Route advice/suggestions

[gfordwv]

Planning a route in early August, starting from Kearsarge Pass. Was initially going to do southern portion of SEKI loop since we did the northern portion two years ago (modified by taking Roper's high route from Grouse Lake over Gray/White/Red passes, exiting the Lakes Basin via Cartridge Pass then picking up the JMT back to Bubbs Creek). However, I really enjoy off-trail travel and am considering a loop that would consist of: JMT to Lake South America trail, following past Casper Lake, up Milestone Creek and over Midway Col to Colby Lake, following Colby Pass trail down to Cloud Canyon, then up Cloud Canyon and over Lion Lake Pass to Tamarack Lake and following Lone Pine Creek down to Elizabeth Pass trail and following over Elizabeth and Avalanche passes to Bubbs Creek, then back up Bubbs to Kearsarge and out.

Questions:
Opinions on this route?
How feasible is this route for hikers comfortable with Class 2 but not interested in anything close to 3? I've found some beta on Lion Lake Pass that makes it sound doable but not much on Midway Col.
Is this route going to miss some "can't miss" sections of southern SEKI/HST that I'd regret not seeing?

Appreciate any insights!

[thegib]

My immediate pre-map thought is Midway Col (the only part I haven't done) is supposed to be closer to C3. I'd highly recommend going over Milestone pass to Milestone bowl. It's fabulously scenic and only the last part is rock hopping. Then you descend to the Colby pass trail at 11200'.
And, there's no need to hit Tamarack lake, just go over Coppermine pass/pk from the top of Cloud canyon. That'd be a fantastic route except dropping to Bubbs after being up so high would be tough.

[thegib]

Of course you could cut out a lot of trail miles and elevation swings by going back over the GWD instead of around it. Ascend Cunningham creek and go over Longley pass to lake Reflection would be one way. You can even stay high from Colby lake, (only the part crossing Thunder Mtn's west ridge is obnoxious), and do the same. Or descend Sphinx lakes and creek.

[creekfeet]

I've only done portions of this route, but thought I'd add that for me the descent from Lion Lake to Tamarack Lake was the scariest, most hellacious route I've done in the Sierra. I had to lower my pack with a rope multiple times before scrambling down gullies, and at times hacked through steep sections in waist-deep brush with the idea that if I slipped I at least wouldn't go tumbling down anywhere. It was also one of those routes that was a kind of optical illusion where it kept looking like I was about to hit the lake, only to find that I'd reached a plateau several hundred feet up. But all that being said, I descended on the north side of Lone Pine Creek, only to later learn that the conventional way to do the descent is on the south side. There's several trip reports here that describe that descent, and while it doesn't exactly sound like a barrel of laughs, it also seems much more plausible.

As for Tamarack Lake itself, it's a gorgeous spot with what I personally feel is the best waterfall in Sequoia NP, with a hundred foot true free fall that blasts over a protruding lip. You can actually climb up behind the fall, and experience it's total power and fury.

[gfordwv]

My immediate pre-map thought is Midway Col (the only part I haven't done) is supposed to be closer to C3. I'd highly recommend going over Milestone pass to Milestone bowl. It's fabulously scenic and only the last part is rock hopping. Then you descend to the Colby pass trail at 11200'.
And, there's no need to hit Tamarack lake, just go over Coppermine pass/pk from the top of Cloud canyon. That'd be a fantastic route except dropping to Bubbs after being up so high would be tough.

Thanks for the suggestions! Those make sense. Yes, it's a long haul back up Bubbs Ck to Kearsarge, that's gonna be rough at end of the trip.

[gfordwv]

I've only done portions of this route, but thought I'd add that for me the descent from Lion Lake to Tamarack Lake was the scariest, most hellacious route I've done in the Sierra. I had to lower my pack with a rope multiple times before scrambling down gullies, and at times hacked through steep sections in waist-deep brush with the idea that if I slipped I at least wouldn't go tumbling down anywhere. It was also one of those routes that was a kind of optical illusion where it kept looking like I was about to hit the lake, only to find that I'd reached a plateau several hundred feet up. But all that being said, I descended on the north side of Lone Pine Creek, only to later learn that the conventional way to do the descent is on the south side. There's several trip reports here that describe that descent, and while it doesn't exactly sound like a barrel of laughs, it also seems much more plausible.

As for Tamarack Lake itself, it's a gorgeous spot with what I personally feel is the best waterfall in Sequoia NP, with a hundred foot true free fall that blasts over a protruding lip. You can actually climb up behind the fall, and experience it's total power and fury.

Your descent from Lion lake sounds pretty brutal, but Tamarack sure sounds beautiful, I did read in some earlier research that you definitely want to stay on the south side of the creek on the descent.

[Wandering Daisy]

I have day-hiked the south side early season when Lion Lake was mostly frozen. It was mainly finding the small slots between numerous cliffy levels. I took different routes up and down. Both times had to backtrack a few times. Being north-facing, it was quite wet and I had to be careful not to slip on the grass. Later, this would likely be dry. If I had a large backpack, I probably would have lowered it on occasion. Just take your time, maybe putting down your pack to scout if needed, and bring some parachute cord. I camped at the top of the rock cliffs above Tamarak Lake because it was mosquito hell down at Tamarack Lake and windy at the top of the cliffs. To get to the lake I went down talus to the south shore. It is a mile or so downstream where the trail splits- one goes up to Elizabeth Pass and one crosses the creek to meet the trail to Hamilton Lake. I found the crossing at the trail a bit too swift (early season) so found a deeper but calm wading with a bit of bushwhacking to get back up to the trail. One reason the crossing at the trail is a bit scary, is that there is a big waterfall right below it.


I think I dropped down on the slopes shown directly left of Tamarak Lake on the bottom photo (mid left side of photo). My camp was on the timbered hill just above Tamarak Lake. The meadow shown was swampy and full of mosquitoes. 2006 was a high snowpack year.

south slope below Mt Stewart 7/11/06

down valley view from Lion Lake 7/11/06