Petit Griffon Notch passable?

[michaelpappas]

I'm trying to get to Upper Mills Creek Lake and was curious if anyone knows if the notch between Petit Griffon and Mt. Abbot is passable. I came through that part of the SHR (NOBO) a couple of years ago and remember thinking that going up Second Recess would be kind of miserable so this shortcut seems would bypass all of that and many miles of hiking along Mono Creek.

[giantbrookie]

I do not believe this is a feasible non-technical (ie <class 4) backpacking route. This is the Mills-Abbot saddle. It is not listed as a cross country pass in Secor, but it is mentioned in the context of climbing Petite Griffon "The couloir that leads to the saddle between Mount Mills and Mt Abbot is 1000 feet long and 40° steep" (ie this is a highly technical ice route). From the sound of it you're trying to find a shortcut to get from Little Lakes Valley to Upper Mills Creek L. If you want a shorter route than via Mono Pass, descending Mono Creek, then ascending Mills Creek, the alternative is to go over the top of high point 13120+ N of Bear Creek Spire (easier and more pleasant than doing the low point N of Bear Spire known as Cox Col) then traversing to Gabbot Pass. I did this in 2020 coming from Spire Lake: Peppermint Pass, then the lump N of Bear Creek Spire, traverse, then over Gabbot Pass to Upper Mills Creek Lake.

[michaelpappas]

I do not believe this is a feasible non-technical (ie <class 4) backpacking route. This is the Mills-Abbot saddle. It is not listed as a cross country pass in Secor, but it is mentioned in the context of climbing Petite Griffon "The couloir that leads to the saddle between Mount Mills and Mt Abbot is 1000 feet long and 40° steep" (ie this is a highly technical ice route). From the sound of it you're trying to find a shortcut to get from Little Lakes Valley to Upper Mills Creek L. If you want a shorter route than via Mono Pass, descending Mono Creek, then ascending Mills Creek, the alternative is to go over the top of high point 13120+ N of Bear Creek Spire (easier and more pleasant than doing the low point N of Bear Spire known as Cox Col) then traversing to Gabbot Pass. I did this in 2020 coming from Spire Lake: Peppermint Pass, then the lump N of Bear Creek Spire, traverse, then over Gabbot Pass to Upper Mills Creek Lake.

Thanks for the beta especially about Cox Col! I would have assumed it was the way to go. I found Gabbot pass to be pretty enjoyable.