Small plastic water bottles filled with whisky 🙂. This otherwise average lake has an exceptional view of this impressive set of peaks. That one (to the eyeball) looked easy and fun. Marmots like to eat cooling system hoses, brake lines, and air conditioning system lines, also. Anybody hike sawtooth pass to big 5 lakes. Either way, you're starting from Sawtooth TH but the direction of the loop determines the "entry" trailhead on the application: either Timber Gap or Sawtooth Pass. We arrived at the Mineral King Ranger Station right before they closed and picked up our permit. Whether you camp here or not, the upper lakes are well worth the exploration, which is another reason why you may want to limit the hiking to the span between the two basins.
Many types of wildflowers were in full bloom. To the east, you get another look east and north toward Black Rock Pass and Sequoia's interior. I have done things that were comparable or much harder at lower elevations and I was fine. The camping area on the east, which lies adjacent to a junction leading north to Redwood Meadow, features a bear box. We were able to do the first 1, 000 feet in the shade and the views were just spectacular. Glacier pass sawtooth pass + big five lakes hiking loop map. However, I suggest that you cap your distance at 5 for the day and set up camp at the Little Five Lakes.
5 hours of tight turns on a single windy dirt road that climbs over 6, 400 feet. Our trip itinerary for the WT was approved and we were given a permit!!! The cold, sharp air jolted my senses. NOTE: for the last 100 feet of the pass, it gets STEEP. Apparently a lot of people have been seeing this route here on outdoor project, and they're trying it when they do not have the experience or the preparation for off-trail/on snow travel. Glacier pass sawtooth pass + big five lakes hiking loop downtown. The other essential item for this trek is an inflatable sleeping pad. Kaweah dominate to the northeast, while the high country of the Sierra Crest culminating in Mt. We didn't have GPS but got a paper topo map at the park. At the ranger station, there is a community storage shed we used to store the food and scented items we were not bringing on the hike (so bears did not try to get in our car). From here, descend through an alpine wonderland of dark metamorphic rock, possibly through snowfields and intermittent streams. Honestly, I originally though that 11 miles would be very reasonable and not rushed. You have to camp 100+ feet from water at Columbine, and the campsites are very scattered. We ultimately corrected ourselves by returning to the main trail, Black Rock Pass Trail, and traversing out of the meadow and into rocky terrain.
You'll backtrack to the main trail from the upper lakes and switchback down to the lower Big Five Lake. Once you do reach the summit of Sawtooth Pass, you can enjoy the view 4, 500' down into Mineral King Valley to the west and beyond to the San Joaquin Valley if the weather is clear enough. When we finally got to the Pinto Lake campsites both Holly and I were slightly delirious. Glacier pass sawtooth pass + big five lakes hiking loop north. Probably solo, so that I can go at my own pace and wont have to adjust to others or have others adjust to me because of variable reactions to elevation. Inflatable camping pillow (Ultralight Inflating Pillow). This backpacking trip almost never happened. We were the only occupants that night. If you are interested in a loop that is approximately 27 miles long and blends cross-country route finding and on-trail travel, stunning alpine landscape, and high Sierra lake fishing, this hike is for you. We never win anything!
Beyond this point, the trail makes a gently descending traverse across a colorful slope before dropping to a junction with an unmaintained trail to Crystal Lake at 26. That made me feel a little better about trying something challenging and new. Throughout the summer, Reko and I trained for the WT. 5 miles; +4, 400 ft / -1, 300 ft; Sawtooth Trailhead to Columbine Lake. Duration: 4 days, 3 nights.
Old topo maps show the trail heading southeast from this point, but you will want to head due south, hugging the shore of the lake while perhaps doing a bit of rock-hopping. The views from the Kawaeh Gap are great and Precipice Lake and the surround area are gorgeous. Instant coffee (Starbucks VIA). A sign near Monarch Lakes pointing the way to Sawtooth Pass was surrounded by snow, not a good omen. Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. As the sun slipped below the tree-tops, the gray granite mountains around us ignited into a fiery orange and he was rewarded with some phenomenal alpenglow. We just relaxed at Lower Monarch Lake, but some people were scrambling up to Upper Monarch Lake. We gawked at the zig-zagging tattoo that was Black Rock Pass. Either way, both are still exceptional eye candy. Or would using a wood stove with a bottom to it be "ok" with the rangers? Don't count on being able to reach Pinto Lake itself. And oh my, the summit wowed in every direction: Columbine Lake, Black Rock Pass, and the forested Mineral King Valley below.
It was then easy to follow the boot tracks of the rangers down the slope. Alternatively, you can remain on the Sawtooth Pass Trail beyond Monarch Lake. ) 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. We also filled up our camelbacks and water bottles at the ranger station.
After an exceptionally good night's sleep, I awoke to the fantastic view of Sawtooth Peak across Columbine Lake. The first lake of any consequence I encountered was the lowest of the Big Five Lakes, Lake 9, 830. So, down we went on the sandy slope. We ate lunch in the forested area near the creek right before the canyon opens up to a big, beautiful bowl with Sawtooth Peak and Needham Mountain showing off. Hikin_jimLocale: Orange County, CA, USA.
Accustomed to really long distance (20+ mile) hiking. I found Five Lakes basin to be well worth visiting. However, when we picked up our permits, the park ranger informed us that camping is discouraged at Columbine Lake because the land is fragile and overused. The elevation was the only thing stopping us. There was a decently obvious trail for the beginning, but towards the middle and steepest parts of the descent, it petered out.