Route Inquiry - please help me plan a trip of a lifetime

[frozenintime]

if whitebark is an issue, there is a possibly less snowy and steep pass to its east (photo below).

i'm also curious if others echo horscht's concern about lake basin by mid/late august?

[Horscht]

Moin Ian, I think you got the basics covered, but should we ever meet on trail (maybe in Greenland?) it would be my pleasure to teach you a few more important words like Herrengedeck, Küstennebel or Glühwein.

As for your nose, please keep sticking it in, this intel is exactly what I was looking for. I was only pondering over Twin Lakes as an exit point since my original plan was to hike the SHR. But the only hard boundary condition is that I have to reach my flight home from San Francisco on the 6th which gives me 3 or 4 days for segment 4 - depending on wether I need a zero for re-civilisation.

I think Yosemite Valley to San Francisco is a bit easier, logistically speaking, so thanks for your additional ideas. I had similar thoughts about Roosevelt (what about Don’t Be A Smart Pass?) and Young Lakes earlier but was intrigued by your pics of upper Virginia Canyon and really would love to get there. So I might cross McCabe on day 1 and continue to the head of Virginia Canyon as per your original itinerary. Long day but by then I should be fit enough. I could return to McCabe via Return and Soldier Lake or cross Stanton pass if conditions allow and bushwhack my way down Spiller Creek. Day 3 would be either just down to Tuolumne Meadows to catch the hiker’s bus to Yosemite Valley or all the way to Upper Cathedral Lake - a stop in Tuolumne Meadows for the night is unfortunately not possible this year.

But I could also get to San Francisco via Bridgeport and Reno and follow one of your other brilliant ideas. Or I climb a mountain from McCabe Pass and leave Virginia Canyon for another time.
Oh, too many options, too little time, so like I said, I have to come back for a second trip of a lifetime…
Cheers, Christian

[Horscht]

Frozenintime, thanks for your suggestion about the pass east of Whitebark, but unfortunately, the photo doesn't show.
Do you mean the saddle between peaks 10689 and 10699 on the CalTopo MapBuilder Topo? That actually looks a little steeper on the north side, at least to my eyes. Or the one east of Garnet Peak? That looks less steep but do you know if it is possible to get there via Nydiver Lakes without getting back down to Ediza first?
Thanks and regards, Horscht

if whitebark is an issue, there is a possibly less snowy and steep pass to its east (photo below).

i'm also curious if others echo horscht's concern about lake basin by mid/late august?

[Harlen]

Horscht, we're sure you will make this a great and memorable summer in the Sierra, and we look forward to hearing stories, and seeing the photos from this epic. "Ein Glowein" indeed-- Zum Wohl! Ian.

[frozenintime]

whoops here's the photo of our route.

[cgundersen]

Hi Horscht,

OK, Ian and Frozenintime certainly covered a lot of issues, so to your question about Puppet pass: both because it's one of the more commonly used passes in that area (which means there should be tracks from others having done it) and because in my book it's a pretty easy off trail segment, I think you'll be fine. It's certainly a compelling route into Bear Lake area!

I've not done the route shown by Frozenintime, so I cannot comment explicitly. Still for how fast the snow has been melting, I think you may be OK on Whitebark. If not, there is a use trail that largely tracks the Nydiver Lakes creek which would take you to the Shadow Lake trail and the JMT which probably is easier than climbing back up on Frozen's route......but maybe less interesting? Probably roll the dice at that point! And regardless, as Ian emphasized, here's hoping it all goes fantastically! Cheers, Cameron

[papercup]

In case it's still useful, I agree that Puppet Pass should be OK. Most of it is just cross-country walking, with a small rocky section like so:



I also very much endorse your decision to go to Bear Lakes Basin. It remains one of my favorite basins, and in addition to the big views from Vee Lakes, etc, it is also full of beautiful little pockets like this one:



The Dancing Bear / Italy Pass access is fairly easy and safe, which can give you some security in the event that any other access point feels uncomfortable.

Finally, when you enter over Kearsarge, consider staying a night at Kearsarge Lakes, and take a little time to find a great campsite. They are popular and usually fairly crowded with other groups, but are just beautiful: