R03/R01 TR: Sawmill to Taboose Creek, Lake Basins in between, 6/29-7/7 2024

[Wandering Daisy]

Having done both, what do you think of Sawmill Pass vs Taboose Pass? What a wonderful route- some of the finest scenery in the Sierra! You hit all of my favorite places. Although I may visit these again, I am a bit too old to do them all in one trip. I am amazed that you found a dead sheep in a lake, bird eggs, and rare flowers. I think you have a good eye for finding stuff. The good thing about Taboose Pass is that there is plenty of water to dampen clothes and sit in to cool off. Glad you got out without heat stroke! I have caught some large fish in the lakes below Striped Mountain. Every time I have used Taboose Pass I stop at those lakes. Thanks for putting in photos of the pass between Ampitheater and Upper Basin. I have always wondered about that pass.

[Harlen]

Hi WD,
First let me direct you to the Upper Basin Pass info in the BC passes resource section. cgundersen does a fine job of describing that crossing.

Secondly, re. Sawmill vs Taboose Creek Passes, I must say that I liked them both. Remember that wild Sierracharacter and consummate botonist Carl Sharsmith? Wasn't it him and his friends who would criss-cross the Sierra, moving from the very bottom to the top of the range in order to view all of the different life zones? That idea inspires me too, and passes like the big, long 4 allow for that kind of deep ecological view. That said, I reckon both are better done in the cold shoulder season. I enjoyed Taboose best in April and May. I might prefer Sawmill right now because of its newness to me, and because I felt the presence of the Bighorn Sheep so strongly there. My friends had a small herd just pop up right by them while traveling in that canyon, so I was primed for sheep sightings, though we had none -, but that makes it exciting nonetheless.

We found more nests, 5 in all, but either they weren't easily photographed, or we didn't want to add more disturbance to highly agitated parent birds. In the hot sun, the birds need to be brooding the eggs to avoid the tragic overheating of the eggs- death to the chicks. If you don't locate the nest quickly, best to just move on. I reckon I could've found at least 4 more nests if I was callous enough to keep searching, each time a bird flew up from under our legs.

And as for your damned large fish, keep it to yourself, or let me in on your secrets. Thanks for the comments, Ian.

[texan]

All I can say is wow. The pic of the King River High Country is outstanding . I can't get over it. Also the fish pic of golden rainbow hybrids, the middle one looks pure golden to me. Thank you for sharing, this is the best TR I have seen so far this year and the pics are incredible.

Texan(Mike)

[Flamingo]

Harlen, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your TR. Your stories, photos, and the route itself are fantastic. I’m glad you referenced KS Robinson, because it looks like you maximized your time in the “God Zone” of high basins, as he calls them. Your photographic eye for natural sights is applause-worthy... the thrush nest, junko nest, the drowned ewe, and the obsidian... your trip reminds me that the wilderness is filled with mystery and discovery.

At the 2017 HST meetup, at least a few of us visited that basin east of Arrow. (It had clouds of mosquitos then also.) The blue pools were remarkable... thanks for raising my curiosity about how/if it's the same phenomenon as Marion L.

Congrats on Arrow, Observation, and Split. Classic peaks

[druid]

What a wonderful trip report! The photos you and Eric took are outstanding. And it's always a delight to read your stories of your travels. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.

[wildhiker]

Thanks for posting so many fabulous photos of fantastic country. Sadly, most of those rugged peaks and canyons are beyond my abilities now. I am planning another trip to the gentler high country of Yosemite for August.
-Phil

[robertseeburger]

Ian, wow , what a great trip report.
There are so many aspects to this route but it is hard to write about each one.
But if I had to single out just one, it is the route between visits to the JMT. ( Window Peak Lake, and getting over to Arrow Peak).
It is spectacular scenery..and very few people do it. Then getting to Dumbbell lakes also....fantastic.
I really enjoyed reading the TR slowly... and going over every picture.

[Harlen]

robertseeburger wrote:

I really enjoyed reading the TR slowly... and going over every picture.

Even when you were maligned for taking all of the big fish from us?

I will also say that you made the White Fork Saddle- Ridge and Pass sound like a walk in the park, and we found it pretty rugged. Still, thanks for the inspiration to get in those wild places Robert.

[giantbrookie]

Holy smokes that is one heck of an off trail backpacking odyssey. You did what I did in two different trips (both of 8 day duration) and added some destinations. So it's sort of like doing 18 difficult (for me) days in 9. I would still like to get to/return to some of these places while I'm still physically able to.

[windknot]

Thanks for the terrific report! Wow, you covered a ton of ground in 9 days. Having not been up Sawmill myself, I was interested to see your photos and hear your opinion on Sawmill vs. Taboose. It does indeed look more colorful, but I can imagine it being really hot.

I might never make it to remote places like the Dumbbell Lakes Basin or the White Fork Basin, so I appreciate you taking us alongside your journey. And echoing Flamingo, I'm envious of your keen eye for observation -- the ducks, the deer, the bighorn, the sky pilot, the eggs, the clouds of mosquitos (okay, even I'm not so fish-addled that I can't notice those). The wonder of the high Sierra is always evident in your trip accounts.