South-ish from Mather Pass
Monday, 08 Aug 12.0 miles, 9:00
Upper Palisade Lake
We wanted an early start on Mather Pass today - we like to cross passes early to avoid post-holing and afternoon storms and to get most of the climb done in the cool part of the day. Chelsea set out with A&R just ahead of Chris and Rebecca (Honey & Baby). The trail was nestled into the northeast wall of the basin, at the foot of the contrarily named Disappointment Peak; how anyone could be disappointed by this view is well beyond my comprehension. The walk and gentle climb along, and about a hundred meters above, the Palisade Lakes was glorious with the morning light reflecting off water and mountains. I enjoyed the many wildflowers and saw six mule deer browsing nearby to the side of the trail. I watched them for several minutes as they took their leisurely breakfast. From there I traipsed along as the trail carried me around Upper Palisade Lake where I turned to look back over the lower lake, tucked into its basin. Just past the upper lake I caught up with the group and we saw some small marks in a patch of old snow - marmot feet. The tracks were quite clear and must have been made yesterday when the afternoon sun touched this snow and softened it. Now they were frozen in quite securely. We began an easy climb into the sun. To my left, tucked into some rocks, was a cheerful clump of Sierra Primrose (Primula suffrutescens) and, not much further on, a sweet, lemon-yellow Sierra Columbine (Aquilegia pubescens).
Chelsea hikes through Upper Basin
The grade steepened as we passed above ice-filled lakes and we got a look at the extensive snowfield we had to cross. We switchbacked up to it and after some deliberation, Chelsea and I went with our microspikes across the field which was still icy and awaiting the day’s sun. It was inclined rather sharply and, unlike other snowfields we’d crossed, did not have any trench worn in from other hikers. It would be easy to slip and go hurtling down the sun-cupped slope to land on rocks well below. A&R opted for a different route around the snow. After our crossing and some interesting scrambling over loose talus we regained the trail and soon arrived on the pass. Pictures were taken and A&R arrived about thirty minutes later. A ranger also arrived (Erika), starting a seven day tour. To descend we followed easy switchbacks down a very steep slope to the Upper Basin. From here it was gentle grades and wonderful scenery all down the basin. We reached the low point at a pair of stream crossings where we found Chris and Rebecca lounging on some rocks. We waded the streams and began our last leg uphill. We wanted to get a head start on tomorrow’s climb of Pinchot Pass. We switchbacked up through fairly uninteresting woods until we reached the Taboose Pass Trail and, crossing a stream, entered a scene out of the Sound of Music. We were in a broad, rolling meadow, just below eleven thousand feet, with sweeping views to jagged peaks in almost all directions. We scouted for an hour for the tent sites that were supposed (according to the guidebook) to be at the crossing. Eventually we found some meager sites a few hundred meters away and settled in for the night.
