High Sierra Topix

Greg... These are some of the most beautiful sierra pictures I ever seen! You've always had a way to capture the most spectacular scenes and somehow create an almost a magical feel to them, especially the ones with moving water.... but these were amazing!

So, you've piqued my interest, and I think I'm going to get my maps out to find this "Kaweah Basin". I've done very little x-country, but I'm comfortable with a map and compass, so I'd be fine with it.

It sounds like a wonderful trip!

Hello Quentin,

It's approx 30 miles to the point across from Kern point where you ascent. The Black Rock Pass route with Spring Lake, Little Five, Big Arroyo, and Nine Lakes Basin is pretty.
Pants Pass is only very steep at the last 30 ft on both sides, with a steep dirt section on the eastern side (don't slip or lose your balance on this section). From there on, it is skiing on screen.
The Colby route starts boring through the Sugarloaf area (hot and dry from mid-season on), but it gets much better once you get to Roaring River.
The views of the Whaleback are impressive, and Colby Lake is quite beautiful. You could head up the western side of the Whaleback and go over Lion Lake Pass and Lion Rock Pass to the Nine Lakes Basin.
Triple Divide Pass from Glacier Lake is another option with incredible scenery. You can descend down to the Colby Trail, head over to Picket Creek Pass, descend to Picket Lakes, or go over the small pass into Kaweah Basin.
You could also go up Deadman Canyon and go up to Coppermine Pass and hook up with either LLP/LRP or TDP and then exit using the Colby Trail /Cloud Canyon route, giving you almost new scenery in and out (Ranger Meadow is beautiful with a great view to the south towards Elizabeth Pass).
All of these options are class 2; if you have the time, it is well worth it. I think the route from Sunset would be rated higher than the Glacier/BlackRock approach.

Thank you doug, quentic, and Rosie! quentinc, maverick's detailed post says more than I could ever say about the approaches.

Oh My!!! Those are absolutely amazing...I LOVE them all. I looked at my map to see where you were at...it looks nice and remote. What a gorgeous part of the Sierra.

How does one choose where to go..this area is a for sure place!
Cloud Canyon is gorgeous! So nice to see it so green and lush!
Thank you for posting them!

Thanks Maverick. That gives me a lot to think about. Finally, how bad is Pyra-Queen pass? I ask that with the possibility of heading in from Crescent Meadow.

PQC is the easiest pass from the west into Kaweah Basin, the pass is the small chute you see in the middle of the saddle from left to right above the patch of snow.
The other side is long and rocky but great scenery especially at sunrise.

ahhhhh. What a great trip , Trailblazer. Beautiful shots.

Thanks madeintahoe and trailtrekker! I'm still in a different world right now after being in "the real world" for a work week.

YAAAA!!! Awesome adventure and pics! This stuff is what makes High Sierra Topix such a fantastic place!

trailblazer

congratulations on this most outstanding photograph in your collection (my opinion here of course)

http://www.naturefocused.com/archives/v ... x/IMG_7840

it is beautiful and you were at the right place at the right time