Day 1 7/20/18 Kearsage pass to lakes below Glen pass 10.7 miles 7.5 hours 4284gain.
Had my friend camp and drop me off for my longest solo adventure yet...12 days of food, rock shoes, ice axe, and crampons (38 pounds with a bear can). Had never been up Kearsage it was fantastic! Made it to the top of the pass and talked with a group of young guys asked their plans and they were heading to do Cotter (I wondered if I may see them again as that was part of my plans). Took my time today as knowing it would be a big day with that much in my pack. Did not need crampons going up Glen pass but others coming down had microspikes. At top of pass dropped my pack and made it up to Glacier spike 1st peak of the trip..kind of wanted Bago today but too far out of the way for 1st day. Got back to pack and soon after decided for the crampons not sure they were needed but went for it anyway, got to try out my new petzel leapord fls! Got down to the lakes below Glen pass and before Rae lakes as to not be in the crowds. Great spot and out of view of the JMT but you could still hear everyone and could watch people coming down Glen pass sort of fun.
Day 2 Painted Lady, Rixford, Falcon, Gould and most of ridge to Dragon back to camp pack up and over to 60 lakes basin via Rae col. 11.3 miles, 12 hours, 4500gain
Worked my way to Painted Lady no problem but was concerned about getting to Rixford (the snow was steep) made my way up via a chute? That Bob Burd had taken, with much less snow, anyway was very exciting and chose to get off the snow in spots (probably not a better plan as it was wet and slick instead), but made it up. On to falcon a beautiful peak traversed around then up. On to Gould easy enough except went to the wrong peak? Looked a GPS and event to the real Gould, the class 3 top was fun! Ridge to Dragon started out easy enough then a traverse around a pinnacle was on sketchy, steep snow looked everywhere for better option then decided Dragon was not worth it! Believe I may have gone down Gould pass? It was loose hell that is all I know, but the view from dragon lake is 1 of the best I have seen. Found the trail down only to misplace it a few times but made my way to the beautiful Rae lakes with LOTS of people. Crossed between the 2 lakes just went in with shoes on as they were soaked from the day anyway the PCTers just stared at me then said it took them 1/2 hour to cross! My shoes were wet this whole trip between the snow and not taking my shoes off for creek/river crossings. Up to my camp spot packed up and over Rae col to the lake below the saddle of Cotter to Gardiner basin.
Day 3 Gardiner/Cotter Back to camp 6.7 miles 8.5 hours 3709 gain
Went up the ledges to the pass, awesome views, finding a easy way down not so easy but went fine. Over to Gardiner the face up was easy enough then got to the 1st summit and saw what was ahead didn’t look to bad but knew the harder part was to come. Got to 1 spot and got a little scared especially being alone out in the middle of nowhere, put on my rock shoes and everything was much better. Views from the summit are again spectacular as with most peaks. Made it back to my shoes and went back to almost the pass to do Cotter could have made a beeline up the face but wanted the potential class 3 ridge, which ended up being quite fun, almost to the top I heard voices, then saw my guys from Kearsage pass glissading down the east side bouncing out of the sun cups like crazy people. I did not do a sitting glissade but did a beautiful boot ski (my preferred descent tactic if possible, keeps your butt dry). Great views and a good look at Clarence King my potential next objective! Down to the lake to camp.
Day 4 Fin dome and over to Baxter Lake. 10.1 miles 8 hours most of which on Fin Dome, 3709 gain.
Decided not to do Clarence King 1 because I was by myself no ropes just rock shoes and didn’t know if I would make it to the summit and 2 is was behind schedule a little. So on to Fin Dome something I have now done twice as if I am anywhere near this thing it has to be climbed (It is that cool!). Definitely class 3/4 with rock shoes. Hardest part was trying to figure out how to get started I tried Secor plan (I think) and kept getting into harder than I liked, finally went down some then over and found a semi decent way up the first part after that mostly class 3 with lots of carins by then you can figure it out. The views!!! Made my way back down no easier down than up. Hiked down to Rae Lakes as wanted to check out the rest of the area, down to Dollar lake then crossed the river/creek at a slow but deep spot. Then the mosquitos invaded most of the way to Baxter lake. Not sure I would choose to go to Baxter lake as not one of my favorites, but it was the way to more peaks without dumping a lot of elevation to woods creek.
Continued...
TR 2017 HST meetup
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Gazelle
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TR 2017 HST meetup
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The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. Albert Einstein
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Gazelle
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Re: TR 2017 HST meetup
Day5 Acrodectes and Baxter and Grasshopper pass. 6.2miles 7.5 hours, 3147 gain.
Up to Grasshopper pass scree but easy enough decide for Acrodectes 1st easy enough then back to the pass checked it out more to try and decide how to get off this section, Secor says this pass is loose class 3 (ie scary not fun) but it was covered in snow with an intestine run out, also had found NO trip reports anywhere of someone doing this thing! look at doing the North ridge off Baxter and that looked incredibly loose too. Chose the pass. So up to Baxter peak with the day pack by the top good clouds coming in so hustled out of there. Now the fun began started raining/hailing put on rain poncho, donned the crampons, and ice axe, faced into the hill and front pointed and was plunging my ice axe in every 2 steps down to say I was gripped is putting it mildly! Full pack not a good run out hailing equals not fun and very tiring descent. Got down without incident (as it should be). I did consider going all the way around to woods creek also. Ended up at a great lake below Colosseum pass. It cleared up so a beautiful night continued...
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Last edited by Gazelle on Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. Albert Einstein
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Wandering Daisy
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Re: TR 2017 HST meetup
Thanks for the report! That's a lot of peaks in a short time. Gardiner always looked to me like it would be fine climb but never got to it in my climbing days. The upper east side of Gardiner Basin is really a wonderful place. Your photos are really nice. Amazing amount of snow!
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Gazelle
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Re: TR 2017 HST meetup
Day 6 Coliseum/Perkins 5.8miles 5 hours 3200gain
Awesome morning stayed to dry gear...mistake. Went up Coliseum pass and by then the clouds were coming quickly so decide to go for Coliseum over Cedric wright as the ridge was quite long to CW. Few choices for high point on Coliseum but got there and by time back to the pass it was raining so off i went no Cedric Wright. Made it to camp at a lake below Perkins about 1/4 mile from JMT and nobody there and beautiful set up tent got in and dried off then about 4 it cleared so I made a go for Perkins looked horrible from below but wasn’t too bad if more people could be interesting though,quite loose. Right before the top a huge golden eagle took off 5 feet from me and scared the ......out of me but what a spectacular sight! Yep views! Back to camp for a beautiful night. Continued..
Awesome morning stayed to dry gear...mistake. Went up Coliseum pass and by then the clouds were coming quickly so decide to go for Coliseum over Cedric wright as the ridge was quite long to CW. Few choices for high point on Coliseum but got there and by time back to the pass it was raining so off i went no Cedric Wright. Made it to camp at a lake below Perkins about 1/4 mile from JMT and nobody there and beautiful set up tent got in and dried off then about 4 it cleared so I made a go for Perkins looked horrible from below but wasn’t too bad if more people could be interesting though,quite loose. Right before the top a huge golden eagle took off 5 feet from me and scared the ......out of me but what a spectacular sight! Yep views! Back to camp for a beautiful night. Continued..
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The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. Albert Einstein
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