GENERAL OVERVIEW: This pass leads from the Horseshoe Lakes to the South Fork Cataract Creek Drainage. It is used in conjunction with White & Red Passes to reach Marion Lake. This is on the Sierra High Route.
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 1
LOCATION: Kings Canyon National Park on Windy Ridge Northeast of the Horseshoe Lakes. HST Map
ELEVATION: 11,881
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Marion Peak
ROUTE DESCRIPTION: This description includes both of what is considered Gray Pass North & Gray Pass South. Gray Pass North is obtained by climbing up a steep but easy hillside rising above on the South Fork Cataract Creek drainage basin's lakes. Once the saddle is obtained one angles out and around to the Southwest to a small tarn right around the area that Gray Pass South is located. Once the tarn is reached you go down a steep sleep down to the largest Horseshoe Lake. The entirety of this route should never exceed a Class 1 difficulty which is straightforward and easy cross country tromping.
Photos taken by Rogue Photonic (Used with his permission)
- Looking up at Gray Pass North from the drainage basin
- Terrain around Gray Pass North looking down to the South Fork Cataract Creek Drainage
- The tarn at the top of Gray Pass South