Your preference: Bench Valley or Blackcap Basin?

[limpingcrab]

Sorry, normally I don't ask questions like this and just go figure stuff out, but my wife wants to hike Goddard this summer so I'm putting a little more effort into finding the most scenic route.

We're starting at Courtright, going over Hell for Sure Pass, up Goddard, and then back out via either Bench Valley or Blackcap basin to a second car at Wishon.

If you've been to these basins, which one would you be most excited to go back to?

Note about us: We're comfortable with any level of cross country travel and enjoy every type of scenery and activity. A bit vague, sorry again.

Thanks in advance, the site and all of you are awesome!

[maverick]

finding the most scenic route.

BCB!

[paul]

Why pick one? why not skip HFS, and go Devils Punchbowl, Big & Little Shots, XC over to Bench, McGuire Lakes, up the west shoulder of Blackcap Mtn. and over its top to BCB?

[AlmostThere]

Or go Punchbowl, Big N Little Shots, over to Bench around the chain of lakes over to Confusion Lake and down into Blackcap, then out...

[limpingcrab]

What the what!? I'm not sure why I didn't even consider doing both? Maybe I think in loops instead of lollipops, but I've already been up to hell for sure so maybe lollopopping our way to Goddard would be a good option.

Thanks for the replies!

[Cross Country]

I agree. Do both. Each place is really good. If you fish, take your gear. On the way out from BCB you could stop at Woodchuck.

[AaronRDavis]

I did Goddard out of Courtright, via Hell For Sure, then back over Valor Pass and through BCB. BCB was idyllic and delightful, especially after a couple days at Martha and climbing Goddard.

[pcole]

Not sure how much time you have, but may I suggest starting and finishing at Courtright by way of Finger Col and Hell for Sure pass. That way you get to see Blackcap Basin and Goddard Canyon. Crossing Reinstein Pass from Goddard Bench is a snap. A trip report on this trip I did in Sept 2019 can be found at: https://esa-rol.com/content/gallery/78/leconte-divide

[limpingcrab]

Thanks, and nice trip report! This question was from 2018, we ended up leaving a car at Florence Lake and then getting dropped off at Wishon, going through Blackcap Basin and leaving our stuff by Martha Lake while we summited Goddard. We hiked out via Goddard Canyon and the ferry across Florence back to our car. It was a great trip!