Piute Pass, Keyhole, Alpine Col. Sierra High Route Prep #2

[@brucelgoodman]

Nicely done!

[@davidjolles4927]

Two thumbs up ! Good stuff!

[@wellseasonedhiker]

Tx Dave!

[@samwisegamgee4659]

I did a similar route decades ago, except after The Keyhole I turned LEFT (SOUTHEAST) down a hanging valley underneath Mt. Darwin to the SOUTH, then to Lamarck Col, and then back NORTH-EAST to my original Piute Pass Trailhead starting point for a nice loop. You said Gow-th; this is the German philosopher and is pronounced Grrr-terr in German (LOL).

[@wellseasonedhiker]

That's a confusing route. You mean Darwin Bench, Darwin Canyon and North to Lamarck Col??? Tx for the pronunciation. I looked it up after your note. Makes perfect sense.

[@samwisegamgee4659]

@@wellseasonedhiker Sorry, yes. It's been decades since I did the route. Best.

[@YongsungKim]

What an adventure!

[@wellseasonedhiker]

Indeed - it was. Worth the trip...as always.

[@terencedoherty7386]

Great video, thanks! Brought back a lot of memories. My father and I were there many years ago, and did the North Lake to South Lake loop. We decided to try to cross the Glacier Divide via an unnamed col above Wahoo Lakes that we had a description of, but it turned out we got into some very steep scree that went from annoying to just impossible, and we decided to bag it a couple of hundred feet below the top. We knew about the Keyhole and Alpine Col, but in those days, we didn't have any description, and we thought these might be difficult. Shoulda went for it anyway, both were WAY easier than that col we tried to cross! Had a great time anyway. Later, we also made the loop via Lamarck Col, and that was gorgeous!

[@wellseasonedhiker]

That pass above Wahoo Lakes is called Snow Tongue Pass and yes, it's super loose. We'll be doing that one this year but crossing from south to north.

[@terencedoherty7386]

@@wellseasonedhiker Thanks, I read up on it. Doesn't appear to be very well-traveled.

[@wellseasonedhiker]

@@terencedoherty7386 Yeah, my guess is you were up there before Roper's Sierra High Route got popular. My guess is dozens of folks cross that pass every year now in their quest to complete the Sierra High Route. Some opt to go over Alpine Col. Sadly - finding pristine x-country is almost impossible these days.

[@terencedoherty7386]

@@wellseasonedhiker Yeah, you're right. This was in the 70s that we were up there. By comparison, information was difficult to come by in those days!

[@wellseasonedhiker]

@@terencedoherty7386 100% with you. That's the same era I used to hike around with my father as well. Back then, as you know, routes were made by looking at the map and scoping the peaks and ridge lines. No internet, no books, you just tried stuff out. With Roper's Sierra High Route (1997) and the internet much/most of the pristine country has been visited - a lot. I remember visiting Bear Lake Basin (near Seven Gables) catching fish by hand at Vee Lake - it was magical - it was as if no one ever went there, like we were the first to see the place (of course that wasn't true but felt that way). Same with heading down Disappearing Creek/Ionian Basin...heck even Gardiner Basin felt untraveled. Now there are use trails almost everywhere. But, truth is...it's still amazing and it's still beautiful and unmatched.

[@zzww9483]

Another nice warm-up trip for you SHR. Is your last day campsite at Goethe lake or at the smaller lake between Goethe lake and Muriel lake?

[@wellseasonedhiker]

Yeah, small lake between Goethe and Muriel. If my memory is right Goethe is rock bound - no place to pitch a tent. As for SHR this year, unfortunately due a serious illness of a family member we're going to postpone until next year. 😞 Next hike looks like it'll be the South Lake to North Lake Loop via Lamarck Col later in August.

[@zzww9483]

@@wellseasonedhiker That's unfortunate, wish everything will be all right soon. Looking forward to your video across Lamarck Col.

[@matthewparker7515]

Great video! I have not been up to the Keyhole or Alpine Col yet so this is a great primer video for my preparation. Looks like Class 3 at worst?

[@wellseasonedhiker]

Yeah, easy class 3. No need to bring a rope really. It's a short 20' easy down climb.. Rest is all class 2.

[@matthewparker7515]

@@wellseasonedhiker thanks! I want to find an alternate to Snow Tongue Pass as that pass is too sketchy for me. I’ve gone over Lamarck Col and then Piute Pass to bypass Snow Tongue but looking for something shorter in length. Heard the talus is insane up around this area so I assume it’s slow going?

[@wellseasonedhiker]

@@matthewparker7515 I'm probably the wrong guy to ask cuz I love talus. That said, getting around Goethe lake gets a bit long and boring. I've not done Snow Tongue but doing it next summer as part of our SHR attempt. Yeah, looks sketchy for sure but all comes down to patience...I hope. Would hate to have to back off and circle around to Alpine Col. Key to Alpine Col (South to North) is to stay well left (west) as you descend to Goethe. If you head straight down you have to fight through multiple cliff outs.

[@matthewparker7515]

@@wellseasonedhiker thanks! I've gone up and over every pass on the SHR except for Snow Tongue. Hiked to the bottom of it from the north and to the top of it from the south. That final 300ft was just too loose for me but other people have done it. Good luck!

[@wellseasonedhiker]

@@matthewparker7515 Yeah, seen videos...looks loose. Will have to be careful for sure.