Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mather would have enjoyed the endless views from his beautiful, silent, and stark
namesake pass (12,100 feet).
Descend sharply along zigzagged switchbacks to desolate Upper Basin. After a
mile or so, the grade eases and it's a moderate 5-mile descent past glittering tarns to
treeline. The desert rockscape, with the stately presence of aptly named Cardinal
Mountain, eventually gives way to lush woodland as it parallels the South Fork
Kings River. As the river bends southwest, the trail heads southeast on the trail. Use
caution in this river crossing. There are good campsites on both sides of the river
with rotating areas closed for restoration.
After the river crossing, the trail gently rises and fords the creek again (difficult
in early spring). Begin ascending more steeply via pine-shaded switchbacks where
there is no camping available. At the junction with the Taboose Pass Trail, continue
straight while the grade eases up, and enter a bucolic open meadow. After a quarter
mile, reach another junction with trails leading northeast to Taboose Pass and south-
west to Bench Lake. Ignore these and continue walking up the peaceful valley, keep-
ing the river on your left. There is excellent camping among these mountain tarns
and grassy meadowland.
Keep ascending past multiple lakelets, including bluer-than-blue Lake Marjorie
(11,132 feet), whose sparkling deep recesses lie ringed by a cirque on one side and
by trees on the other. Climb away from Marjorie on steep switchbacks. The lake on
the shelf above Marjorie is a pure turquoise to Marjorie's electric azure.
Unlike Mather and Muir, the approach to Pinchot Pass is less of a clear switch-
back to the top, and there are many deceptively false summits as the trail winds
briefly north before the final ascent. Follow a series of shale zigzags up to the col sit-
ting between eastern Mount Wynne and western Crater Mountain, admiring the fire-
weed tucked into unlikely crevices. When finally reached, the colors of Pinchot Pass
(12,130 feet) are arresting: bright yellow-green lichen stands out on the gray rock,
while the mountains ahead are a tempered warm rust color.
Descend steep serpentine loose rock switchbacks. As the grade lessens, enjoy a
rolling downhill through a landscape of dwarfed and stunted trees searching for
proper nutrients in the reddish soil. Glittering alpine lakes nestle in the arms of
towering granite peaks, providing excellent camping with a view.
The switchbacks steepen once again shortly before passing the junction with the
Sawmill Pass Trail (10,346 feet). Good campsites can be found along Woods Creek.
Here, the descent becomes gentler again, following the river on a high ridgeline as
the trail sinks farther into the lush canyon.
Near the confluence of Woods Creek and the South Fork Kings River, reach a
junction with the trail to Roads End. Veer right to leave the JMT, which continues on
