Harrington Pass
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:00 pm
GENERAL OVERVIEW: Crosses the Monarch Divide between Grizzly Lakes (on the south side) and the Gorge of Despair & Swamp Lakes (on the north). This gets you into a trailless area with lots of lakes, spectacular views, and very few people.
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 2
LOCATION: Kings Canyon National Park. HST Map
ELEVATION: 10,680+.
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Slide Bluffs & Cedar Grove (pass is at the edge of Slide Bluffs, so you really need both)
ROUTE DESCRIPTION: From Grizzly Lakes, follow the drainage to the northwest all the way up to the pass (this is a fairly gentle and obvious route). To descend to the westernmost Swamp Lake, first head N to the saddle south of Point 10,760+; from there, countour E around the head of a talus-choked gully and descend N via slabs east of the gully. From about 10,240', follow the ridgelet down to the irregular tarn (not shown on map) on a bench at 10,000+. Follow the slopes N and then NNE to reach the lake a little south of the outlet.
CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 2
LOCATION: Kings Canyon National Park. HST Map
ELEVATION: 10,680+.
USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Slide Bluffs & Cedar Grove (pass is at the edge of Slide Bluffs, so you really need both)
ROUTE DESCRIPTION: From Grizzly Lakes, follow the drainage to the northwest all the way up to the pass (this is a fairly gentle and obvious route). To descend to the westernmost Swamp Lake, first head N to the saddle south of Point 10,760+; from there, countour E around the head of a talus-choked gully and descend N via slabs east of the gully. From about 10,240', follow the ridgelet down to the irregular tarn (not shown on map) on a bench at 10,000+. Follow the slopes N and then NNE to reach the lake a little south of the outlet.