Silver Divide Advice

[wildhiker]

The only time I've been to Hortense Lake, we started from the McGee Pass trail just below Tully Lake. We walked up near a small stream to Cotton Lake (outstanding campsite view), then down its outlet stream to the south end of Izaak Walton Lake, then roughly contoured over to Mace Lake, then over a low saddle to the south end of Hortense Lake. We worked our way along the west side of Hortense Lake. A couple of times we had to climb up and over rocky areas that cliffed out at lake level. Then we basically paralleled the outlet stream, staying back a bit, until we intersected the JMT right at the Fish Creek bridge. This was over 20 years ago, so the details are hazy in my memory, but I don't remember any difficult sections.
-Phil

[Gogd]

With regard to Graveyard Pass, however, did you mean "the NORTH side is a boulder scramble"?

With regard to the approaches to Hortense, do I understand your 2nd and 3rd potential approaches as coming very near Mace Lake and approaching Hortense from the south end? There is something appealing about gaining 600 or 800 out of the 1000 feet elevation on a main trail, as compared with going up the outlet. Follow up: is there a use trail from the Fish Creek/McGee Pass trail up to Isaac Walton Lake? Would that be similar to the 2nd and 3rd options? Fish Creek Trail > Walton > Mace > Hortense ?

Graveyard Pass:
Yes, @ kpeter, I meant south side of Graveyard Pass, but I was in error. Your questioning compelled me to recheck my claim, and now realize I was confusing Graveyard Pass with the the pass further west along the Silver Divide crest, between Peak 11225 and Graveyard Peak, above Anne Lake, that we used to summit Graveyard peak. Sorry for the confusion.

Use trail for Isaac Walton Lake
It was pretty easy free styling our own routes, as it is for several other lakes along that portion of the Silver Divide. There were ducks all over the place - all were unnecessary IMO - but we did not see a continuous, well defined, use trail to Isaac Walton or for that matter between the other lakes in that area, but things may have changed. My trips were 20+ years ago. Even then there was a lot of XC activity, visiting many of the lakes from Hortense, east to Red and White Lake. I imagine increased usage due to the popularity of UL and XC may have resulted some XC routes getting more established the meanwhile. Thus I would not be surprised if there is now a use trail - or two or three - to Isaac Walton. I concur with Wildhiker: route finding among the lakes along the north side of that section of the Silver Divide is a really pleasant meander, nothing to fret over.

Ed

[SSSdave]

Have been waiting for a big winter to return to upper Fish Creek areas of the Silver Divide as have unfinished business. So this summer qualifies about late July through early August for peak photography aesthetics. May instead do a less likely Bear Creek trip if a couple others decide to, so likely will do so mid week at short notice depending on weather windows. Above remotely in trees about a good 300 yards from trail, will be my primary base camp zone. Note the modest trail days and vertical climbs leaving much time for an elaborate itinerary of specific photography.

[Alpine high]

I totally agree with kpeter. That boulder field would be quite challenging if it were snow covered. I have done it many times and would not attempt it if were covered in snow.