Crabtree Pass -> Discovery Pinnacle
Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:42 pm
Getting ready to head up the weekend of the 15-17 to go on a trip with a friend to see a couple of areas that we've both wanted to check out. The route we're planning on taking is to start from Horseshoe Meadows, head up to Cottonwood Lakes, over OAP, and then up into the Miter Basin for day 1. Day 2 we're going to head up over Crabtree Pass to Discovery Pinnacle then down to Trail Crest, tag Muir and Whitney, then descend the MR and camp near Iceberg Lake. Day 3 will be out via the MR approach and back to Whitney Portal. Rough idea of our planned route here: https://caltopo.com/m/JT82
Only question we're pondering is which route to take from Crabtree Pass to Discovery Pinnacle:
- option A is to descend to Upper Crabtree Lake from the pass and then contour around and head up the Dreaded Sand Hill to Discovery Pinnacle.
- option B is to drop down a little below the pass and then pick our way through the cliff bands, around the cirque, and then up through the cliff bands on the other side and then ascend to Discovery Pinnacle. (described here : http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthread ... mber/10807)
We're both good off route and some class 3 scrambling isn't a problem. Packs will be pretty light, we'll both be right around 25 lbs with food and water. Any thoughts as to which route? The slog up the sand hill sounds like less than fun, plus it's a lot of elevation loss only to have to make it up climbing sandy garbage. Only positive I can see from this route is the ability to fill up on water before heading up the sand hill. The route around from the pass seems to be pretty solid from the descriptions, but we'd have to lug all of our water for the day from the lake 12129 the pass. We're likely to just play it by ear on the day of, just looking for some firsthand knowledge from the group before heading up. Thanks in advance!
Only question we're pondering is which route to take from Crabtree Pass to Discovery Pinnacle:
- option A is to descend to Upper Crabtree Lake from the pass and then contour around and head up the Dreaded Sand Hill to Discovery Pinnacle.
- option B is to drop down a little below the pass and then pick our way through the cliff bands, around the cirque, and then up through the cliff bands on the other side and then ascend to Discovery Pinnacle. (described here : http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthread ... mber/10807)
We're both good off route and some class 3 scrambling isn't a problem. Packs will be pretty light, we'll both be right around 25 lbs with food and water. Any thoughts as to which route? The slog up the sand hill sounds like less than fun, plus it's a lot of elevation loss only to have to make it up climbing sandy garbage. Only positive I can see from this route is the ability to fill up on water before heading up the sand hill. The route around from the pass seems to be pretty solid from the descriptions, but we'd have to lug all of our water for the day from the lake 12129 the pass. We're likely to just play it by ear on the day of, just looking for some firsthand knowledge from the group before heading up. Thanks in advance!