Italy Pass and Hilgard Branch to JMT

[iluka]

Hi,

A big thanks to everyone for all of their great advice last year as my wife and I planned our trip.

We're slated to head down that way from the Pacific Northwest late next week and I had a few questions I was hoping to get some information on about a route we were planning. I've got a permit to go in over Italy Pass, descend to the JMT, come over Selden Pass then head up Paiute and French Canyon before going out over Pine Creek Pass. My questions are:

1) Is the trail from Italy Pass down to Lake Italy snow free?

2) Is it best to go around the north or south side of Lake Italy?

3) Can anyone provide some information on the Hilgard Branch section between Lake Italy and the JMT? I'm trying to get a sense of what the cross country travel is like. I've heard about some trickier sections with some exposure but am having trouble finding some good information. Just trying to make sure my wife will be comfortable on that section. Any information would be appreciated.

I can promise good beta on routes in the PNW in return for those who are interested!

Thanks for the help!

[Carne_DelMuerto]

Here's a post from this week that addresses some of your questions about the Lake Italy area: viewtopic.php?t=23711

As for traveling the Hilgard Branch, I hiked up it a few years ago and found it very easy. I believe there is a trail most, if not all, of the way. There might have been a few spots that require your hands, but nothing scary. The lower section where the valley flattens out is a lovely area.

[FrankPS]

Go around the south side of Italy Lake. There will likely be a couple of snowfields on the south side. I have crossed one, but gone up and over the other. That will depend on your comfort level.

[Harlen]

I'm with FrakPS, having just returned from there. If you look at the first photo linked by Carne_DelMuerto, you can see the tail end of hte route down to Lake Italy from Italy Pass and Jumble Lake. The awful section of unstable talus/boulder field on the southern side of Lake Italy is the area more to the south-east side of the lake, what you'll need to do is shown in the photos linked above. I may have a distant shot of the awful section, to give you confidense that what you'll need to cross is not too bad:

[ Note-- You should be able to click twice on the image to expand it.] I believe within the red is the very worst of it, and only those who need to move northward, to Gabbot Pass, or Cox Col, or ??? will need to cross there. You'll be heading west toward Hilgard Branch. Even the bad section shown doesn't look too hard to cross over the top. Good luck on your trip, Ian.