Trip Report 9/8-9/11 - Timber Gap > Granite Creek > Hamilton Lake > Little Five Lakes > Black Rock Pass > Glacier Pass >
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:04 pm
Started 9/8 at MK ranger station. There were a few other groups heading out same day but we missed most of the Labor Day weekend crowd. AQ was good. Slightly hazy but couldn't smell smoke. Head out via Timber Gap. Lunch at Cliff Creek and then continued north through Redwood Meadow to Granite Creek (first water after Cliff Creek). Stayed there night one.
Continued on day two toward Bearpaw Meadow where we stopped for a break. Continued on through High Sierra Camp to Hamilton Lake. The trail between Bearpaw and Hamilton is spectacular but it's quite a climb up to Hamilton. Got there mid-afternoon and set up camp. Rain rolled in around dinner time. Thunder, lightening, hail, strong winds -- this was the storm that started KNP Complex fire. Lots of dead trees at Hamilton so we were worried about trees falling with the wind. Luckily, no issues. Rain and wind continued through the night.
Day three hit trail towards Precipice Lake. Still cloudy but no rain. Made for mild climb up to Kaweah Gap. Break at Precipice. Over Kaweah Gap and into Big Arroyo. Hiked down to Big Arroyo JCT. Lunch break. Cut southwest towards Little Five. Difficult day. The hike from Big Arroyo JCT to Little Five is quite a climb and was tough after doing Kaweah Gap earlier same day. Arrived at Little Five early evening. Intermittent showers all day but no heavy rain fall.
Set out day four over Black Rock Pass. Climb is not bad from Little Five so long as you're fresh. Took just over an hour to reach the top. Break on top of BRP. The plan was to head down to Pinto and on to Cliff Creek JCT for the night and then out Timber Gap the following day. We noticed that Cliff Creek/Timber Gap area was enveloped in smoke (probably from recently started fires in the area combined with Walkers Fire). Decided to change plans and head half way down the other side of BRP and then cut over to Spring Lake, take a break and then over Glacier Pass to get out a day early given worsening smoke conditions. After break at Spring Lake, began climb towards Glacier Pass. Trail is clear about 70% of the way up and then it becomes a scramble over granite boulders to get into position for the final ascent. Last 5% is marked with trail markers so it's pretty clear how you need to approach. Getting over Glacier does require the use of your hands for balance but it's not as difficult as it looks from a distance. Cut over to Sawtooth Pass switchbacks and descended to Monarch Lakes. Took a break at Monarch and exited Sawtooth Pass trailhead. Crushed a burger at Silver City before heading back down the mountain.
Evacuation order for Mineral King was issued following day so we made it out just in time. Glad we trusted our gut and got out a day early. Had a great time. Despite the drought, the only section where we really had to be careful about water was between Cliff Creek and Granite Creek. Mosquitos were a non-issue.
Continued on day two toward Bearpaw Meadow where we stopped for a break. Continued on through High Sierra Camp to Hamilton Lake. The trail between Bearpaw and Hamilton is spectacular but it's quite a climb up to Hamilton. Got there mid-afternoon and set up camp. Rain rolled in around dinner time. Thunder, lightening, hail, strong winds -- this was the storm that started KNP Complex fire. Lots of dead trees at Hamilton so we were worried about trees falling with the wind. Luckily, no issues. Rain and wind continued through the night.
Day three hit trail towards Precipice Lake. Still cloudy but no rain. Made for mild climb up to Kaweah Gap. Break at Precipice. Over Kaweah Gap and into Big Arroyo. Hiked down to Big Arroyo JCT. Lunch break. Cut southwest towards Little Five. Difficult day. The hike from Big Arroyo JCT to Little Five is quite a climb and was tough after doing Kaweah Gap earlier same day. Arrived at Little Five early evening. Intermittent showers all day but no heavy rain fall.
Set out day four over Black Rock Pass. Climb is not bad from Little Five so long as you're fresh. Took just over an hour to reach the top. Break on top of BRP. The plan was to head down to Pinto and on to Cliff Creek JCT for the night and then out Timber Gap the following day. We noticed that Cliff Creek/Timber Gap area was enveloped in smoke (probably from recently started fires in the area combined with Walkers Fire). Decided to change plans and head half way down the other side of BRP and then cut over to Spring Lake, take a break and then over Glacier Pass to get out a day early given worsening smoke conditions. After break at Spring Lake, began climb towards Glacier Pass. Trail is clear about 70% of the way up and then it becomes a scramble over granite boulders to get into position for the final ascent. Last 5% is marked with trail markers so it's pretty clear how you need to approach. Getting over Glacier does require the use of your hands for balance but it's not as difficult as it looks from a distance. Cut over to Sawtooth Pass switchbacks and descended to Monarch Lakes. Took a break at Monarch and exited Sawtooth Pass trailhead. Crushed a burger at Silver City before heading back down the mountain.
Evacuation order for Mineral King was issued following day so we made it out just in time. Glad we trusted our gut and got out a day early. Had a great time. Despite the drought, the only section where we really had to be careful about water was between Cliff Creek and Granite Creek. Mosquitos were a non-issue.