Graveyard Pass

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alpinemike
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Graveyard Pass

Post by alpinemike »

TITLE: Graveyard Pass

GENERAL OVERVIEW: This pass leads between the Graveyard Lakes to the Minnow Creek Drainage. It crosses the Silver Divide.

CLASS/DIFFICULTY: Class 2

LOCATION: John Muir Wilderness on the Silver Divide to the West of Peak 11,225 and to the East of Peak 11,347 on the 7.5 Min Topo. HST Map

ELEVATION: 10,711

USGS TOPO MAP (7.5'): Graveyard Peak

ROUTE DESCRIPTION: The South side of this pass features mostly granite slabs and grassy ramps to the top. There are cliff bands that need to be avoided but following along the ramps will more than likely get you to the top. Instead of going all the way around the Graveyard Lake that is below the pass to start the climb you can angle up and to the North from the Western shore around the inlet region. This will avoid going up the talus chute that is loose. Aim for the trees since they are at the top of the pass. If you end up on cliffs you likely have gone too far below the ramps and talus that gain you access to the top.

The North features lots of talus and a fairly steep descent or ascent. The talus is mostly stable but don't take it for granted naturally. The talus will run into a grassy meadow area and eventually hit a lake. From there you can take a trail at the lake's outlet to Peter Pande Lake or down into Cascade Valley and Fish Creek. There is no perfect way through the talus so pick the option that suits your fancy best. We stayed slightly more east on the descent.
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SSSdave
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Re: Graveyard Pass

Post by SSSdave »

The pass has also informally been called Silver Fox Pass from before the Internet era however like most such names that are not on the USGS topo, often unfamiliar people refer to them by nearby official USGS named features. From my 2012 web page:

http://www.davidsenesac.com/MinnowCr_20 ... wcr_3.html

South side of pass:

Image

"The crux is midway where one has to climb up steeply on turf steps besides talus. From just below the whitebark pine filled pass one will see boot paths straight down the steep south side of the pass where those who don't bother looking at maps foolishly chose to descend."

View of north side of pass from lowest part of saddle:
Image

"The view east across talus from lowest point of pass. Below the lowest point of the saddle are small steep class 3 chutes while a lower gradient gravel descent maybe 20 feet higher on the east shoulder provides the main route one can see below at the X. One should not descend directly down there like some map clueless paths follow because it begins to steepen at 10500 that cannot be seen from above. Rather after dropping to about 10600 on the obvious gravel use path, begin traversing right down the obvious smaller talus rounding to the east side of that steeper rim."

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"Then follow moderate to small talus down that east side until about 10300. There instead of continuing towards the northwest fall line where larger talus goes quite a ways over low gradient slopes, turn north over medium talus to an obvious quicker escape and into the pines beyond. "


Image

"(Above image) shows the view up towards the pass. The route in pink is where we descended ## while the route in violet is a less tedious route through smaller talus we made ## on our return."

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"Having studied the boulder field carefully from further back, we changed our route up a bit from our descent path which was less tedious through smaller talus versus the more common moderate sized talus on the slope."
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erutan
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Re: Graveyard Pass

Post by erutan »

I did this North to South - as I remember it I climbed up along the edge of the talus near the trees you can see in SSSdave's post then traversed over to the ridge from the little lake above Peter Panda and gained the final elevation at the end where the talus was a bit larger. Not sure it was necessary, but it's something that can be done and I don't remember hating it.

The drop down into Graveyard was staightforward and enjoyable in comparison.

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