High Sierra Topix

Hello friends and not yet friends! I'm heading out with two friends on the classic North Lake - South Lake via Lamarck Col trip.

Our plan, leaving Thursday:

Day 1: North Lake --> Lower Lamarck Lake
Day 2: Lower Lamarck Lake --> Darwin Bench via Lamarck Col
Day 3: Darwin Bench --> Somewhere over Muir Pass, not sure
Day 4: Wherever we were --> Lower Dusy Basin
Day 5: Hike out over Bishop Pass

I am wondering about the conditions on Lamarck Col, specifically about the snow/ice field below the Col. Has anybody been over this year? We are planning to cross midday. Should we bring microspikes? We will definitely have trekking poles. With the snow being so weird this year I'm worried that we will find the terrifying conditions SSSdave reported in this thread: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... ck#p125986

Thoughts?

We are all Level 3 backpackers with meaningful cross country experience, but we aren't climbers. One of the people went over Harrison with me two years ago. Both of them have been over Elizabeth Pass in early June when it was covered with snow.

Have almost the same exact question! Potentially headed there this weekend.

Latest info reported on SNCC-TPP:

Aaron Madsen:

Definitely stay to the left. That is where the sign is and the beginning of the descent. If you’re hitting it mid day, the snow will definitely be soft.

Joanne Bienskie:

Same here. No spike. Foot prints and soft snow. Other side of col is snow free

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I'm also doing this trip in two weeks.

Maverick, what is SNCC-TPP? Is that a listserv people can sign up for? Thanks!

Maverick, what is SNCC-TPP? Is that a listserv people can sign up for? Thanks!

Sierra Nevada Current Conditions - Trails, Passes and Peaks on Facebook

Thanks Maverick!

This was during the first week of July: http://www.highsierratopix.com/communit ... 50#p138006

We made it no problem! Snowfield still there, chose the correct path to end up on the ridge where the sign is, even though many paths went too far to the right. TR coming soon!