Hey Booger, this is Paul. We met a couple weeks (July 13) ago at the junction of the JMT and Vidette Meadows, You were resting……… like a badass rattlesnake, except with a smile.
I’ve been over Junction Pass twice, with the last hike in Oct of 2011. I’ve never been up Junction Pass from the Shepherd Creek side, always taking the trail through Center Basin. The reason I mention this is that my perspective is from the down climb to the Pothole. Oh, by the way, up front, approaching Junction Pass from Center Pass and proceeding over is far easier.
Starting at the Pothole, you’ll notice that the trail splits, main train heading up to Shepherd Pass and a use trail heading to the bushes that line the creek. Don’t enter the bushes there, but follow the use trail another 10 or so feet and you should see, somewhat of a hole to go through….. The bushes are thick. If you enter there and not lower you come out at the correct point on the other side. You will see a boulder field and a few ducks and remnants of a trail (vague) on the other side.
The trail heads toward the trees and slope. The trail is very faint and non-existent from now on. If possible stay on the trail, but keep in mind that in the end, you head up the slope until you top out in a nice open, flat, meadow like area. There is a stream that flows on the left side and drops from the upper Junction Pass canyon. You cross the creek and then climb the trail (a couple switchbacks)…. very visible to the entrance to the canyon. At this point, you are again at the stream, last water until the second lake on the Center Basin side.
The trail at this point is highly visible and appears to have stopped in time. Don’t get too excited because in about a couple hundred yards, the trail is pretty much non-existent. Oh, you’ll see faint 10 foot sections here and there and everything else is cover in talus. At this point just maintain a nice angle heading up the north side of the canyon. Periodically check where you are and modify your route accordingly.
It’s about a mile (plus) of this rock (4 to 5 inch, unstable, loose, etc) up the canyon.
For me, there is this vertical rib coming down in the upper canyon where you pass underneath. Continue for another hundred yards or so and just head up the scree, sand and small boulder slope. At this point it’s 1 step forward, half a step back. One mistake that I made coming down is to think that some of the boulders are stable…… not true. Don’t depend too much on them.
As you proceed up the slope, the angle slowly lessens and lessens until it becomes a gentle slope and the trail is now again visible. At this point you are home free. The pass is just a little farther and the trail is now highly visible all the way to Golden Bear Lake. By the way, a nice place to stop is the second lake after descending Junction Pass. The trail comes within 100 yards of it and only, 20 feet above with a gentle slope to the lake. I camp there every time.
Since I don’t post pictures, I can send several to you if you send me a PM with your personal email address.
paul
