Glacier Pass Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes Hiking Loop Utah

July 3, 2024, 12:34 am

It's difficult to find another more stunning alpine lake in the Sierra, and equally as difficult to describe the tranquility and grandeur one experiences in its presence. Hiking the Glacier Pass to Sawtooth Pass Loop via Big Five Lakes qualifies at the top of this list. Glacier pass sawtooth pass + big five lakes hiking loop 2. The cruise up the perfectly graded, built, and maintained trail to Monarch Lakes couldn't have been more pleasant. If you want to lengthen your trip, I'd choose this area as a campsite. In regards to fires Justin… you are at elevation I would check with rangers as to if you can have a fire.

Glacier Pass Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes Hiking Loop 2

After snacking we had to descend everything we just gained AND MORE to Cliff Creek. The morning was bitingly cold. To the east, you get another look east and north toward Black Rock Pass and Sequoia's interior. Sawtooth Pass Trailhead to Little Five Lake 10476 via Glacier Pass. This meant dry camping. Permits: Permits are needed for any backcountry wilderness camping in Sequoia National Park. Thus, I had zero expectations of getting a permit for the WT. Glacier pass sawtooth pass + big five lakes hiking loop north. Itinerary & Trip Planning. This lake makes for a great lunch spot and is gorgeous.

9 miles, the trail tops out at a ridge overlooking Columbine Lake. I want to cook fresh fish, but don't want to carry a frying pan for use with my stove unless I have to. Anybody hike sawtooth pass to big 5 lakes. To this day, I don't know why I didn't wake him up. A few more navigational challenges emerge as you travel from the Big Five Lakes over a ridge to Lost Canyon. These lakes had trout in them so you could do some fishing here. Day Three: Today was our planned mellower day. So, unfortunately the trip ended in failure.

We took turns safety descending really loose areas so we wouldn't dislodge anything onto the bottom person and side-stepped/ boot skied down the mountainside. I have never been there before but my assumption there will be places to camp. When I stepped out of the car, I froze. It's a great toilet though! Ok. Glacier pass sawtooth pass + big five lakes hiking loop area. That's what was my initial plan, but to go over blackrock pass first. The final ascent of the loop takes you to Sawtooth Pass. We had better odds of scoring a permit for Mineral King than the Wonderland Trail since MK was first come, first served. That said, it is still worthwhile to reserve your permit ahead of time to ensure you can enter at your desired trailhead (Sawtooth Pass for this itinerary). After setting up our tent, Reko felt lightheaded. We arrived at the Mineral King Ranger Station right before they closed and picked up our permit. Small, quick drying towel (REI mutli towel mini).

Glacier Pass Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes Hiking Loop Area

Conditions began to change. This formidable barrier, serrated with numerous glaciated peaks and peppered with sparkling lake basins, beckons to hikers determined to overcome altitude and fatigue in their pursuit of high country beauty. Backpacking the Five Lakes Loop in Mineral King. The pass was busy the day I crossed it. Langley and the Sierra Crest. However, the climb to Black Rock Pass from this spot gains 4, 500' over the space of nearly 6 miles. The scree on the Mineral King side is omnipresent, and you will have to push through a lot of it on the steep, unmaintained downhill trail as you make your way down to Monarch Lake.

We also wanted a night to acclimatize because we would be hiking in elevations of 8-11K feet. Then smoke began to thicken. We are staying the first night by the trail head and going to wake up at 8 or 9 to pick up the permit. While we are all in good shape and young, none of us are.

Very no big deal to get over Five Lakes Pass. There is no one correct route, but we did our best to slowly and carefully get up to the top of the 11, 800 foot pass. Starting at the trailhead, the trail climbs through mixed open shrub and tree patches for about two miles, with ever-increasing views of the mountains to the south, until reaching Timber Gap. This new stove requires a lighter. We ate lunch at the third (and largest) lake, enthralled by the splendid setting. The National Park Service stocked hundreds of high elevation lakes until 1988, when they decided to change the policy and end their stocking program. Maybe a way to do it would be to just head over Sawtooth Pass on an out-and-back, and see how far you get. The trail starts with a steady uphill climb that offers exquisite views of the Kaweahs—jagged granite peaks laced with remnants of winter snow.

Glacier Pass Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes Hiking Loop North

Ascending from the north Five Lakes Pass (between Little Five Lakes and Big Five Lakes). Logistics + Planning. I wish I had brought a tarp and some rope. That seems like more of a mental slog to me, as the views aren't as great. According the larger, national geographic map I have, it's about 11 miles to the lakes. Lowest Big Five Lake, Lake 9, 830 - On a previous trip, I had visited the other Big Five Lakes. That's 11 or 12 miles from the big 5 lakes, but I don't see why we couldn't do that in a day unless the hiking is just really 1, 2011 at 6:22 pm #1765339. When you are descending, stay to your right (away from Monarch Lakes) as much as possible before making tight switchbacks down towards the lake. There were scores of campers, which contrasted with the solitude we experienced most of our trek. Green plants, wildflowers, mountains with just a touch of snow on them, and the creek meandering through. Inflatable sleeping pad (Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro Sleeping Pad). Dates Hiked: September 11-14, 2019. We spotted a marmot as we chugged up the exposed path that offered expansive meadow views. After two hours I had made my way to the outlet of Columbine Lake and I soon began the descent into Lost Canyon.

We laid down once we set our tents up - I like this relaxing at camp thing, haha - and after an hour or so, it was time to take more pictures and then eat dinner. On the way out I would cross country it a bit over the saddle just southeast of the uppermost Little Five Lake and into the Big Five Lake Basin. This is a tall order for a dayhike, but with a full pack, this would be excruciating. We managed to safely traverse the loose gravel and make our way to Monarch Lakes. The terrain alternates between loose, sandy scree and large rock outcrops. Day 3: Little Five Lakes to Lost Canyon. And then after you reach Timber Gap, it is only 2-3 miles downhill to the parking lot! Alpenglow on Peaks Southeast of Columbine Lake - I had planned on spending the night in Lost Canyon, but after I started descending into the canyon I realized I would be missing evening views like this one. We set up camp, and went down to the water and soaked our lower legs.

At first, the terrain is dominated by forest with numerous pocket meadows, but at 21 miles, the tree cover recedes revealing beautiful views up canyon toward the Great Western Divide and the craggy heights of Sawtooth Peak. Maybe you guys could make better sense of that text. At least the views of the Kaweah Range were incredible during the ascent. I did not plan food well enough for this day. The "tortoise" strategy will inevitably beat out the "hare" strategy for all but the most fit, and with a lot of slow, deliberate effort, you will reach Black Rock Pass in due time. We kept climbing though, to Columbine Lake. We had to stop at the lakes around 4 because of elevation sickness. After you finish the hike, be sure to go to the storage shed by the ranger station and pick up any food you left. My skills were a little rusty, but soon I had five fat rainbow trout on ice, in the pack, and ready to take home. 5 miles along the Lost Canyon Trail we reached the junction for the trail with Big Five Lakes.

The crunching of leaves/debris continued for a few minutes. I terms of length and difficulty) While stepping in snow is not a big deal for us, anything technical, like requiring cramp ons, is a big no for us. I rested at the pass, and soon the rangers arrived as well. When you get your permit they will go over regulations with you.

No campfires at the following locations: Kaweah River Drainage. The trail was covered with snow in places but it slowed down progress very little. 612058) because it is less than a mile from the Mineral King Ranger Station. Reko and I panicked when we realized this. Would we be better off sleeping at columbine lake and then taking it all the way to big 5 the next day? The location of Columbine Lake is very convenient for both directions of the hike: halfway up the climb to Sawtooth Pass, or the first viable camping after tackling the monstrous Sawtooth Pass. It was the sound of footsteps and leaves/dirt rustling under the weight of something…or someone. That made me feel a little better about trying something challenging and new. We made our way back to our campsite and started packing. The Mineral King Ranger Station is on the way to the Sawtooth Pass Trailhead, so you can pick up your permits the morning of your hike. I stuck with my plans, but I was the only hiker to cross Sawtooth Pass that day.