R03/R01 TR: Gardiner Pass, Gardiner Basin exploration, 60 Lakes Col/Basin 6/16-6/19 2022

[sekihiker]

Great report with cool photos. I've been through the basin a couple of times and enjoyed it thoroughly.
http://www.sierrahiker.com/GardinerBasin/index.htm

[shtinkypuppie]

Great report with cool photos. I've been through the basin a couple of times and enjoyed it thoroughly.
http://www.sierrahiker.com/GardinerBasin/index.htm

Wow, it looks like we did nearly identical trips, including the side trip up the middle fork, thirty years apart. Awesome!

[kpeter]

Thoroughly enjoyed your report and the lovely photos. In the 1990s I followed the "trail" from Charlotte to the top of Gardiner Pass but did not ascend. The intermittent switchbacks you described sound very similar to what I found.

Almost all regions of the Sierra are riddled with former trails that have been allowed to deteriorate. There are several reasons for this, but I personally regret it. Nevertheless I find it something of an adventure to be able to spot remnants--those worn roots, the occasional old cut log, bits of rockwork, an ancient blaze--almost like a scavenger hunt.

[jshannon]

Thanks for the report. Two years back I took my first trip to the High Sierra in twenty years. The original plan was to come in via Baxter, head into Gardiner Basin via 60 Lakes Col, exit Gardiner via King Col, up to Window Peak Lake and back out Baxter. However, after reading about how dicey King Col was to some of the very experienced folks here, we skipped entering Gardiner Basin and only viewed it from the top of 60 Lakes Col.

While this means I have some unfinished business with Gardiner Basin - it looked beautiful (so are your pictures!) and am determined to go back some day - the righteous consolation prize was coming upon the 60 Lakes Basin bighorn sheep herd as we were day hiking to the Col. Definitely a breath-taking moment and one of my favorite wildlife experiences.