High Sierra Topix

I thought about that route over the top of the saddle, but we ended up crossing over as a day hike so we took the more conventional pass SE of Anne instead. Coming back over however we decided to take the pass just E of Peak 11347. Has anyone gone over this pass? We did see a few stone ducks near the top, although the pass itself is hidden from view until you get right up beneath it and the route to the pass looks to be impassable (pardon the pun) until it appears almost out of thin air right before your eyes. Although all of the fun parts of the hike don't show up within the 40' contours, here's a map showing our wanderings on Sunday:

Just thought I should update this thread to confess that even with all the great advice, our wonderful 12 day trip into the area had us returning via the same Goodale Pass by which we came (rather than south over the X-Country pass to get back to Graveyard Lakes). We explored the route on a really nice day hike once we'd made it to Peter Pande Lake, but our bottom line is that we aren't comfortable hiking on talus. The advice here was honest, described it all to a tee, but we had to be there and see it to remember that "yeah, we don't like hiking on this kind of stuff". The kind of "stuff" is just like really really big blocks of granite, like giant scree.

This pass seems to be called both Silver Fox Pass and Graveyard Lakes Pass (I think), and anyone researching who finds this should probably have no qualms about hiking it if you are comfortable hiking on talus. I think most the members of this forum would be comfortable with it, and often hike even gnarlier stuff!

We do love getting "out there" and the 12 day trip had 8 days without seeing another human. I've posted a Trip Report at:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5766

Here's a photo of what we decided not to do, and with the camera angled up toward the horizon, it is probably at least a little steeper than it appears here. (now I get why all those ski shots over the years turn intermediate runs into bunny-hills) But really, steepness isn't an issue, and if you like hiking on talus, this is the route for you!

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all who posted on this topic...headed for a 6 day trip out of Edison in early September with the ultimate goal of getting to Peter Pande Lake or Anne Lake. Much exploration to follow as I want to kill a couple of days playing in that area. I would like to take the X-Country route out of Upper Grave Yard lake via 'Silver pass' but am concerned as I'm bringing a 6 year old German Shepard with me. Super comfortable on class 2 /3 and have done some x-country passes but only done class 2 with the dog. Any thoughts from you all on this? An alternate route would be going over Goodale Pass to Peter Pande Lake or Anne Lake. Seeing as I have not been to either, is one more scenic than the other? What about Olive Lake? I will probably just do an out and back unless going over silver pass offers some nice terrain. Thanks again in advance.

Ia

That is Silver Fox Pass. Not in our cross country passes section though.

http://www.davidsenesac.com/MinnowCr_20 ... wcr_0.html

I would not describe it as 'easy' as Homer Simpson could certainly get into class 3 if following some of the routes the clueless take. For instance on the south side that ought to be class 1/easy 2 IF one looks at the topo and then takes the least gradient way through on the obvious ramp. But then right at the top of the pass on the south side one will see quite a bit of obvious footprints heading straight down the sand. Same types get lost on Sawtooth Pass. A convex slope that is steepest straight down. And on the more difficult north side one has a choice of 3 or 4 chutes off the top. One will note signs that some have taken the more difficult drops off the top. Thus they got there and being impatient just went down immediately whatever they saw...DUH! Instead if they had spent a minute walking east up from the lowest point on the saddle to note what options were available, they would have discovered the route intelligent visitors take.

sctopdx wrote:Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all who posted on this topic...headed for a 6 day trip out of Edison in early September with the ultimate goal of getting to Peter Pande Lake or Anne Lake. Much exploration to follow as I want to kill a couple of days playing in that area. I would like to take the X-Country route out of Upper Grave Yard lake via 'Silver pass' but am concerned as I'm bringing a 6 year old German Shepard with me. Super comfortable on class 2 /3 and have done some x-country passes but only done class 2 with the dog. Any thoughts from you all on this? An alternate route would be going over Goodale Pass to Peter Pande Lake or Anne Lake. Seeing as I have not been to either, is one more scenic than the other? What about Olive Lake? I will probably just do an out and back unless going over silver pass offers some nice terrain. Thanks again in advance.

Ia

I've been over Silver Fox pass several times. As noted here, the South side is essentially class 1 if one follows the correct route. I may have gotten off track but I recall a steep section of class 1 that had good footing, but it was steep enough that one may want to use some hands for balance. The other side of the pass also has a considerable amount of talus to hop down. I'd definitely not want to do this with a German Shepherd. That said, Peter Pande/Anne is a very fine place to spend some time. If you choose to take Goodale Pass, you may miss the pleasant scenery of Graveyard Lakes, but may have a better time with the dog.

Thanks for the info and link to the trip report. I'm going to play it safe and go over Goodale Pass but take an extra day to explore the Graveyard Lakes.

Make sure to visit Olive Lake too.

@ Maverick-
thanks for your suggestion on Olive lake...I plan on hitting that up as a day trip out of Peter Pande Lake. I'll post a trip report when I get back.

Here are some pics and the route I took from Lower Graveyard to Peter Pande. The fishing at Olive was good. We day tripped from PP to Olive and then up to Anne and back. Anne was very pretty also.