Trip Advice: Gardiner Basin / 60 Lakes Basin Cross Country
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:29 pm
Many thanks to the HST community for posting inspirational trip reports and detailed route plans. A three day weekend opened up this week and I am working on a cross country loop out of Onion Valley.
My 'stats',
Level 3.5- Comfortable with trail and/or x-country travel
Comfortable with Class II x/c passes but little Class III experience.
My main interest for this trip is to get some training for the cross country passes on the SHR later this summer. Big scenery, lakes, climbing, photography, no fishing or a dog this time.
I have three full days (this Fri/Sat/Sun). I'm good with 16 trail miles/day, more like half that for cross country depending on the terrain. I don't mind being on the trail all day.
I have experience hiking cross country solo and will be bringing a Spot II.
Here's my potential plan:
Day 1: Onion Valley over Kearsarge Pass to Charlotte Lake, over Gardiner Pass into Gardiner Basin to camp. According to the map this is about 12 trail miles (if there really is a trail).
Day 2: Gardiner Basin, over 60 Lakes Col then camp in 60 Lakes Basin. About 10 miles, mostly on trail (again, if there really is a trail) with the last few miles cross country.
Day 3: 60 Lakes Basin, over Rae Col, over Glenn Pass, over Kearsarge and out. About 13 miles, about 4 miles offtrail.
There is a trail on the Nat Geo software from Charlotte Lake to Gardiner Pass that says "Location Approximate", which is vague at best.
I'm not sure about the trail from Charlotte Lake into Gardiner Pass and the trail in Gardiner Basin. The HST map says 60 Lakes Col and Rae Col are both Class II.
If anyone has some experience or words of wisdom it would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Andy.
Here's an overview map:
My 'stats',
Level 3.5- Comfortable with trail and/or x-country travel
Comfortable with Class II x/c passes but little Class III experience.
My main interest for this trip is to get some training for the cross country passes on the SHR later this summer. Big scenery, lakes, climbing, photography, no fishing or a dog this time.
I have three full days (this Fri/Sat/Sun). I'm good with 16 trail miles/day, more like half that for cross country depending on the terrain. I don't mind being on the trail all day.
I have experience hiking cross country solo and will be bringing a Spot II.
Here's my potential plan:
Day 1: Onion Valley over Kearsarge Pass to Charlotte Lake, over Gardiner Pass into Gardiner Basin to camp. According to the map this is about 12 trail miles (if there really is a trail).
Day 2: Gardiner Basin, over 60 Lakes Col then camp in 60 Lakes Basin. About 10 miles, mostly on trail (again, if there really is a trail) with the last few miles cross country.
Day 3: 60 Lakes Basin, over Rae Col, over Glenn Pass, over Kearsarge and out. About 13 miles, about 4 miles offtrail.
There is a trail on the Nat Geo software from Charlotte Lake to Gardiner Pass that says "Location Approximate", which is vague at best.
I'm not sure about the trail from Charlotte Lake into Gardiner Pass and the trail in Gardiner Basin. The HST map says 60 Lakes Col and Rae Col are both Class II.
If anyone has some experience or words of wisdom it would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Andy.
Here's an overview map: