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cgundersen wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2023 3:54 pm
Nice get Jim! I suspect that one could keep plenty busy trying to trace lots of those old trails which undoubtedly have fallen into disrepair either because they are no longer maintained and/or because they have been replaced by a trail taking a different route.
I've been curious about the old trails that used to continue down Big arroyo Creek, below the Soda Creek Confluence, that once tied into Rattlesnake Creek to the south, and Sky Parlor Meadow to the north. https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.441 ... o=r&n=0.25 I think that'd make a fine far side section for a big loop hike out of Mineral King. My research has concluded the old routes are way too obstructed with blow downs and understory flora to make it feasible as a XC without pack animal support.
Ed
The old trails are fun to explore! I've gone up to Moraine Lake from Big Arroyo, roughly following the route on the old topo you linked. It's rough, loose and steep, indeed, but essentially just a class 2 scramble. The word I had from old timer Gordon Peterson was go downstream of Soda Creek, on the NE side of Big Arroyo Creek, until across from Willow Creek, then head up. So just slightly north of the map trace. We did occasionally see faint semblance of trail and switchbacks, but nothing reliable. Also, absolutely not a place for any pack animals.
