North King Col (Clarence King)
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:16 pm
TITLE: North King col
GENERAL OVERVIEW: Connects 60 Lakes basin with the off-trail lakes northeast of Mt. Clarence King
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 2
LOCATION: John Muir Wilderness HST Map
ELEVATION: 3,360 meters
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt Clarence King
HST Map: HST Map
A couple years ago, I made what effectively was a circuit around Mt. Clarence King and there are a couple off-trail ridges that I'll aim to document for anyone contemplating a similar loop (which is highlighted by winding up in Gardiner Lakes basin). On this trip, my buddy & I entered via Kearsarge and once near the northern end of 60 Lakes Basin, we aimed for the ridge separating us from the un-named lake ( at 3144 meters) in the next basin to the west. This is what the ridge looked like from the East side:
The next photo shows the terrain as one is ascending the ridge with views back toward Rae Lakes and Glen Pass:
This photo includes Lake 3144 and me in search of our tent which had fallen off my pack during the early stage of the descent:
View from the ridge looking north toward Pinchot Pass:
View back toward "North King col" from the basin holding lake 3144:
Photo with "North King col" labeled:
GENERAL OVERVIEW: Connects 60 Lakes basin with the off-trail lakes northeast of Mt. Clarence King
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 2
LOCATION: John Muir Wilderness HST Map
ELEVATION: 3,360 meters
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt Clarence King
HST Map: HST Map
A couple years ago, I made what effectively was a circuit around Mt. Clarence King and there are a couple off-trail ridges that I'll aim to document for anyone contemplating a similar loop (which is highlighted by winding up in Gardiner Lakes basin). On this trip, my buddy & I entered via Kearsarge and once near the northern end of 60 Lakes Basin, we aimed for the ridge separating us from the un-named lake ( at 3144 meters) in the next basin to the west. This is what the ridge looked like from the East side:
- View of ridge from the southeast
The next photo shows the terrain as one is ascending the ridge with views back toward Rae Lakes and Glen Pass:
- View back toward Glen Pass during ascent of ridge
- View of the descent from the ridge to Lake 3144
- View from ridge looking north
- North King col from Lake3144 basin