Wishon or Courtright Reservoir Entrance Points
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:31 pm
My original intent for a early July trip was to go from Courtright to Bench Valley, spend a couple of days there and day trip around Blackcap Basin then exit via Red Mt Basin for the loop out. After pondering some others' plans this summer on this site and pouring over the maps, I see that it's not a whole lot farther to Blue Canyon and/or Upper Goddard Creek areas. Since short term time isn't much of an issue, ie, wife is retired, I have a bunch of vacation, I can extend this trip for a few more days and incorporate those previously mentioned areas if it's worth the effort. Whereas long term time is an issue...ie, sooo many areas, soooo precious little hiking time left (55 and over), we may not get the opportunity to get back into this area again. Hence the need for opinions and suggestions:
1. Whats pros/cons of entering Wishon vs. Courtright? Never been to that area, only external national park west side entrances have been from Edison Lake/Vermillion. Sierra South shows it a few miles shorter to Portal Lake from Wishon then Courtright, but says Wishon is "road less traveled". Must be a reason.
2. If we get to Portal, SS says to head up toward Finger Pk, go through a pass just to the north, then head for the saddle directly east of the Peak to drop down into Blue Canyon. IS that pass commonly referred to as "Finger Col"?
3. Looking at Harrison map, area north of Blue Canyon Peak, the upper Goddard area, sure looks nice, deserted, trailess and a pleasant spot to spend time. We're into granite lakes at or near tree line with solitude. Is there another way out of that canyon to the north which would complete a loop back to Blackcap or Bench Valley? Remember above listed limitations prior to answering. (I'm the one who has to listen to the complaints because I didn't 55-and-over proof the trip.)
And here I was all set for a nice five day Bench Valley/Red Mt Basin loop trip and another weekend storm sytem keeps me inside and a chance to complicate things up a bit. But, input/advice would be appreciated. As a barometer for degree of difficulty capability, we did Lamarack Col, down to Darwin Basin, Evo Lake last summer. Intent was to exit same way, but wife refused to go back up past the Darwin Lakes and up to the Col. She would have if I'd pushed the issue, as I think it's easier to go up that stuff then down, but it was just as easy to go out via Piute pass. Also, two summers ago we did the Copper Creek trail from Roads End to Grouse Lake Meadow in one day on the same weekend we're doing this years' trip, so trail stuff doesn't seem to be the issue. It's the talus!
Thanks for the input.
Perry
1. Whats pros/cons of entering Wishon vs. Courtright? Never been to that area, only external national park west side entrances have been from Edison Lake/Vermillion. Sierra South shows it a few miles shorter to Portal Lake from Wishon then Courtright, but says Wishon is "road less traveled". Must be a reason.
2. If we get to Portal, SS says to head up toward Finger Pk, go through a pass just to the north, then head for the saddle directly east of the Peak to drop down into Blue Canyon. IS that pass commonly referred to as "Finger Col"?
3. Looking at Harrison map, area north of Blue Canyon Peak, the upper Goddard area, sure looks nice, deserted, trailess and a pleasant spot to spend time. We're into granite lakes at or near tree line with solitude. Is there another way out of that canyon to the north which would complete a loop back to Blackcap or Bench Valley? Remember above listed limitations prior to answering. (I'm the one who has to listen to the complaints because I didn't 55-and-over proof the trip.)
And here I was all set for a nice five day Bench Valley/Red Mt Basin loop trip and another weekend storm sytem keeps me inside and a chance to complicate things up a bit. But, input/advice would be appreciated. As a barometer for degree of difficulty capability, we did Lamarack Col, down to Darwin Basin, Evo Lake last summer. Intent was to exit same way, but wife refused to go back up past the Darwin Lakes and up to the Col. She would have if I'd pushed the issue, as I think it's easier to go up that stuff then down, but it was just as easy to go out via Piute pass. Also, two summers ago we did the Copper Creek trail from Roads End to Grouse Lake Meadow in one day on the same weekend we're doing this years' trip, so trail stuff doesn't seem to be the issue. It's the talus!
Thanks for the input.
Perry