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https://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=21460
This video shows much of the area you are planning to hike. Take a look!
If we do manage to make it to Moose Lake in one day that's definitely something worth considering!!!Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Fri May 07, 2021 9:29 am A map is worth a hundred words! Thanks.
Personally I would drop down to Big Bird Lake and skip Horn Col. Horn Col is a good way to get to Deadman Canyon but not as good a day hike as Big Bird. The lakes above Big Bird are very scenic. And there is wonderful camping in trees at Big Bird outlet. Good fishing too.
Thanks Maia. That sounds like a great plan as well and one I have penciled in as a strong contender (provided we can make it from Alta Meadow to Moose lake in one daymaiathebee wrote: ↑Fri May 07, 2021 9:52 am Agree with Daisy that it makes more sense to drop down into the Big Bird lakes than what you currently have planned.
If you do go up Big Bird the way you have then back to Pterodactyl, the part of Big Bird peak between your red and green dots is very steep and cliffy. Navigation could be tricky. Big Bird peak is the peak on the right here. Pterodactyl Pass is the low point between the peaks.
You might consider this plan:
Day 1 Wolverton --> Moose via Alta Meadow
Day 2 Moose --> 11,200, set up camp, tag Big Bird Peak
Day 3 Day hike from 11,200 down to Big Bird Lakes, relax and swim
Day 4 11,200 to Pear, relax and swim or climb Alta, return to Wolverton via Watchtower. Pear lake is a great place to be mid-morning after the people who camped there have left but the day hikers haven't arrived yet.
Doing a plan like this gives more flexibility since you have two times where you kinda have a "base camp" and if some of your group don't want to go on the excursions they can just relax at camp.
Ok... I thought you were planning to leave your packs somewhere between Pterodactyl and Big Bird since you saidTrailguru wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 11:52 pm
But we weren't thinking of going from Big Bird Peak to Pterodactyl pass. The idea was to bag Big Bird Peak and then go down and check out the area near Horn Col and possibly even as far as Copper Mine Peak/Pass area and then come back to Lake 11,200 via Pterodactyl Pass. Something like this:
Inked43182646421_a6befea8b4_k_LI.jpg
and your CalTopo shows a route basically right over the cliff area I posted about. I guess your route is just a rough plan at this point?
I can see why you were confused. Apologies for that!maiathebee wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 4:56 pm
and your CalTopo shows a route basically right over the cliff area I posted about. I guess your route is just a rough plan at this point?
So you're leaving your stuff at 11,200, going to Big Bird, Horn Col, then Coppermine, then back over Pterodactyl to 11,200, and then to Moose? If your group can do that in a day, you'll have no problem reaching Moose in a day.