GENERAL OVERVIEW: This pass leads from the drainage directly to the Northwest of Mt. Hooper which includes Hooper Lake to the drainage South of Rose Lake West of the John Muir Trail
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 3
LOCATION: John Muir Wilderness in Sierra National Forest directly North on the ridge of Mt. Hooper to the East of Neil Lake. HST Map
ELEVATION: 11,545
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Florence Lake
ROUTE DESCRIPTION: The West side of this pass involves talus, boulders, and short sections of Class 3 technical climbing. The Class 3 is not excessively difficult but could be challenging for those unfamiliar on how to scramble up it with a full pack on. There appeared to be a slightly easier route further toward the Northern side of the head wall of the ridge but we choose to go straight up and found no difficulty even with a full pack that exceeded moderate class 3.
The East side of this pass also contains a fair amount of Class 3. It was for the most part less technical in nature than the West side and was fairly infrequent. It is mostly a slab and boulder walk towards more level ground. Rogue Photonic & I angled to the Southeast since that appeared to be the most direct route down to Lake 10,992 which is directly West of the John Muir Trail. From the outlet of 10,992 it was a brush filled slope that we descended to the JMT directly below Selden Pass.
- The West Side
- The East side of the pass looking down from the top
- The pass is the low point on the ridge. You can clearly see the Class 3 shelf system to get you off the pass
