High Sierra Topix

Thanks Zoltan. Your pics speak a 1000 words for snow / creek conditions. Nice shot of Rae Lakes area.

Zoltan writes:
Would you go over this pass from the above photo?

Yes, that is the correct route (pass) into the White Fork drainage Zoltan.
The only other way would have been to circle around Bench Lake to the upper
lake basin, and use the pass southwest of Mount Ickes.
It would not have been any easier, waiting till the snow softens up as you did
is what one needs to do, otherwise carry an ice axe and crampon (and know
how to use them).
Really like the shot up towards Rae. Kind of surprised that Window Lake was
thawed out as much as it was.

Maverick, I'm glad I read your words correctly when I posed the question back in February. Your advice certainly helped in the planning. A nice loop could be made up either fork, Window or White, over the pass and back down the other side without having to cross the one west of Pinchot into White. We found Explorer Pass (class 3)directly into Window too dangerous (avalanche) in June 2010, and didn't think to go to White at the time.
@cgundersen absolutely right, it was Sawmill. That basin just west of the crest is outstanding.
Thanks all for taking to the time to read and comment.