Sonora Pass: Kennedy Creek/Leavitt Lake/Tower

[Odrob]

Fellow backpackers. I have a 9 day trip planned early September, just after Labor Day, potentially starting from Sonora Pass, although I’m hesitant due to exposure, heavy packs, and lack of water. Can anyone comment on the Kennedy Creek spring (just before Big Sam), if we can expect a water source there late in season, or is the way towards water down in Kennedy Canyon, just east?

Also, can anyone comment on the status on the jeep trail to Leavitt Lake? Have a Bronco Sport with ‘rock crawl’ capabilities that should be able to make it to Leavitt. My preference is to start at Leavitt Lake rather than Sonora Pass - solves water problem starting from Sonora Pass. If trail is in rough sorts then I’ll opt for Sonora Pass.

If you’ve made it this far, and still want to help guide our unknowns… We plan on XTC from Cora/Helen Lake to Tower Lake. I’ve read (Emigrant Wilderness by Schifrin) there are two options, up and over from Helen to Tower, or go around the saddle above Cora, heading over to Tower. Is any route preferable/easier? Once we get to Tower, it’s up and over to Mary, which by all accounts seems like a straight forward route to Tilden.

Appreciate the insights in advance. Plan on sharing the trip with the community once I’m back. Cheers

[texan]

I would contact Bridgeport Ranger Station about the jeep road to Leavitt Lake. They usually give you good info. I haven't been over it in years but any high clearance 4X4 should be OK(we had a jeep wrangler no problem), but I don't know about the road condition from last year's heavy snow pack. That's why I would call Bridgeport Ranger Station. I have gone CC from Tower many times to Mary and it's not difficult. I have NOT gone XC from the other sister lakes to Tower so maybe some body else can chime in. I think GB did that route before. Cheers.

Texan(Mike)

[giantbrookie]

Going between Lake Helen and Tower Lake is not difficult. The pass is pretty ordinary class 2. I did this on a dayhike from Tower Lake one afternoon after climbing Tower Peak. This is probably the most direct route between the Dorothy Pass region and Mary Lake but it is not the only one. You can also get to Mary by "wrapping around the corner" from Dorothy Lake, heading through the gap between Keyes Pk and Saurian Crest, then doing a high descending traverse that goes over the southern ridge from Saurian Crest at about 10080+ elev, passing above a small unnamed lake then finishing at the outlet end of Mary. This is described in the following trip report from 2021 (day 3 of that report): viewtopic.php?p=167118#p167118

I think the route finding is much more straightforward on the Helen-Tower Pass and then the gap through to Mary, however. The route finding on the "round the corner" western route requires some finesse to avoid cliffs, boulder fields, and brush.

The main motivation for the western route for those for whom fishing is a priority is that Stella, Helen, Cora, and Tower Lake are fishless (fish populations were killed off some years ago) whereas Dorothy has decent sized rainbows.

[BillyBobBurro]

The road to Leavitt lake should be fairly easy with your standard 4x4 and a little searching on youtube will likely bring up a recent overlander video of the drive up. This area has unfortunately become one of the standard destinations for the overlander community.

I am pretty confident that the kennedy creek headwaters will have water. There was flowing water during late summer of 2021 when I was there. The geology of the area is a bit better at holding water and there are some persistent snowfields feeding kennedy creek.

[Odrob]

Texan, GiantBrookie, and BillyBobBurro - thank you all for your responses here. Every bit of detail builds confidence, even if I have many years experience under the belt, every trip has its nuances.

Brookie: Likely will opt for the straight forward Helen Lake pass to Tower Lake, but that Dorothy Lake "wrapping the corner" to Saurian Crest is an interesting route (my squad will probably say no way.....) No doubt will take some mental notes when hiking from Mary to Tilden when viewing that ridge down to Mary Lake. These are the routes I live for.

BillyBobBurro: Kennedy Creek headwaters insight is key. Depending how the hike from Sonora Pass to the headwaters, we may end up base camping up there before an early hike to Cora Lake.

Cant wait to post the trip for everyone whose assisted.