Darwin Lakes boulder avoidance?

[druid]

Obviously the easiest way to avoid boulders is to walk through the lake.

But only if you have the ability to walk right on the surface, like Peter Sellers.

[scottmiller]

Thanks for the advice. Walking through the water is actually sometimes an option. I avoided a cliff-like route once by wading around it.
It looks like there are camp sites at lake #4, so if we're pooped out after coming over the pass we can tackle the rest of it the next day.

[Trailguru]

We just got back from a trip from South Lake to North Lake by cutting across Lamarck Col 2 weeks ago so I think I can provide some insight. it's true what most have said. If you stick close to the lakes thats thats all in all the best and fastest way to navigate around Darwin Canyon. The big boulder issue did occur to us around lake #3 where the water levels were too deep to walk across. In fact, I took a picture and a video because I saw a guy sitting on a boulder after a swim just on the other side.

Your best bet is to just climb the boulders and find a path through it. Just be careful. Those boulders were mountaintops at some point. Some were pretty shaky from what I recall. There were a group of 5 trail runners who effortless were hopping those boulders but it's much more difficult with a 30lb pack.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QFu8ybtXjkXTtrsh8

[kuhio]

There were a few boulders to navigate. We had no problem even with packs loaded for 10 nights of luxury camping. I think maybe at one location by buddy with bad knees handed down his pack to me. A few photos from a trip over Larmarck a couple of years ago:

High Sierra 2019-77 by Brian Hetke, on Flickr


High Sierra 2019-78 by Brian Hetke, on Flickr

High Sierra 2019-29 by Brian Hetke, on Flickr

Bonus McGee Lakes Basin Pic:

High Sierra 2019-14 by Brian Hetke, on Flickr

[scottmiller]

To answer my own question, having just returned from Darwin Lakes, there is no secret sauce route, as far as I could tell. I followed the anglers trail next to the shore that led me into the land of huge boulders at the western end of lake 4. My hiking buddy climbed and picked his way through, but I don't like big boulders, so I went up a ways where the boulders were smaller and made a level traverse across them. The boulders are still tricky; this isn't a case where you can walk across, but for me it was a lot easier and less annoying than by the shore. So, unless you don't mind navigating car-sized boulders, go up and then across. The rest of the boulder crossings along the lakes are easy.

[Wandering Daisy]

Looking forward to your trip report!

[sparky]

through the lake? I prefer to walk on the lake