Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Midway Col

Now that xmas is over we can all concentrate on our sierra trips for 2013, i'm planning a 14 day walk from Lodgepole to VVR and as part of this I have seen in Secors book mention of 'Midway Col' which goes from the stunning Colby Lake straight over to Milestone Creek but there are very few details especially of the east side of the col; have any of you guys used this col? Thank you in anticipation.

you might ask this on High Sierra Topix:

http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/index.php

I have not crossed the col, but have descended the east side. If you make it across the crest from the west, the east side will be an easy descent on low angle slabs and meadows. Below is a view of the col from Milestone.

I've been over it 3 times: going east twice and west once. Hiking
big circles to see stuff you can't from the trails. On the west
side there is a trail used by mtn goats? From the upper end of
nameless lake west of Midway col avoid the cliff band by hiking
up talus on the left. Then turn right ESE towards the Col and
follow mtn goat trail in sandy talus ramping towards the low
crossing point. A few class 2 staircase moves on ledges take you
over the top and a view that made my jaw drop!! Have fun.

Getting there from Lodgepole on trails via Silliman Pass may take
2-3 long days. Following the High Route due east and veering off it northward at the Whaleback to get there with 14 days of supplies make my knees ache just thinking about it. Also possible is following the High Sierra Trail eastward going offtrail to Lion Lake then hiking north to the Whaleback in Cloud Canyon. But I think Silliman Pass or JO Pass would be easiest.

Gorgeous approach from the west and Colby Lake: easy slabs and not too much talus around the col itself.



Link to full size.

The Great Western Divide holds so much to explore. Have a blast!

-L