High Sierra Topix

Hi All -

I would like to ask for your help figuring out what to do with four (ideally) or five days for a trip out of Onion Valley in very early August. I have a reservation for the permit, and I plan to spend the day/night before acclimating. We will also be taking some high altitude meds.

At first, I was thinking just Rae and 60 Lakes, but I'm not sure there is enough to do for four days in that area, especially since we like to hike. We can make it, if need be, over Glen on day 1. A second day could be spent exploring 60 Lakes and perhaps trying Mt. Cotter. But do I need a full third day for Rae and Dragon? What would I do?

I've been thinking of making a loop through Gardiner. My concerns here is that while I am conformable with x-country and class 2 passes, I am far from a route finding expert. Still, it looks like Gardiner is a easier basin for route finding, with the possible exception of the initial pass. Also, some TR on Gardiner suggest brush can be a major slowdown.

1: OV -> Charlotte
2: -> Gardiner Basin (maybe via Gardiner Pass East?)
3: -> Sixty Lakes Col -> Rae Lakes (maybe via Basin Notch) -> Dragon
4: -> Glen -> OV

I toyed with Gould Pass, but TR have convinced me that is too hard. I toyed with the idea of doing Rae and then dropping down to something like East Lake, but that route involves more backtracking.

About us: Our priorities are hiking and scenery (lakes, meadows, mountains). We don't fish. We are level 3 backpackers comfortable with class-2 terrain and non-dangerous river crossings. We are comfortable with 10+ miles / day on trail.

Thanks to those of you who helped with my earlier posting about routes near to San Diego. Happy 4th!

P.S. In case it will be helpful for other, I've compiled a log of links that to TR and the like that were helpful. See below.


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Rae Col
• Satellite photos: viewtopic.php?t=14303
• Good description: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... hp?t=13046
• Photos of Col: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18712&start=10

Gardiner Pass & Gardiner Basin
• 60 -> Gardiner: viewtopic.php?t=11444
• 60 -> Gardiner: viewtopic.php?t=11703
• https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/81667/
• viewtopic.php?t=9029
• Kearsarge – Glen – 60 Lakes – Gardiner: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11444&hilit=sixty+lakes+col#p86396
• Basin: https://www.sites.google.com/site/bryan ... rbasin2008
• Basin: http://www.chayden.net/Sierra96/Sierra96.html

Dragon/Gould Pass
• http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... hp?t=12494
• From the east: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... ey#p137420
• Gould from the east: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... php?t=8119
• Warnings about difficulty of Dragon/Gould: viewtopic.php?t=9029
• viewtopic.php?t=8119&start=10

bump. any help greatly appreciated.

There are two trails from the JMT to Kearsarge Pass; the low trail by Kearsarge Lakes and the high trail. If you go in one and out the other you do not have to "backtrack" those miles. Kearsarge Lakes are quite pretty so I would try to camp there once. Just go down to the second lake to avoid the crowds at the end of the trail. Another very scenic campsite is at Matlock Lakes. It would be a nice place to stay and acclimate on your first day.

I think 4 days is not sufficient to make a loop through Gardiner Lakes, but you can do an in-and-out just to the upper east side lakes. From 60 Lakes Basin you could even do a long day-hike.

Another nice side-trip is Center Basin. You could also do a day-hike up to Vidette Lakes (warning- the trail is not in good shape). My experience is that Vidette Meadow itself is not a good camp area- loaded with JMT and PCT hikers and not very scenic either.

Thanks for the helping Wandering Daisy.

When you say second lake at Kearsarge, do you mean literately the second lake you encounter on the trail (and thus before you get to the biggest one) or do you mean the lake tucked back in the basin?

For Center Basin, do you recommend University Pass?

Also, I know it is going to be buggy but have never been in the Sierra's in high bug season. Are we talking about bug pants all the time, do you think, or bugs only when you stop moving?

Thanks for all your help.

There are nice campsites near the outlet of Kearsarge Lake 3321. The trail only goes down to the northernmost smaller lake where there are bear boxes that have been locked so you cannot use them. You can then go back to the trail or x-c down the creek and intersect the trail above Bullfrog Lake (camping not allowed at Bullfrog Lake). Nothing wrong with the first two smaller lakes except there are always a lot of people camped there. The outlet of Lak 3321 offers more privacy but is not as conveniently close to the trail.

For Center Basin I was thinking of just going up the PCT to the trail junction then turn onto the Center Basin trail. Golden Bear Lake is the first lake and I have camped there. I have never been over University Pass. I think it is quite difficult.

Bugs depend on local conditions. A stiff breeze really helps so I try to camp at a windy spot, NOT in amongst a lot of trees.

In Gardiner Basin the smaller lake just downstream from Lake 3477 has fantastic reflections. Lake 3214 has a lot of small fish. LOTS of rock hopping to get around Lake 3477. There is tricky route-finding to the pass from 60 Lakes Basin into Gardiner Basin.

In 60 Lakes Basin, the three small lakes east-southeast of Mt Clarence King and about half a mile off the trail are very nice.

There also is a use-trail (hard to find) from 60 Lakes Basin directly east to Arrowhead Lake.