R03/R01 TR: Gould Pass ~ Cross Country to Rae Lakes July 2012

[Bluewater]

Thanks Mradford. Big mountain scenery is what I've been waiting for all winter.

Q, there is a free download from Google that is safe called Google Earth that will automatically open the kmz files once it's been installed. The kmz files will fly you right to the spot. Here's the link:

http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's an amazing tool for checking out new routes etc.

I hope that helps!

Andy.

[Bluewater]

Bluewater, thanks for the info.
Unfortunately Microsoft wants to sell me something before letting me open the kmz files.

quentic: I figured out how to save a screen shot of the route from google earth. This might give a better idea of the route options to Gould Pass.

south side of ridge to gould pass

north side of ridge to gould pass

[Hobbes]

I figured out how to save a screen shot of the route from google earth. This might give a better idea of the route options to Gould Pass.

That is some rad stuff! Thanx for the .kmz files - I had my 1:24k map out as an x-ref and could clearly see the correct path on the contour lines. Here's my attempt at marking the key spots on Acme:

[quentinc]

Guys, thanks for the Google Earth photos and Acme mapper. Hobbes, on the Acme, from the contour lines I would have guessed the pass was between A and B, slightly closer to B. Maybe that's why it was so confusing for Bluewater in real time.

[Bluewater]

"That is some rad stuff! Thanx for the .kmz files - I had my 1:24k map out as an x-ref and could clearly see the correct path on the contour lines. Here's my attempt at marking the key spots on Acme:"

That Acme map has great resolution, what a resource. Thanks Hobbes. Point A looks like where I crossed the ridge and point B must be the pass.

The pass seems to be called either Gould or Dragon Pass. It's labelled as Dragon Pass in Sierra South by Kathy Morey and it is described as an option to Gould Pass by Secor, "The other option is Dragon Pass. Climb the broad talus gully that leads west from Lake 11,360 toward the ridge crest. . . climb class 2 ledges and talus to the Sierra crest. Either continue south along the crest to Gould Pass or go north a couple hundred feet to a class 2 chute that descends the west side of the crest to Lake 12,000".

dragon pass route

A wooden post is described as marking the location of Gould Pass, but I didn't see one from the pass I crossed. I found this Sierra Club photo from the pass.

wooden post at gould pass

Secors description mentions two talus slopes on the west side of Gould Pass, "When approaching this pass from the west, make the final approach via the southern of two talus slopes". Another Sierra Club photo.

west side approach to gould pass

It's all inconsequential, like Maverick posted it is more about the cross country experience than finding any specific route. It doesn't get much better than wandering around the High Sierra in the summer!

[austex]

Yes, Acme mapper is great! I stumbled upon it about a year ago.