High Sierra Topix

has anyone ascended hamilton creek (from the trail crossing near little bearpaw meadow) to meet the HST below hamilton lake?

perhaps i should call it the middle fork kaweah.

either way, i could've sworn i read about someone doing that on here a few years ago, but no combo of search terms is bringing it up.

i'm wondering how bushwack-y it is down low and about the final ascent to the HST (the topo makes it look like climbing a bit left/north of the creek would work ok).

this "shortcut" saves roughly 3 miles and 1k feet of gain compared to taking the trail to bearpaw and onward to hamilton, though i doubt it would save time!

I tried it at as a short cut once from Hamilton to Redwood Meadow.

It's solid, nearly impenetrable willows. I could barely sleep that night from all the cuts on my legs.

To quote Willy Wonka, Stop. Don't. Come back.

noted!

let this thread remain as a testament to this very bad idea.

fourputt writes:

I tried it at as a short cut once from Hamilton to Redwood Meadow.

It's solid, nearly impenetrable willows. I could barely sleep that night from all the cuts on my legs.

To quote Willy Wonka, Stop. Don't. Come back.

Too funny! And great advice as well.