Little Joe's Pass?

[foweyman]

I found a reference that called this route above Lake Reflection in southern Kings Canyon Nat. Park Little Joe's Pass. Is this a common name for this route or is it only used by a few?



A view from near the top of the avy chute looking back at Lake Reflection. South Guard is in the center and Mt. Brewer partly hidden on the right.

[maverick]

Name seems to be used by Bill Finch on this trip http://cvip.fresno.com/~jwf16/hrs.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and if you scroll to the bottom off this thread it is briefly discussed at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2689" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also a photo http://sierrahiker.home.comcast.net/~si ... kb207.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[sekihiker]

Little Joe Pass was named in the 1950's by campers at the Bob Mathias Boys camp. A dozen or so of the kids who went down the pass signed a paper with that declaration before stuffing it in a band-aid can and placing it in a cairn at the top of the pass. I first went over the pass from east to west in the early 1970's on a day hike that started at Lake Reflection, went into the Kern Headwaters (fishing not nearly as good as in the early 60's) and came out over Little Joe. Subsequently, I went up from the west in a trip documented at http://www.sierrahiker.com/KernBasinII/index.html
I came back home the same way. Some kind soul, making the wilderness more pristine for the rest of us, had removed the band-aid can from the cairn, yet it and a few other cairns remained in the area. The last time I used the pass is documented in a trip report found at http://www.sierrahiker.com/ThunderCol/index.html

[ExploreABitMore]

Haven't heard of this pass before. Could it be used to climb Mt Ericsson instead of say Lucy's Footpass, which sounds kinda nasty? Having a hard time picturing where Little Joe's is on the topo map. Thanks!

EDIT: just saw sekihiker's page and I have a pretty good feel where to go. Looks like it may be worthwhile for Ericsson!

[sekihiker]

Could it be used to climb Mt Ericsson instead of say Lucy's Footpass, which sounds kinda nasty?

Wouldn't an east side approach, like Shepherd Pass, be easier from Ridgecrest? I've always envied folks who could enter on the east side even though I know the going is tough on the first day or two.

Nasty may be an understatement for Lucy's. Lucy and Bolton Brown were really amazing explorers. It's a shame they weren't exploring our mountains a little longer.

[ExploreABitMore]

Could it be used to climb Mt Ericsson instead of say Lucy's Footpass, which sounds kinda nasty?

Wouldn't an east side approach, like Shepherd Pass, be easier from Ridgecrest? I've always envied folks who could enter on the east side even though I know the going is tough on the first day or two.

It might be, but I like to mix up the approaches and hit the West side too. Plus I gotta see Lake Reflection - have yet to visit that spot ;-)

[sekihiker]

It might be, but I like to mix up the approaches and hit the West side too. Plus I gotta see Lake Reflection - have yet to visit that spot ;-)

In that case, remember, there are two other, more conventional crossings of the Kings/Kern Divide in the area in case Little Joe doesn't look right; Harrison Pass and Milly's Foot Pass.

[ExploreABitMore]

It might be, but I like to mix up the approaches and hit the West side too. Plus I gotta see Lake Reflection - have yet to visit that spot ;-)

In that case, remember, there are two other, more conventional crossings of the Kings/Kern Divide in the area in case Little Joe doesn't look right; Harrison Pass and Milly's Foot Pass.

Thanks sekihiker. Nice to have options. We'll have to see what we're in the mood for once we're there. Now to try and patiently wait until summer.

[rlowgren]

I'm looking at crossing the KK divide here this summer and am also curious about Little Joe. Little Joe may be only class 2 but looks like a very long, steep slog up talus from L Reflection. From google earth and the topo it looks like Milly's Foot is the better approach but I'm aware that there's some class 3 at the very top. We're a pretty experienced group so the class 3 doesn't really concern me.

Does anyone have some insight between these 2 passes and which one is more enjoyable as long as your comfortable with class 3? I've heard Milly's has endless talus too but from aerials/photos it looks like you can stay on slabs for much of it. The other 2 passes (Lucy's and Harrison) and are too indirect for my route.

[sekihiker]

Having used both routes, Little Joe (up 1, down 3) and Milly's (up 2, down 1), I would pick Milly's for these reasons:
1. easier approach, thus more enjoyable
2. well established route
3. safer with a group.

The only time I went up Little Joe, I got off route and got too far north. I had to do a little class 3 while correcting my route to the top. I suppose with a GPS, staying on route would not be a problem in this day and age. I would be concerned with dislodging rocks on the steep route up Little Joe which could endanger your group. (All my crossings were solo.)

There are several photos of Milly's Foot Pass online.