High Sierra Hyatt

[balzaccom]

I made it to Pingree in a day. With an early start and long day you could make it to Hyatt. Nevertheless, a longer route. Like others said, a good route if Hyatt Lake is part of a longer route to the lakes to the north. I lost the trail at Rosasco Lake and had to do a bit of bushwhacking. Once on the granite slab areas no trails are needed.

Agreed. But at our age, long days are not much fun. Ten miles is about all we really like to manage in a day...although we've certainly done more. Still, if you have the time, I would recommend your route over ours, if only to enjoy more of that amazing granite.

[phoenix2000]

Wandering Daisy wrote
"Not to say this is the best route, but is generally what I did years ago, early season. Crossing the West Fork at Louse Canyon was difficult- almost waist deep on me. When I reached Hyatt Lake a CCC trail crew were camped so I did not stay- instead went over to Big Lake. Since a CCC camp regularly gets resupplied, I wonder how they came in? You could not get a horse in the way I came- steep granite slabs."

I took the trail up to Rosasco Lake from Louse Canyon this year and also thought that it was too steep for horses or mules yet there was horse poop in a number of spots along the trail. So they must be able to bring them up that way.

There also is another trail to the east of Louse Canyon that they could have taken. Didn't have time to figure out how to post a pic so I just posted the link to the map that shows it. The trail branches off south from the main trail between the words Buck and Meadow on the map.

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... &z=15&t=t4

[windknot]

Thanks for the report! Great shots of an area I'd like to visit.

[mschnaidt]

I took a similar trip to Hyatt and Big Lake this past weekend. I had done the same route 9 years ago so had an idea as to what areas to avoid.

After you exit the forest after leaving the trail head if you stay high there is an occasional trail cairn as you head down the rib. This keeps you out of the brush and is an easy way down to the creek. There is a wide and easy crossing where my route crosses Cherry Creek. Although the creek wasn't running there was still ample good water in the pools.

From there up to Hyatt I stayed on the North side which was easier than the South side which I took on my previous trip. Although it's a hit and miss situation to get past some ledges on the way up. Once over the top of the chute there is the occasional cairn. If you choose the right place to cross over the little valley it's an easy climb up to the granite rib and there is an easy and clear route that is free of brush all the way into Hyatt.

The route on the attached map is my GPS route. If a HST member is interested in the .gpx file send me a PM and I'll send it to you.

This route is only 6 miles and is 5 or 6 miles shorter than going from Crabtree to Rosasco to Hyatt but there is more vertical and the route finding isn't easy. It's a tough 6 but Hyatt is worth the trip.

[balzaccom]

Nice! So you clearly crossed over that little creek below Hyatt long before we did.

Too bad you didn't bushwhack through the manzanita--you might have found some of our stuff!

[mschnaidt]

Nice! So you clearly crossed over that little creek below Hyatt long before we did.

Too bad you didn't bushwhack through the manzanita--you might have found some of our stuff!

P & M,

I was tempted to look for your stuff but I bushwacked through that Manzanita 9 years ago and wasn't up for a repeat.

Also, thank you for all of your great trip reports. I really enjoy them and have spent some time on your site. I hope to run into you sometime in the future.

Best,

M

[balzaccom]

Nice! So you clearly crossed over that little creek below Hyatt long before we did.

Too bad you didn't bushwhack through the manzanita--you might have found some of our stuff!

P & M,

I was tempted to look for your stuff but I bushwacked through that Manzanita 9 years ago and wasn't up for a repeat.

Also, thank you for all of your great trip reports. I really enjoy them and have spent some time on your site. I hope to run into you sometime in the future.

Best,

M

I can't blame you for that. We had a chance to do the same thing on the way out, and decided not to do so...

And thanks for the kinds words about out website. We always love running into someone on the trail who has seen it--on our last trip, someone recognized M from all of her photos on the site!

[MountainMinstrel]

I took a similar trip to Hyatt and Big Lake this past weekend. I had done the same route 9 years ago so had an idea as to what areas to avoid.

After you exit the forest after leaving the trail head if you stay high there is an occasional trail cairn as you head down the rib. This keeps you out of the brush and is an easy way down to the creek. There is a wide and easy crossing where my route crosses Cherry Creek. Although the creek wasn't running there was still ample good water in the pools.

From there up to Hyatt I stayed on the North side which was easier than the South side which I took on my previous trip. Although it's a hit and miss situation to get past some ledges on the way up. Once over the top of the chute there is the occasional cairn. If you choose the right place to cross over the little valley it's an easy climb up to the granite rib and there is an easy and clear route that is free of brush all the way into Hyatt.

The route on the attached map is my GPS route. If a HST member is interested in the .gpx file send me a PM and I'll send it to you.

Bourland Meadow to Hyatt.JPG

This route is only 6 miles and is 5 or 6 miles shorter than going from Crabtree to Rosasco to Hyatt but there is more vertical and the route finding isn't easy. It's a tough 6 but Hyatt is worth the trip.

Do you think this route will be possible later this month or early in June?

[edhyatt]

...ooooh, a Hyatt Lake

[mschnaidt]

Do you think this route will be possible later this month or early in June?[/quote]

It's hard to say. It all depends on snowpack and the weather. I'm attaching some pics taken July 8 last year. The creek was running high and although one of our party waded across without his pack (with some difficulty) we decided as a group not to risk it. Last year was much wetter of course. Time of day was a factor also. The water level varied quite a bit. Lowest at mid morning and higher by about a foot in the evening. I wish I could give you some meaningful information for this year but I haven't been in yet.