GENERAL OVERVIEW: This pass allows you to access the western side of the Le Conte Divide without wrapping around into Goddard Canyon and using Hell-for-Sure Pass. Hence, it connects the basin of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River with this area.
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 2
LOCATION: John Muir Wilderness; Due North of Upper Indian Lake
ELEVATION: 10, 460 ft.
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt. Henry;
HST Map: HST Map
This is a decent option for getting up into the high country from the South Fork of the San Joaquin (as it's approaching Florence Lake), or getting back down to the river after being in the back country. The photos posted below show the extraordinarily kind, class 1 approach from the south (around the shore of Upper Indian Lake). The mini-surprise comes when you finish your water break at the lake and wander a bit further to look down the chute toward Heather Lake. Yes, it's a jumble of boulders and some of them refuse to get out of your way. I even asked nicely and they refused. So, unkind! Well, take your time and you'll leave the jumble behind. Since one descends quickly into trees beyond Heather Lake, we did not get a good shot up at the pass from the Heather (north) side, but I know from past experience that if you managed to find Heather Lake, you'll find Mosquito Pass. One caveat: the one time I went up Mosquito pass, there was an ornery gob of ice about half way up the pass and it was a real pain to get over it. Keep this in mind if you're on a tight time schedule (like, trying to catch the last ferry at Florence), because I'm sure it's worse going down the ice than going up!
- Upper Indian Lake with the approach to Mosquito Pass in the center of the frame.
- Closing in on the pass
- View back across Upper Indian just above Mosquito Pass
- Main chute of Mosquito Pass
- Another view of the chute
