R03/R01 TR: 7/21/14-7/25/2014 Big Pine to Taboose- via Marion Lake

[bigpiney]

Day 1 – South fork Big Pine to Elinore Lake – Got a late start, but this is pretty straight forward. The wayfinding above Willow Lake is a bit difficult. Crossing the creek that outlets from Finger Lake was cold but doable. Stay on the south side of the creek on the way up to the outlet of Elinore.

DSCF0687 by minnnneeee, on Flickr



Day 2 – Over Scimitar Pass.

Had a nice clear morning for heading of the pass. Just perfect weather.

DSCF0682 by minnnneeee, on Flickr

This is a fun climb and the wayfinding is quite easy. Descending on the west side is pretty straightforward. Did end up lowering the packs down the little escarpment/waterfall. Only class 3 portion of the whole pass. From the top we could look towards Observation Peak and see where we were headed tomorrow.

From Scimitar by minnnneeee, on Flickr


We then proceeded down Glacier Creek (huge props to Maverick who gave the info for staying on the south side of the creek). Going down Glacier Creek is not that difficult of cross country travel, but I would not want to climb up that. We then crossed over Palisade Creek and eventually found the use trail that is on the west side of Cataract Creek.

Up the Cataract Creek Trail by minnnneeee, on Flickr

We weren’t looking for it, just stumbled upon it while going up the drainage. Followed that all the way up to Amphitheater Lake. What a beautiful basin.

Amphitheater Lake with Cataract Creek Pass by minnnneeee, on Flickr

Day 3 – In the morning we went up and over Cataract Creek Pass, which was super easy due to almost no snow at all (thank you drought), up Observation Peak. From here we had a great view of the rest of the day and a nice preview of Dumbell Pass.

Dumbbell Lake by minnnneeee, on Flickr


Then through Dumbbell Lakes basin, which is a wonderful stroll and then over Dumbbell Pass to Marion Lake for a nice evening, but our first encounter with other people on the trip.

Marion Lake by minnnneeee, on Flickr

Day 4 – Up Marion Pass. This is not technical at all. Just follow the drainage up to the small pond above Marion Lake and then head south and up towards the lighter colored rocks that make a path within the red of the darker mountain (seen above on the picture of Marion Lake).

Most technical part of Marion Pass by minnnneeee, on Flickr

From the top of Marion Pass we had planned to climb Marion Peak, but my friend who can get a bit sketched out from heights took one look at it and said no way.

Marion Peak with Marion Pass in foreground(colored stripe) by minnnneeee, on Flickr

So we headed east instead and traversed along Cirque Crest (really easy and fun) to basin south of Cartridge Pass and to old John Muir Trail.

Cirque Crest by minnnneeee, on Flickr

From there we followed Old JMT (which really is fun) down to the South Fork of Kings and then hiked up to Striped Mtn lakes. What a view. The pictures don't do it justice.

Striped Mtn by minnnneeee, on Flickr

Day 5 –Up and over Taboose to trailhead. This is a long slog. Glad we were going down and not up.

Wish we would have had more time, but such is life. Better late than never on the trip report I guess.

[maiathebee]

Cool! Looks like a great trip. Love that shot from Scimitar Pass. Love that area in general. Thanks for posting a report

[windknot]

Great report and cool route, thanks for sharing!

[paul]

Bigpiney - any chance you have photos or memories on what the south side of Marion Pass (where you didn't go down) looked like? Trying to figure out if it is fairly normall scree like the north side appears to be, or something loose and nasty. Thanks for your help.

[Wandering Daisy]

Beautiful photos and a great route. I did not see this post when it was first posted. I am glad it got bumped up. The first two days of your route is rarely used or reported.

[Harlen]

Nice trip--those are some pretty burly day. Over Scimitar and on to Amphitheater is quite a day, and your Day 4, from Marion Lake to Striped Mt. Lakes is also a helluva day! Kudos.