High Sierra Topix

Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 12, 2024 9:09 am Having done both, what do you think of Sawmill Pass vs Taboose Pass?

I don't want to derail things from this amazing post of a truly mind-blowing trip but since I too have done Sawmill and Taboose, albeit when much younger, I figured I'd chime in with some opinions. Taboose is less elevation gain (about 6000') compared to Sawmill (about 6800 when you count the small elevation loss (or losses) en route. Taboose has an advantage for hydration in that most of the hike is near the water, whereas Sawmill is similar to Shepherd Pass in that you go a very long way before reaching the first water (I think it's over 2500' of gain). Sawmill has the lowest elevation trailhead of any of the major east side passes so it is imperative to get an early start. On the flip side, places to camp part way up to Taboose Pass are kind of marginal and don't offer much so you really want to get all the way over in one go (and I guess for me that would be all the way over and then to Striped Mtn Lakes which adds to the total elevation gain budget a bit). In contrast, Sawmill Lake at a net elevation gain of 5400 and gross of about 5600 is nice destination. It is a gorgeous lake and you can get campsites overlooking the outlet that look down the canyon into Owens Valley. Sawmill L is seriously underrated, I think, in terms of its fishing too. I like the peaks in the vicinity of Taboose Pass better than those around Sawmill--of course the Taboose area views are topped by the classic view of Arrow Peak over Bench Lake. So I guess you can say each pass has its advantages. I went up Sawmill in 1997--camped at Sawmill L on day 1, and up Taboose in 1980--into Upper Basin on day 1 for about 6800' of total gain to set up Split-Prater overnighter trip.

Another strenuous trip showing your exceptional fitness. Enjoyed the fine images and well crafted text, well done!

The 41.jpg image provides a good clue for the blue waters off peak 12766 at the south head of the canyon. The whitish colored streak down its slopes are much more evident using Google Earth Pro with that water coloration immediately below where it begins to form marsh ponds. If one web searches with "lime lakes blue", lime being calcium hydroxide and then look at an Images browser tab, one will see the same effects much like at tropical seashores with coral limestone geology.

I suspect it is a dual effect of white dissolved clouding and lake/stream white bottom precipitate reflection, both of which have strongest blue saturation during sunny mid days absorbing blue sky color. If so, one would expect the color to greatly reduce during overcast or dusk conditions. Many High Sierra lakes despite white granite geology, have more greenish, grayish color because water is clear without clouding particles while their bottoms are layered with brown organic sediments. It may also be, the east Arrow stream lime inhibits some organic micro organisms leaving its water bottoms cleaner, less affected.

During my last trip above Sabrina in 2022 with its glacial granite powder lakes, I carefully noted the aquamarine blue effect at Moonlight Lake above Sabrina increases in saturation towards mid day when blue sky saturation peaks and is somewhat dependent on orientation. Several images here:

https://www.davidsenesac.com/2022_Trip_ ... html#aug13

If the water is also clouded with white precipitate causing a cloudy blue effect the result is different than that of just corral shores. Some Sierra lakes only have the aquamarine color during heavier snow melt periods of summer that by September have precipitated out leaving clear waters. My image of Hungry Packer lake is a good example of catching such a lake when it was blue.

My elaborately decade old 10/11 day planned Taboose Pass trip has still not happened and as I age, the likelihood of doing so dims. I did do nearby Shepherd Pass in 2019 that may be the last such super effort that was very productive. At my 75 year age, much depends on building up strength slowly over the hiking season and is definitely not happening this year haha. I'd be content just to reach Sawmill Lake in 3 days as IMO that is actually the most aesthetic zone.

Thanks for the amazing/inspiring report. I've been eyeing a lot of that area for a return trip over Taboose, now I might have to switch to Sawmill which I am also curious about.

Taboose vs Sawmill - the road to Sawmill is better, right? I'd take more elevation if I could never drive the Taboose Road again

Thank you for sharing this trip report. I first came upon it a few mornings ago and ended up blazing through it since it was nearly time to head out for work. But this is not a report to be hurried through, so this morning as I sat drinking coffee in the early pre-dawn hours, I got to read it again. Now I am ditching work briefly to write this (shhh, don't tell anyone!). What a wonderful story along with the journey taken. I always love the vast scenery and views of the Sierra, but I am happy that you shared the smaller views that I confess to not always looking down and taking in as well. The flowers, the bird eggs. Glad you had a great trip and I do like the flame thrower idea for mosquitoes!

That was a pleasure to read, and some of those spots are going on my list forthwith.

wsp_scott wrote:

Taboose vs Sawmill - the road to Sawmill is better, right? I'd take more elevation if I could never drive the Taboose Road again

That's funny, but the Taboose road just gets worse every time. It is really awful right now, and Eric and I both had to drive it twice to get our two vehicles placed, and then retrieved. It was brutal for my ratty old 2wd van in the dark, and Eric didn't like it much either even in his big Tundra. We came out Taboose Creek, and had to retreat down that hideous road it one last time, we thought. As we headed down, and over to Sawmill TH to get my van-- Eric was working hard to get his weak AC going and we were nearly there. And what's this? Right in the hottest, bleakest part of the low desert, we came across a young guy with a huge pack walking slowly along the dusty road. It looked truly miserable. We pulled up to get his story, and it turned out that he had done the short version of our trip in reverse, and was now hiking back to Taboose Creek Trailhead where he had begun. His truck was up there, we remembered seeing it. [*I just checked on Google Maps and it is 10.3 miles from Sawmill to Taboose trailheads.]

This young guy was carrying 4 quarts of water, and laboring along, but he never hinted that we might give him a ride. We both liked his style, and admired his stoicism. We looked at each other and shook our heads, I know I cursed under my breath, and we said, "Hop in, we'll give you a ride." We tossed his giant backpack in the truck bed with ours, and turned around and headed back to Taboose Creek. He was very grateful. What else could we have done? It was 107 degrees and the wind was blowing dust out there, and drying our skin into jerked meat. So we ended up driving/bouncing over that goddamned rocky road two more times! Eric, of course waved off his offer to walk the upper worst of it, and took him all the way up to his truck.

I too hope to never drive it again.

Well, years ago I did a trip from South Lake to Lakes Basin (checking out Roper's High Route) and ended up at Taboose TH about 5PM after walking all the way from the lakes below Striped Mountain. The ground was crawling with large ants and nobody was there. I did not have a map but could see semis on 395 and it "looked" close. Down at the stream I filled two 2-L Platypuses and carried one under each arm like babies, and walked out, stopping after dark when I saw that I was near Taboose Creek. I jumped in the bivy, zipped it up due to swarming bugs, and sweltered for the night. It was close to 100 degrees. I did not know I was close to the campground because I walked into the dark the previous night. I was up at dawn and soon reached the campground, where I got breakfast from kind campers and they rounded up a ride for me to Bishop, and then I hitched another two rides back to South Lake. That 5-6 miles downhill was tough. I cannot imagine walking UP that road after coming from Sawmill TH! You were very kind to take that fellow back to his car.

I've looked at the map and contemplated trying to connect Sawmill and Taboose through the desert, but I think I read a trip report here that strongly suggested that this was a stupid idea Good on you guys for submitting to the torture of the Taboose Road again and giving that guy a lift. I had a crappy no clearance rental car when I drove it, makes me feel a little better that a Tundra struggled as well. Next time I might park at the campground and walk the extra couple of miles.

Wandering Daisy, that sounds like an "interesting" way to end a trip, very long day into the desert and the heat/bugs to finish it off.

The last time I drove it (Prius) I was terrified on the way in thinking I'd slash a tire and end up stuck. I ended up ditching the car early and walking I don't know how much extra. I then dreaded the drive out and had the meager consolation that at least there wasn't any additional weight in my car. On the descent a woman caught me and said she was abandoning her hike early (and needed a ride). You can't say no under that sun - but I was cursing every extra pound of load!
It's too bad it's such a traumatizing road as I like the TH.

Thanks for a beautiful, informative, and inspirational trip report. Great shots all around. I'll hopefully be heading up the west side of Split next month, and look forward to sky pilot guiding the way