High Sierra Topix

GENERAL OVERVIEW: Access between Gardiner Basin and one valley west of the valley north of King Col (northwest of Mount Clarence King).

CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 3

LOCATION: Kings Canyon National Park. HST Map.

ELEVATION: 11190 feet

USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Mt Clarence King, Ca

ROUTE DESCRIPTION: South to north: Walk up the obvious steep shallow valley to the Col. I went too far right, out of the trees for better views, but then I had to traverse back left to the trees to continue.

The north side is steep. To the west of the lowest point, I saw a seemingly easy chute, if I could get to the top of it. The view near the top of it was obscured by some large jammed rocks. I shimmied down to reach the easier ground. Looking back up, I saw that I would have never chosen that route when going up. I would have likely gone to the climber’s right. Even on the climber’s left, it may be possible to go. There might be a class 2 way.

I crossed this pass in mid August 2024, an average snow year.

I found this name on the MapBuilder layer on CalTopo.

PHOTOS

South side: The pass is at the top of the diagonal line of trees heading up to the right.

North side:

View from the top:


Near the top of the way I went down:

Rock jam:

Rock jam from below:


Panorama. The way I came from is visible in the upper left corner:


The way I came from is visible in the upper right corner:


Wide view:


Further down - zoom in:


Wide view:

The pass is hidden behind rocks on the right:
The next morning, from a distance. Again, the pass is hidden.