Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Re: High Sierra Trail variation via Pants Pass

In the "Lost Backpack on backside of Whitney MR" thread, I asked (Bob R at first) about crossing a pass north of the Kaweah Peaks, those high peaks in the ridge west of Mt. Whitney. Since it was completely off the topic, I am creating this thread so the related posts can be moved here.

I am hoping to do a west-to-east crossing via Pants Pass next summer.

Posts below are moved from the other thread.
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Bob, you may be exactly the person to answer this: Does anyone know if the pass north east of Kaweah Gap (headwaters of Big Arroyo), crossing over to the Kern-Kaweah River area is passable?

I am looking toward a HST variation for next year, I think I would like to try it.

Map is here
(second question: In Google maps, how can I turn off pictures, and turn on stream/river names?)

Ah, George Durkee is likely to know the answer to that! If you can get a message to him!

Thanks, Ken. Since I am looking toward next year, maybe I can get an email to him that he will see.

What a lucky dude, stuck back there in a cabin by Charlotte lake all summer.




... LA Sooner: Sorry to hijack the thread. Back to regular programming... I hope someone goes looking for your pack soon.

You never said-- When does her trip to Kilimanjaro start?

Steve,

Since the backpack has been found and nobody ever answered your question I re-hijack the thread to respond to your inquiry even though it wasn't actually addressed to me, I hope you don't mind.

The pass that connects the Nine Lakes Basin with the Kern-Kaweah River area is commonly referred to as Pants Pass. RJ Secor rates it as 2nd class. I have met people who just came across it. To them it looked more like 3rd to 4th class. This report contains a description of how the pass is best crossed. It kind of agrees with Secors suggestion.



Kurt

Kurt, thanks so much for the help!!! Pants pass will be an easy name to remember.

Couple of odd things about their report, though. First is their map -- they showed their route going north to the Tyndall ranger station, but their narrative says they dropped down to Junction Meadow. ...probably because the map they started with did not show the trail directly to JM.

Second is their description of the lower and higher notches of the pass. The map shows the lower notch a 1000 to 1500 feet north of the higher one. But they describe climbing the lower notch, then ascending north to the higher one.

I'll have to do a little more digging.

And funny comment about the nice big "hatchery" trout in that remote off-trail lake.

So, I'm going to do this hike, probably in the opposite direction. But I am going to take more time, try some fishing, and maybe spend the night on top of our favorite peak.

Thanks again for the great help.

Hi Steve,

I haven't even noticed the detour over Tyndall Creek RS. As you stated, its probably a mistake. This group dosen't seem the kind of people that would do such an extra loop. However, the description of the lower and higher notches is correct. They are only about 300 feet apart. The lower pass further north (Pt. 11,775) is not Pants Pass and is much harder to cross as it has a vertical cliff on the East Side.

I suspect the the couple I met at Junction Meadow that talked about 4th class terrain they just crossed were actually coming down from this pass and not pants pass. They mentioned ledges they had to climb down on the Eastern Side and how difficult this was with the packpacks.

RJ Secor in "High Sierra Peaks, Passes, and Trails" also warns about confusing the two.

The two pictures below are taken from Kaweah Gap. I hope this provides some clarification.




Kurt

Thanks so much for the clarification, Kurt. I'll be sure to see what Secor has written, too.

Looks like some major talus climbing to the pass. I can see why they reported using their seats at times.