SEKI cross country questions

"Goat Crest Saddle, White Pass, Frozen Lake Pass, etc"

Frozen Lake Pass is steep. I needed an ice axe on the west side when I did it… and wished I had had crampons. But this year should not be a problem with ice… other than lose talus. The other passes on this leg are not an issue.

Harrison Pass is steep. When I came down it with a heavy pack and no trekking poles it was a little nerve wracking. I kept thinking of the concept of maximum angle of repose… and what happens when that is exceeded :(
If you fell near the top of Harrison Pass and did not have some tool to dig in, you could tumble a long way :(

My guess is you will be fine, but you might want to test your wife's reaction on a less committed trip. If you get out there and she can't or won't do one of the passes, it could be a long way back around another way.

billy

Frozen Lake Pass should pose no particular problems by September this year, as the north side will almost certainly be ice/snow free. It is steep and loose on both sides, but you can bypass most of that by staying on talus, away from the well worn path most people use. Caveat: You must be comfortable on talus.

60 Lakes Basin can be accessed from the Bubbs Creek trail by hiking up Charlotte Creek and then cutting over to Gardiner Pass
and on into Gardiner Basin. It is a delightful hike from there to 60 Lakes Basin and on to the JMT. From there, however, it will be a bit awkward to get to Harrison Pass without backtracking down to the East Lake trail. Probably easier to go on over Forester Pass, then to the Upper Kern Basin, and exit via Harrison Pass. It is a steep talus chute, with a couple of awkward class 2 moves at the top, but if you are comfortable on talus, the rest is pretty straightforward, IMO. From what you have said about your wife, though, you might want to consider routes like this carefully. Neither Harrison nor Frozen Lake Passs is a good place to take a fall, as you are far from help should a disabling injury occur.

"Another question I have is whether it's possible to access Sixty Lakes Basin from the north"

I would say "yes" but I've always gone in the opposite direction. In other words, I slide into the Sixty Lakes Basin from the southeast and then I exit to the northeast to get back to the JMT. I've found two corridors for this. One hits the JMT north of Dollar Lake. The better corridor I found last summer, and it goes through so-called Arrowhead Lake Pass following a usage trail which hits the JMT near Arrowhead Lake.

Harrison Pass was quite an adventure three years ago. I went up Harrison Pass from near Lake Reflection. The talus and scree were quite challenging, but there was no hideous exposure. That lines up for Lake South America.

–B.G.–

Thanks for the info. Yeah I don't want my wife to feel pressured into doing something she's not comfortable with, so I may keep this idea in my pocket for a solo trip or with someone else…depends I guess. Also could try doing the first bit of off trail travel and pick the trail back up at Horseshoe Lakes if she's not into it.

I really enjoyed the JMT but exploring some other areas or more isolated areas seems really appealing as well. Any kind of getting out in the Sierra is pretty great though.

Since nobody else has raised this issue, I will. 22 miles a day is a lot of miles for the HST. Are you counting the first day as a 22 mile day? Because going up Copper Creek and continuing on for 22 miles is more hiking that anyone I know…

Just sayin'. You could be in Olympic condition, but if I told my wife about that hike, she would not be amused by the mileage or the elevation…

I think he said he didn't want to do 22 miles per day?

But, I think the routes being looked at aren't so simple as you think. Harrison Pass has changed over the years – it's not a maintained trail, and rockfall happens. A friend who's been up it a few times over the decades tells me it's more treacherous than it used to be.

Check out Bill Finch's trip report page. He's been all over that area and up the various passes. I'd suggest a loop from Lake Reflection up Little Joe Pass, Thunder Pass, etc to Brewer Basin, Sphinx Pass, and Sphinx Lakes, as a less scramble-y option if your wife wants to come along. Plenty of high Sierra goodness with some less threatening cross country work.

http://sierrahiker.home.comcast.net/~sierrahiker/ThunderCol/index.html

Beware – Bill's no slouch, the peakbaggers always make things sound easier than I think they are. I look at his descriptions and multiply by a factor of two the level of difficulty. But, I think this report describes a trip that's easier than some of what you're looking at despite this.

Yeah, I'd probably be cutting back over Colby Pass instead of going down to the High Sierra Trail, which takes out a big chunk of mileage. Edit: though I'll take a look at some of those other suggestions as well, thanks! Wish I had the time to do the whole thing but without resupplying, probably wouldn't be able to. Might just have to come back later to hike that southern section.

Thanks for the info though, it's tough to read descriptions and try to look at pictures and get an idea of what things are like, which is why I wanted to ask some questions here. I'll check out some of those other trip reports more carefully. Going over Harrison Pass was really just a way to get into that Upper Kern Basin area where I spent a rest day last summer and it was pretty great, so if there's an easier way in then I'm not complaining!

Can anyone please reference a trip report or updated experience of the BiG Seki Loop posted by Ann Lauterbach a few years ago?

Along the lines of what Lori is mentioning, I did a big loop south from Kings Canyon a while back, using some of those off-trail passes (including lots of trail heading out south). Lots of easy hiking, and lots of hard talus slogging.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=24319

Thank you Dave–really enjoyed the trip report. I do notice that the east side is not on maintained trails and for my experience I am thinking I need to stick on a maintained trail. Anyone have any experience on the Bid Seki Loop described an Ann L. as an alternative to the JMT (as a maintained trail option)? thanks

"I'd suggest a loop from Lake Reflection up Little Joe Pass, Thunder Pass, etc to Brewer Basin, Sphinx Pass, and Sphinx Lakes, as a less scramble-y option if your wife wants to come along. Plenty of high Sierra goodness with some less threatening cross country work."

If you think Harrison Pass is a bit much, you might want to reconsider Thunder Pass and the country beyond it to Sphinx Pass. I've done both, Harrison 3 times, and can say Harrison plus the terrain on either side is considerably less complex/edgy than the route up to Thunder Col and on to Sphinx Lakes Basin. That said, if there is any doubt about OP's wife, neither would make for a very good time. I'm scheduled to go into the Upper Kern via Harrison in July. If this thread is still active, I'll be happy to post on its current condition.

"Going over Harrison Pass was really just a way to get into that Upper Kern Basin area where I spent a rest day last summer and it was pretty great, so if there's an easier way in then I'm not complaining!"

Sam,

If you're going to be on the Bubbs Creek trail/JMT, going in over Forester is by far the easiest way into the Upper Kern Basin. It is something your wife would not have trouble with, based on your posts so far. If you're coming in over Colby Pass, the hike down the Kern-Kaweah to Junction Meadow is beautiful. From there it is an easy 6 mile hike up into the Upper Kern. Actually, a nice, albeit shorter, loop from Roads End would be to go in either up Bubbs/Forester and out Colby/Avalanche Passes, or vice versa. Either would give you trail access to the Upper Kern. Just a thought.

Consider taking Cartridge Pass out of Lake Basin, instead of Frozen Lake Pass. Frozen Lake isn't that bad, but Cartridge is much easier. Might make it more feasible for your wife.

Tom, we hiked the John Muir Trail last year so we're familiar with Forester, and even spent a "day off" visiting Lake South America (which is why I want to go back there). I agree it's much easier to do it that way :) I'm just considering some slightly different routes that would let us see some new things and I greatly appreciate the input from everyone. Like I said, it's tough to get a real good sense of things just from books or a few pictures so getting information from people helps. Lots of stuff to think about even if I/we don't end up doing any cross country on this trip. Good info to have in my back pocket for later.

Andrew, I was looking at Cartridge Pass as well and thinking that might be a good option, thanks.

Sam, sorry to divert your post to my questions about Big Seki Loop. I am new to posting on forums and am not versed in the protocol. I will put my question in a separate post.
Good luck with your plans.
I am amazed in general how much information you all hold!