R03/R01 TR: High Sierra Trail loop from Whitney Portal 9/3-9/13 2008

[sekihiker]

I really enjoyed your report with the many fine photos. You manage to find some places to take photos that capture the essence of a place, e.g.; View to Nine Lakes Basin from the dead-end notch, View towards Keweah Gap and Big Arroyo, Along Wallace Creek below the PCT, and sunrise on the Keweahs. Thanks for posting. Keep looking for/reprocessing those reports that have never been posted.

[Jim F]

WD, Thanks for this great TR of a long and adventuresome outing.

kpeter and WD, To travel cross country from Timberline Lake to the lowest Crabtree Lake, I have found the following to provide uneventful passage: From the outlet of Timberline Lake, ascend the barren rocky bench immediately to the south. It rises perhaps 100 feet above the outlet and puts the hiker on the 11200' contour. Take off for the Crabtree Lake by staying on the 11200' contour for the next half mile, Then continue south (losing some elevation) for a half mile until the use trail leading up to the Lake is reached. From there, the trail leads one quickly up to the Lake. This one mile cross country path (strewn with some old tin cans from another era) is easy terrain and keeps one clear of a steep canyon immediately to its north and west.

Jim

[creekfeet]

Lovely report from what sounds like quite the amazing trip! The zoomed in shot you got at Precipice where the lake has that lush shade of blue is truly special. In my experiences at Precipice, the water's always had a nearly black hue. I guess it was worth waiting around those extra few hours! It's too bad the hot springs were crowded. I've somehow managed to have them all to myself the two times I camped there, but I feel like if it were crowded I would just go to bed super early, get up at like 3 AM, and soak the night away.

Regarding Gallats Lake, I'm curious how much it's shrunk since you were there in 2008. From your photo it doesn't look like much of a lake, but it's hard to tell exactly. When I saw it in 2013, it was little more than a wide riverbed. Guessing these days, it's essentially just a meadow.

[Harlen]

Wandering Daisy wrote: I can see where Wallace Lake would be a wonderful winter ski trip. The open terrain and relatively safe routes in (except any objective dangers going over Trail Crest) make it pretty safe. How is skiing over Trail Crest rated for difficulty and danger?

The photo above is from nearly the same vantage point as your photo captioned: Hitchcock Lakes from Trail Crest. If this is the way down, I'll be in trouble on skis, so they will be tied to my pack most of the way down. I'd love to have a camp right by those frozen Hitchcock Lakes, and I reckon it's a paradise for skiing all around the Kern Basin. I will probably wait for more snow.

[paul]

I think it would be easier to get to Wallace lake on skis by way of Shepherd Pass. From everything i have heard, the only challenging bit on that pass is a short stretch just below the pass on the east. Once at the pass, all that mellow terrain opens up. I havent done it, but I have considered it pretty thoroughly and spoken to those who have been over the pass on skis. Definitely crampons and ice axe for the ascent. For me, same for the descent, as I would not have the skills to ski that headwall. Certainly no shortage of options once over Shepherd pass. The biggest challenge would be how many days worth of food you could lug up to the pass!
As for trail crest as a ski crossing, the only person i know who has been in from the portal on skis did not drop down from Trail Crest, but instead dropped off to the north off the summit of Whitney. Come to think of it, he might even have gone up the Mountaineers Route instead of climbing the slope next to the switchbacks; but not sure of that.

[Lumbergh21]

Great report. Loved the photos and hope to visit most of those places myself someday soon (had planned on it this year and had the permit, but life got in the way). I'm planning on doing some fishing too. Just watched a series of YouTube videos documenting a fishing trip into Crabtree Lakes (though he didn't say where he was, I'm pretty sure it was Sky Blue day 1 and Crabtree on day 2).

[michaelzim]

Daisy...I can only second the thanks and kudos for giving us yet another great TR and wonderful photos. It must take quite an effort to revamp all that but worth it as we get to see it. Not dated at all, as the mountains (outside fire zones that is) are thankfully not changing much in beauty.
Hopefully your efforts will inspire others to post trip reports of years past to spice up the coming winter days - and I put myself in that category too. Not sure I could do such a great job of remembering trips way back as you do though!

Thanks much ~ Michaelzim

[Wandering Daisy]

Before I posted on HST I was a member of another backpacking forum and posted there. Unfortunately, when I upgraded my computer, I lost the original text on many old trips. Fortunately, I backed up original photos. Also, when I used the USGS maps, I wrote trip notes on the backs. I cannot guarantee that the trip reports are 100% accurate.

A benefit of creating a new trip report from photo dates, is that it really jogs my memory! I guess that proves I am not ready to be committed to a memory care unit! Another benefit is that it gives me ideas for future trips and avoid an area if past trips simply did not show that it was that great.

Thanks for reading the report.