McCabe Pass

[jhevener]

Anyone out there with more recent intel on McCabe Pass? Taking a Scout Group on a 5 day next Saturday. They have some experience X-County but want to keep to basic Class 2 and not Class 3. We are currently planning on coming in Saddlebag and ultimately going over to McCabe lakes and onto PCT and exiting Tuolumne Meadows. We got aced out on permits for Kearsage and it looks like Saddlebag in no-quota with ability to camp on the Yosemite side and exit at Tuolumne.

[Harlen]

Hello J,
I wonder how your trip went? That was a clever re-route you created, and into spectacular high country. We love the wide open basin just after crossing McCabe Saddle, the upper lake and the view of the west wall of Shepherd Crest.

I have never circled back through Yosemite to the Toulumne trailheads-- did you guys come out below Dog Lake?
I assume you had 2 cars strategically placed? Any luck sighting animals, fishing? We'd love to hear about any trip that includes young people in the mountains.

I wish we would have seen your post when it was first written to comment on that tricky crossing of McCabe Saddle--I hope you got all the boys over. I would have mentioned the nice and easy climb from the saddle up Shepherd Crest, which we have done a few times with kids and one very pregnant woman (my wife Lizzie @ 8 months!)
Sorry about the lack of replies to your query jhenever; it was not for lack of interest at all, just too much going on for many people in mid-summer.

Okay J, just thought I'd reach back in time to see if I might pull a story (yours) out of the HST hat. Ian and Lizzie.