:03 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Ladera Ranch
Contact:

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by Mradford »

Thanks for posting. I havent heard much other than Mavericks postings on Dumbbell and also would like to get up there one day. Not soon though, as im not quite as experienced as i think i should be to go there. I would love to see photos as well!

-mike
User avatar
cgundersen
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1338
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:07 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by cgundersen »

Phenocryst,
How was the air quality on your trip? We had good and bad days on a similar route earlier this year and it was especially sad to see the Palisades fade into the afternoon haze. And, how early did you start the Taboose climb? I thought it was hot in June, so were you cooking?
cg
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: Cartridge, Dumbbell, Cataract 7/28-8/4

Post by Cross Country »

Mike, Jim and I did the trip - Bishop Pass, Amp. Dumbbell, Lake Basin Taboose (we went to Bench 5 years earlier). In several places we were hiking by far the best direction - way better. It was my favorite trip in my 500+ days of BP.
PS: Why would one choose to go up Taboose instead of down?
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], khamike, paula53, sdchesnut and 119 guests