Harrison Pass?

How are folks getting across Bubbs Creek at Jct Meadow? I was there a couple years ago and was going to do part of the trip you are thinking about, with other parts added in. Bubbs Creek seemed too rocky to get across with the water flow it had when I was by there in early August a few years ago, maybe I'm too cautious around water. When I finally camped there, I was thinking I would have had a heck of a time crossing where the trail comes in. Instead, I had went over Forester as planned, but went across the Kern River and over Colby Pass and another one there after Roaring River, don't have the map in front of me at the moment.
Duane

I've been to East lake a few times and bubbs wasn't too bad. I'm guessing with the low snow year it should be pretty low this summer.

I did that route too in July 2012! Roads end>forester>colby>cloud canyon>avalanche pass. Awesome.
I want to go back and explore deadman canyon, but the sphinx trail about killed me….

Amy and I crossed Harrison Pass from south to north about ten years ago. The route up from Lake South American is quite simple, although there a few small obstacles you might have to dodge around. There are two issues with the pass. First, if you cross as we did, south to north, finding the right point to descend takes a little care. There are several gullies that drop down the north side of the col. I can't give you any advice here other than looking for signs where other people may have crossed.

The other issue is to be prepared for steep and loose rock on the upper portions of the descent. All of the passes along the Kings/Kern divide in this area have this same problem. It gets progressively easier the further down you get. As always, check Secor for more info.

James for Amy

"Anyone been over Harrison? I'm still searching old posts, but not finding much recently.
How sketchy is it?"

I've been over it 3 times from south to north.

It is class 2, with the hardest part being a couple of awkward moves right at the top on the north side that some might call class 3. I would stick with class 2 in describing it. Below, it is just another talus and boulder filled gully. There used to be a cairn marking the crossing point, but I don't know if it is still there. I would not recommend attempting it unless you are comfortable on fairly steep talus, but it is a whole lot more attractive than either Lucy's or Milly's, IMO. Going north to south, once you locate the gully, it should be fairly straightforward, a lot easier than coming down, IMO. IIRC, Bob Gross did what you are proposing a couple of years ago. I'll bet he'll post shortly. If not, you might try a post with his name in the subject line.

Tom, There is an easier alternative to the west dropping straight to Lake Reflection if coming from the South. I took it in September. It is cairned and fairly solid. I can post links to a description and pictures from my descent if there is interest.

Heading North it appears Harrison is the easiest. I would recommend a south to north crossing. I

Yes, I went over Harrison Pass a couple of years ago, going north to south. There is a trip report around here somewhere. I would try searching for "Harrison".

Starting from Roads End, I got to Lake Reflection in nine hours. The stream crossing at Bubbs Creek Junction Meadow wasn't too bad, but wet. This year, it appears as though it will be a dry year, so the water should not be bad. I've heard stories of people on horseback and the water was up to the belly of the horse. However, I crossed in maybe 12-14 inches. I always carry 100 feet of strong cord so that I can self-belay on an arc crossing and still retrieve my cord. One trekking pole wouldn't hurt, either. I think I just picked up a big stick. Getting up to East Lake wasn't so bad, but there is one tricky place a half-mile south of East Lake. The usage trail appears to enter a boulder field and never emerge on the other side. However, if you estimate where the trail ought to be, then just look for it, and then it faintly reappears.

Harrison Pass is very rocky with loose crap. I think the best term is large scree with some small talus just to upset you. Note that once you get in there, you are committed. There is very little opportunity to turn back.

I didn't stop at Lake South America due to rain, and I stopped at the next small lake. There were fresh bighorn sheep tracks along the trail south.

Once you swing around and get on the JMT, it is easy going. Forester Pass is well graded.

–B.G.–

"Tom, There is an easier alternative to the west dropping straight to Lake Reflection if coming from the South. I took it in September. It is cairned and fairly solid. I can post links to a description and pictures from my descent if there is interest."

I'll bet you're talking about Little Joe Pass, between Milly's and Lucy's? I'd be interested in whatever beta you can provide, just on general principles. I very seldom, as not in the last 30 years, visit the area near Kings Canyon/Roads End. Too many people, too many bears. However, one never knows, and I'd like to have the info at hand incase I change my mind at some point in the future.

Thanks, MG.

"I'll bet you're talking about Little Joe Pass, between Milly's and Lucy's? I'd be interested in whatever beta you can provide, just on general principles. I very seldom, as not in the last 30 years, visit the area near Kings Canyon/Roads End. Too many people, too many bears. However, one never knows, and I'd like to have the info at hand in case I change my mind at some point in the future."

Tom, and anyone else interested
Here are the details of the pass we crossed along with some photos:

http://www.summitpost.org/kings-kern-divide/181678
http://www.scaruffi.com/travel/colby.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55533504@N08/sets/72157642319150705/

We looked at Milly's and Lucy's from the south and also at Harrison's from the North on this trip. I can confidently say that the route described in these two posts was easily found and looked far safer at least if traveling from the South. If heading north I think it is probably easier to find Harrison. Unless you have already been down "Little Joe's" if that is the name, I think it would be challenging to know which chute to follow up. Maybe my photos will help.

As far as people are concerned you may be right. We crossed one day in mid-Sept 2013, headed down to Lake Reflection and found quite a few campers there including one fellow who was going to be there for several weeks with an entourage. The next day we headed up towards the base of Harrison to go check out the head of the valley below the pass and scope out that route for future reference. and have a look at the beautiful lakes up there. We ran into two parties on their way down from crossing the pass. Both reported very loose and scary talus. Both had been misled by old edition of USGS topo maps showing a route over the pass. We had not expected to see anyone.

Bears, we did not see any except in Yosemite.

"We looked at Milly's and Lucy's from the south and also at Harrison's from the North on this trip. I can confidently say that the route described in these two posts was easily found and looked far safer at least if traveling from the South. If heading north I think it is probably easier to find Harrison. Unless you have already been down "Little Joe's" if that is the name, I think it would be challenging to know which chute to follow up. Maybe my photos will help."

I'm assuming that when you say "heading from the South", you mean "heading south"?

Otherwise you are heading in the same direction. If I am correct in this assumption,
then, yes, Harrison is very easy to find. I will have to check out this pass you mention next time I am in the Upper Kern, just so's I know. ;0) Thanks much for posting the links.

As far as people are concerned you may be right. We crossed one day in mid-Sept 2013, headed down to Lake Reflection and found quite a few campers there including one fellow who was going to be there for several weeks with an entourage. The next day we headed up towards the base of Harrison to go check out the head of the valley below the pass and scope out that route for future reference. and have a look at the beautiful lakes up there. We ran into two parties on their way down from crossing the pass. Both reported very loose and scary talus. Both had been misled by old edition of USGS topo maps showing a route over the pass. We had not expected to see anyone."

I don't remember Harrison being scary at all. Strenuous talus and boulder hopping, yes, but not scary. I guess everyone is different about things like that, but if they were expecting a route maybe they weren't experienced in off trail travel. Then it would probably be scary. There used to be a boot track below the talus chute on the north side, and signs of foot prints leading up to the pass from the south, but I doubt there was ever a trail down the chute. Just doesn't compute.

A little history. Harrison was a military officer who led a party over the pass of his name, and actually took horses up over it. Now THAT is scary. Especially for the horses, I should think. ;0)

Apparently there used to be an honest-to-God trail over Harrison Pass until 50-60 years ago. There were two problems. One, on this north-facing slope, snow remained until mid-summer on many years, and the snow covered the trail. Second, the loose scree keeps sliding down, so it covered the trail, little by little. The Park Service found it to be a big pain to keep it opened and safe. So, they just quit maintaining it, and they let Mother Nature return it to its natural state. When I was there a couple of years ago, I could see just a few of the top switchbacks, and only if I looked really hard. I was going up (south), and about two-thirds of the way up it had gotten problematic to simply stay on two feet. I never felt like I was going to fall to my death, but my uphill progress was certainly slowed to a crawl.

One of these days I will have to go over there and check out Lucy's, Milly's, and Little Joe's.

–B.G.–