Iceland Lake Route/Emigrant Wilderness

I am thinking about a last minute trip this weekend and I would join you but I have to work Friday.

It's a nice spot if this will be your first time up there. My Wilderness Press Map shows a trail up to Iceland Lake from the north (near Lower Relief Valley) I don't recommend it. I tried to descend that way and had to turn around. I think someone slipped on that route a just few years ago and died. Coming from the east (just south of Saucer Meadow) its fairly straight forward. I found the topographic naturally funneled me towards the pass.

As I was writing this a Thievery song just came on my playlist. Strange coincidence. Have a great trip Jay.

Yep–we did that trip this summer, past Relief Reservoir, then up Summit Creek and up the slabs from there. Pretty straightforward navigating, all in all.

WE have photos and a trip report on our website:

Backpackthesierra.com

Or just drop me a note for more info.

David & Paul, Thanks for the insight. My last trip in to Emigrant/July- I came down from Brown Bear Pass and was checking out the slabs above Saucer Meadow and dreamed a little about Iceland Lake. That does seem like a better route! I wish you could come David but I have family get together in San Fran on Sunday and is why I am leaving Saturday afternoon. The "Boss" said I could not be late to this event on Sunday. Hope to see you two at the GGG in Henry Coe.

Thanks,
Jay Wilkerson

Too late for your trip this weekend, but here's my $.02…

I was up there back in August and went up from Lower Relief Valley. This was based on the theory that it was more direct as I started from across the valley at the end of a FS road (Silver Creek Mine?). I don't much like the climb from Kennedy Meadows.

I went up the Ridge Lk outlet creek. There's a bit of a use trail on the left side of this creek, heading uphill. Best is to stay on that side of the creek all the way up, I think. Required a modest amount of route finding in a couple of spots.

Schiffrin shows the route further east, below Iceland Lk. But that looked harder to me.

There was a good write up on routes to all the lakes up there on High Sierra Topix site.