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Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:35 am
Another variation if you start at Roads End you could also do; Day1 Sphinx Lakes, Day2 Reflection Lake, Day3 upper Kern via Little Joe Pass. It would be harder but is very spectacular…
If you consider this variation, you might check out this report: viewtopic.php?t=19061
… Bubbs > Sphinx Lakes > Sphinx Pass > Cinder Col > Longley Pass > Lake Reflection
… done (in 2018) by a couple of 15 year-olds and a 14 year-old
Well worth a read, in any case.
Wandering Daisy - When you say Sphinx to LR in a day, thats via Sphinx pass, cinder col, and Longley pass? Thats doable in a day? I've been to sphinx and brewer lakes and have always wanted to complete the loop and see Lake Reflection.
Also, I have never been south of there, so this thread and the accompanying map study is fascinating. Cheers to all and heres to an exciting season ahead
Is it doable in a day - the day after you've done 5000' up on day one? My legs feel it getting to Sphinx lakes on day one so I schedule a much easier day two. Myself, I want to push my legs harder in the less scenic spots so that I have some time to enjoy the more perfect spots. And SL basin is a pretty perfect spot.
thegib wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 7:44 am
Is it doable in a day - the day after you've done 5000' up on day one? My legs feel it getting to Sphinx lakes on day one so I schedule a much easier day two. Myself, I want to push my legs harder in the less scenic spots so that I have some time to enjoy the more perfect spots. And SL basin is a pretty perfect spot.
Yeah getting to Sphinx Lakes Basin beat me up pretty good! One of 3 times I've vomited the first day:)
I'd much rather go down Little Joe than Harrison. It only involves a bit more route finding. And considering it faces West snow will be less of an issue than the steep North side of Harrison.
Going up the West side of Pants or Pyra Queen is a mission. Pants is just a loose nasty mess on that side. It isn't particularly dangerous but will be a stamina slog. Pyra Queen is a bit more dangerous on either side and a job. Especially the talus slogs.
The Sphinx Lake idea it's not very difficult to do those three passes in a day. None of them are very difficult or too far apart. It's about 7.2 miles from Sphinx Lakes to Lake Reflection.
If you are planning this trip this summer the road to Roads End is closed the entire year. Perhaps you would meet some construction workers who would give you a ride but I doubt they are allowed to do such.
The O.P. was only active for a couple of times on the day they signed up, and that was in January.
It’s been an interesting discussion for the rest of us, but I’m somewhat doubtful that the O.P. is paying any attention to it.