Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Crabtree Pass

I am going over Crabtree Pass (after climbing Whitney) and was wondering if anyone has been over the pass and into Miter Basin? Concerned about snow levels. Also, if you have ever climbed over the pass, what difficulty level would you throw on it...class 2?

I mean this year with respect to the snow levels. And in previous years as to how difficult it is to climb. Thanks in advance.

Grezer posted some pictures on July 26th from a hike through the Miter Basin to Crabtree lakes area about 1 week before. Some of the lakes are still partially frozen and there are some remaining snowdrifts. The heaviest snow seemed to be in the small lake just below Crabtree pass to the north. But not much to worry about. You should be able to go around the snow drifts. They didn't seem to have any trouble with them.

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004794

I went over Crabtree Pass for the first time in 1972 as a 13 yar old. To answer your question of how hard I went back to my notes from that trip:
"Today we went over the col [note: Crabtree Pass]. It was a easy scrable up the east side (way easier than Agassiz). I found a rock with a shell fossil on it about half-way up and carried it up to the pass where we had lunch, but forgot it there. The descent down the west side was steep and loose down a chute for the 1st 200 ft, so we went one at as time and yelled "rock!" alot, but it wasn't too bad. We were down to the lakes in no time. Caught 3 fish."

BTW, I've gone over that pass a few times since (haven't found that fossil again) and find it very straight forward class 1 -2 for most of the way from the east. The west side is class 2 and the chute is just as loose as I remember my first time.

Hope this helps in some way.

Hey guys thanks for the replies. The info is great. I am trying to convince my buddy that we can make it from Crabtree Lake to Cottonwood TH in two days. The pass is our only concern. We are coming in from over Whitney and cannot turn around and only have 3 days of hiking to get back to our cars and home.

Thanks for the info!!

kennyhel,

In September of 2003 our party of 6 took that same route only in the opposite direction. We had really heavy packs, over 50 lbs. We spent one night at Soldier Lake after summiting Langley and then spent one night at Upper Crabtree Lake. Going up the sand hill from Upper Crabtree Lake to Discovery Pinnacle with full packs was a good workout. If your in good enough condition to summit Whitney, allowing two days to Cottonwood Lakes TH from Upper Crabtree Lake is reasonable.

-Rick

If you are coming from upper Crabtree Lake you can easily make it to Sky Blue Lake in one day. If you get an early start you could probably make it further to Soldier lake also. From Crabtree pass down to Sky Blue lake it is better to stay on the west or right side. Once you get to Sky Blue lake you follow the lake around the east side until you come to the opening down into the Miter Basin.

A few years ago we backpacked out from Sky Blue Lake to the Car at Horseshoe Meadows, over Cottonwood pass, in about 7 - 8 hours and had time to drive home the same day.

Perfect information folks, thank you so much. This all helps alot!!!

Here are some photos from Kashcrafts time spent up near sky blue lake and crabtree pass

http://community.webshots.com/photo/225902303/1225906332061435028cSrLYw

thanks for the information. I am wondering if we need to bring our ice axes. I use trekking poles for my shelter so I will be bringing them, but if I am going up a snow chute then I feel more comfortable changing over to my ice axe. Boy, a great skill to know by the way!! Has anyone been over the pass this year as of late?

We came down the side you're going up on the 19th of July. There was another group that scrambled up the right side to the top. We didn't find that trail and scrambled down the middle through a lot of rock.

You won't need ice axes or other snow equipment. No one in our group had any snow equipment other than hiking sticks.

Miter basin was pretty much snow free on the trail as well with just a few easy traverses.

We hiked from Sky Blue to the lowest lake in the Crabtree chain in one day, you should be able to do the reverse in one as well.

Getting from Sky Blue to the Cottonwood trailhead in one day will be a long one though.

Good luck.

Greg Z.

thanks Greg. I saw your pictures and showed them to my hiking buddy. Those pics are what won him over on doing this trip. Thanks!!