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Post by quailhiker on Aug 24, 2015 14:28:15 GMT -8
Following up in my "SEKI Experts" post.
With all the issues with the Rough fire and SEKI, we are looking to the north for alternatives. I'm charting out a route in the southeastern part of Yosemite that looks promising and--again--am hopeful of getting in touch with folks who have some experience with this area.
I'm looking at starting near Chiquito Pass in the Sierra NF, heading north into the park by Givens Lake, then NE up to the Ottoway Lakes, across Red Peak Pass, to the east just short of Isberg Pass, then south across Post Peak Pass. We'd then go out of the park again, coming in at Fernandez Pass. Then near the Chain Lakes and finally back out from whence we came. My mapping software suggests this is less than 40 miles, and we'll have a full week to do the loop.
Some of these look to be designated pack trails, so I'm wondering how bad the horses (and associated poop) can be. Also, although I can go through the topos, how challenging is the terrain? Recommendations? Cautions?
Thanks, Fred
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 17:44:13 GMT -8
Not an expert, but some experience. I did a loop around Red Peak, Post Peak and the Ottoways from Tuolumne in Aug. '09 on a trip through the Clark Range. You can probably find something useful in the Trip Report on that page, as well as some don't miss spots. You'd have plenty of time to pull it off. I enjoyed the area north of Red Peak and the Ottoways, Anne and Rutherford Lk's in the south. Red Devil Lk is a highlight although I didn't have the energy to hike all the way down there and back up the next morning at the time. The shore is pretty steep with limited camping. Didn't see any horses, and very few people, except a trail crew and some fishermen. It's one of the most remote parts in Yosemite and a long, challenging drive up on a washboard road from the south (I was told). There aren't too many trails to choose from, but pay close attention to anything that looks like a junction. There were serious maintenance issues in places when I was there. Fernandez Pass was particularly steep but there is a ton of elevation ups & downs throughout your route. Water may be a challenge now in some of the stretches I did then. There are plenty of alternate Sierra routes on my site PlanetRambler if you can get a permit. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 25, 2015 18:37:16 GMT -8
I'm not aware of any designated stock trails outside of Whitney Portal ("pack trail" is just an older term for a trail, some of those quads have a history). and I never saw horses back there. Beasore is paved past Upper Chiquito which helps. The singular issue of that route is the obvious elevation gain to go over the park's highest pass and in a clockwise direction that's up on a south facing slope so an early start helps with the heat. The trail itself from thse Ottoways to the Triple Fork junction has been greatly reworked by crews funded by the Yosemite Conservancy and it was really necessary.
That's a national forest wilderness permit, but Yosemite's food storage regulations still apply within the park: canister. By now I'd only count on lakes, bigger ponds and full on forks of the river. Things were already quite dry in July.
On the north side of Red Peak Pass keep an eye out for Sky Pilot, some good bunches live up there. Though it's sort of late.
Ginny Clark has a useful guide to the Andel Adams Wilderness where you'll spend some of that route.
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Post by quailhiker on Aug 26, 2015 5:10:25 GMT -8
Thanks, folks. And thanks once more for the photos, 150mph! We were able to secure a wilderness permit for entry from the Sierra NF. Not sure just yet whether we'll do the full loop as described, or just head up near the Ottoway Lakes and base camp for several days. It does look like a great and not crowded area.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 26, 2015 13:32:43 GMT -8
With basecamp somewhere around the Upper Ottaway lake a day hiking over Red Peak Pass to explore the northern side would be worth the effort IMHO, a plus is the climb would be without the full pack. Red Devil is almost better as a day destination as it's pretty exposed, so cold at night, but that's in part depending on shelter choices of course. I've long had doing something similar out of Granite on the list: pretty country. What's the current status of the fire around there (Bass Lake)? The smoke only got up to the Cathedral Range one day in July while I was there, but that was a bad day for visibility. Luckily the wind direction changed and it was blue sky for the rest of the two weeks. ETA: looks like it's winding down and it was away from Beasore in any case regarding road closures (which can linger on as they have to clear hazardous trees etc. from burn areas).. inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4413/ |
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Post by quailhiker on Aug 27, 2015 5:13:35 GMT -8
HSF: Thanks. We're thinking of one day doing the Red Peak Pass (without packs sounds much more pleasurable), and the other "base camp" day going up the Illilouette Creek drainage. Do you know anything about camping at Breeze Lake? I haven't been able to find much info, and the few pictures I've seen show pretty much all boulders around the lake. If we can camp there after moving down from Ottoway, the topo suggests we may be able to cut cross-country down to Upper Chain Lake for our last night.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 27, 2015 11:26:16 GMT -8
Never been to Breeze, I always turn "left" and head for Red Peak Pass. I can check my various guidebooks when I get home. Lower Merced Pass Lake was, IIRC, unimpressive. While the Ottoway's are spectacular. If the water level's right there's a wonderful little peninsula with a sand covered bench and some stone ledges just about the water that is an awesome place for a lunch stop at Lower Ottoway just before the trail starts it's climb up to the pass.
Oh, and as I recall there are no significant water sources on that slope though earlier in the year, probably fed by the snowfield that lasts in the north shadow late into the season, there is water soon available.
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markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
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Post by markskor on Aug 30, 2015 18:05:12 GMT -8
Been here multiple times and...
1) RE - Breeze - Chain route. From Breeze NW corner, go due west till over the crest and then south, hitting the Chain's between lake # 2 and the upper #3. If you head directly for Lower Chain from the crest - (looks easy on the map but) - some cliff out problems exist.
2) RE - camping Breeze...a great campsite center north end...a "use" trail north side.
3) Starting out Gravely Ford, (Chiquito Lake TH?) we hit Givens, then Johnson, Royal Arch Lakes, Buena Vista...we then X-countried to Hoover...eventually Breeze - Chain and completed the southern loop.
If Ottoway intended (tour the Clarks?), start Mono Meadows TH - two days to Lower Ottoway, over RPP to Red Devil...Maybe Triple Peak Fork to Washburn and follow the Merced down to Valley.
Merced Pass Lakes not impressive, and unless two cars used, logistical problems combining these two loops.
BTW, are you fishing?
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Post by quailhiker on Aug 31, 2015 4:32:59 GMT -8
Thanks, markskor. Fishing is uncertain. Only one of us is a fisherman, and he's concerned that getting the CA permit will be pretty expensive for just our one week, since "we're not from there."
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markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
Posts: 651
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Post by markskor on Aug 31, 2015 7:02:41 GMT -8
"Fishing is uncertain. Only one of us is a fisherman..."
Too bad, as you go by/visit 3 of the top 5 Yosemite fishing lakes on route.
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Post by quailhiker on Sept 14, 2015 11:19:55 GMT -8
Just got back from a week in the area. TR forthcoming. Camped at Chain Lakes (2 nights), Upper Merced Pass Lake, Lower Ottoway Lake (2 nights), and Givens Lake. No smoke impacts, thankfully. Beautiful area--thanks for all the help!
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