R03/R01 TR: Golden Sequoia Divide, Miter Basin, Cirque-Trailmaster Ridge, 6/1-3/2024

[jimmyjamhikes]

Hi everyone!

I just got back from a 40 mile trip from Horseshoe Meadows to Siberian Pass, Rocky Basin Lakes, the Boreal Plateau, Forgotten Canyon, Rock Creek, Miter Basin, Sky Blue Lake, Upper Soldier Lake, Army Pass, New Army Pass, and the ridge from there to Cirque Peak and Trailmaster Peak back down to Horseshoe Meadow.

Off the Cottonwood Pass Trail and PCT there were no people (solitude!), no mosquitoes (though they are starting to gather in the leeward side of bushes near water!), water crossings were manageable (knee-deep or lower), and there was plenty of snow but it was intermittent and easy to deal with everywhere up to 12,500 feet. I used microspikes sometimes but I never used my ice axe.

The route is here.

And the full write-up is here:

Golden Sequoia Divide

Here are some highlights:

Day 1 I took the Cottonwood Pass Trail and then the PCT to the Sequoia National Park border and then travelled cross-country, following the boundary between Sequoia and the Golden Trout Wilderness (I am calling this the "Golden Sequoia Divide") down to Rocky Basin Lakes.


Ice on Chicken Spring Lake


The Golden Sequoia Divide


Joe Devel Peak above Siberian Outpost


View towards the Boreal Plateau


Ridge on the Golden Sequoia Divide between Rocky Basin Lakes and unnamed lakes to the north


Rocky Basin Lakes

Day 2 I climbed back to the Golden Sequoia Divide and on to the Boreal Plateau. From there I departed the divide to circumnavigate Funston Lake and then head down Forgotten Canyon. At 10,100 feet I traversed down to the PCT at 9,600 feet (this was a mistake! Too many boulder fields. I should have traversed on a bench at 10,200 feet). From there I headed back up to the Rock Creek Trail and followed it up to Miter Basin. The trail was frequently underwater, especially in Miter Basin itself, so this felt a lot more like cross-country travel. By the time I reached camp at Sky Blue Lake I was pooped!


Rocky Basin Lakes from below...


...and from above!


The Boreal Plateau


Mount Anna Mills


Funston Lake


Forgotten Canyon, looking up...


...and looking down!


Siberian Creek


Rock Creek


Miter Basin


Sky Blue Lake


Me and The Miter

Day 3 I backtracked through Miter Basin to Upper Soldier Lake then up to the Langley Trail and down to Army Pass. It was windy and gray! I donned my rain gear and gloves to keep cozy the rest of the day. Then I headed up to New Army Pass, where I followed the ridge up and around to traverse below Cirque Peak and then down below Trailmaster Peak and back to Horseshoe Meadow via the creek leading down from Trailmaster Meadow.


Miter Basin


Tarn at top of descent to Lower Soldier Lake


Route down to Lower Soldier Lake


Upper Soldier Lake


Mount Langley from the meadow above Upper Soldier Lake


View back down to Upper Soldier Lake


View back towards the Golden Sequoia Divide


Army Pass


New Army Pass


Cirque Peak


View of Mineral King area from the Cirque-Trailmaster Ridge


Cirque Lake and South Fork Lakes


Chicken Spring Lake from above!


Trailmaster Peak


Trailmaster Meadow


And back to Horseshoe Meadow!

[Wandering Daisy]

From the map it looks like you looked down? passed by? New and Old Army passes, but actually descended farther south on a ridge. Good to know that there is another way down to Cottonwood trailheads. (I finally read your detailed trip report which answered this question).

Rocky Lakes look very nice- never thought of going there.

You put in some long mileage days given the ground conditions and elevation gains/losses - a bit too rigorous for me!

[jimmyjamhikes]

Yes, I looked down both Army Pass and New Army Pass but did not descend either. From New Army Pass I climbed the Cirque-Trailmaster ridge to 12,500 feet or so and then traversed and descended around and down to the Cottonwood Trailheads.

[John Harper]

Another incredible report, you certainly can cover ground. I'm headed to the South Fork Lakes in two weeks, at least it's ice free. Just need the damsel flies to start boogeying.

John

[wsp_scott]

Awesome trip (and report), you connected some neat places on an unusual loop.

A trip report on HST a couple years ago made the Rocky Lakes look interesting and looking down on Big Whitney Meadow from the PCT also looks appealing for an early season trip. I'm pretty sure I would not have thought to do the ridge walk along the Golden Sierra Divide, very cool views.

thanks for the report

[texan]

Excellent report to an area I have been too a lot. Rocky Basin Lakes used to have good golden trout but our fishless now. Funston Lake is a epic golden lake and so is Sky Blue Lake. Your pics are some of the best I have ever seen and the ground you cover per day is amazing. I am curious when you plan your trip how many miles to you plan per day as a max(20 maybe). Also your report shows how little snow the southern Sierra received this year compared to last year. Thanks again for posting, I need to get out there.

Texan

[jimmyjamhikes]

Thanks Texan! Yes I aim for 20, but off trail miles seem to count 2 for 1! I don't hike fast but I'm consistent and don't have the attention span for long breaks.

I think Southern Sierra had normal snow April 1 but it melted fast in May which seems to be becoming the new normal.

[giantbrookie]

Great report and what a neat trip which really gives us a snapshot of what conditions are like up there. What a difference a year makes. Sure, we knew 2024 wasn't as heavy a winter as 2023, but I didn't expect to see that much open ground at that elevation.

[wearigo]

Great report, thank you for sharing it! Snow aside, was the whole route class 2?

[LMBSGV]

I finally had tme to read the wonderful full report and look more closely at the gorgeous photos. You sure put in the miles every day and what an interesting, creative route! Thank you for sharing.