High Sierra Topix

TITLE: Crocker col

GENERAL OVERVIEW: This pass leads from Pioneer Basin into the Hopkins Lake drainage.

CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 2/3

LOCATION: John Muir Wilderness directly to the South of Mt. Crocker. HST Map

ELEVATION: 11,940

USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt. Abbot

ROUTE DESCRIPTION: The East Side of this pass contains a more or less permanent patch of snow that will be ice ax and crampon/micro-spike worthy in early season. Since we went through here in late season there was very little snow to contend with. It is mostly a talus and boulder pile that is mostly stable. The very top of the pass is fairly steep and is loose dirt and sand, but overall the general difficulty is no greater than a steep Class 2 pass. Snow conditions will make it much more dangerous but also easier in some ways since they will cover up the talus and boulders.

The West Side of the pass is a system of granite shelves and talus that you easily navigate down into the Hopkins Lake drainage below. No issues were found here.

To add a Secorian "wrinkle", I've just gone from Hopkins to Pionner via Hopkins peak twice (going from Hopkins to Pioneer). It's all pretty open and might be melted out before the col if that's an issue.

The Hopkins side is all easy 2, though sloggy, heading up the obvious lines from a bit below the upper hopkins lakes. For the steep bit before you get to the sandy bowl I stick to the rampy section to the north, but you could also choose two sandy chutes. The summit block itself is a straightforward class 3 move, but you could probably weave around talus and stay a bit below the ridgeline if you were dedicated enough. There's quite a nice view for the peak itself of the surrounding area. Once past the peak you can drop earlier as it's all boot ski, but there's bushes and some talus that breaks up your rhythm - following the arm further out and gets you to a gorgeous sandy bowl that you can zig zag down with moon boot skiing abandon (straight lines can create erosion funnels).

I call it the slog n jog, it wouldn't be as much fun going the other direction.

There's also an old stock trail the leads from the N side of lower hopkins over the little saddle and into the canyon.