Day 3: 9 miles, earlier than Dice Rock Cross to Decrease Titcomb Lake (over Knapsack Col)
The large day! We woke early, realizing Knapsack Col lay forward and desirous to recover from earlier than threat of thunderstorms. My purpose was to be on the high by midday, and as we began scrambling over the boulders towards Dice Rock Cross I already knew it was going to be shut.
There’s an honest path to Dice Rock Cross and Dale Lake, although you’d by no means guess it from trying up on the pile of talus. Keep excessive on the left aspect (within the ascending path) of the gully and search for the faint use trails between sections of rock.
At Peak Lake we handed a number of semi-sheltered campsites within the scrubby little timber, and wished we had camped right here as a substitute. We picked our manner across the lake to the left (it seems to be like you may’t get round however you really can) and began the gradual ascent. We discovered use trails and cairns a lot of the manner, although it did take some work to keep away from getting off observe.
On the base of the massive climb we regarded up on the looming go and tried to decide on our line. We determined to move for the extra stable rock on the left aspect of the principle talus-filled gully. Certain sufficient, as we obtained nearer we discovered cairns and faint trails main precisely the place we’d supposed to go. The sky was blue and clear as we plodded slowly upward.
The climb went a bit quicker than anticipated and we reached the highest simply after 12pm. Clouds have been beginning to collect, and we wasted no time heading down the opposite aspect. Solely downside was, the east aspect appeared even steeper and rockier than the west. We felt a bit nervous concerning the free rocks and didn’t belief the lingering melted-out snowfield. Steadily we picked our manner down the left aspect of the gully in tough switchbacks, heading for the place the rocks regarded most stable and avoiding the slipperiest scree slides.
On the backside we stayed left of the snowfield, not trusting its edges to carry us. This meant scrambling over refrigerator-sized rocks. In locations I handed a pack down and did a pair legit bouldering strikes. We made it will definitely, however it was sluggish.
The remainder of the descent was easy however nonetheless took time because of fixed rocks and uneven floor underfoot. The brewing storm chased us all the best way right down to Higher Titcomb Lake, the place we discovered shelter behind a rock and threw up our little tarp simply in time. We spent the subsequent 2 hours huddled inside, holding onto the poles for stability and ready out a gnarly thunder and hail storm.
Round 5pm the storm turned to a drizzle and we determined to maintain transferring, hoping to shorten our closing day by a pair miles. It was a superb resolution; round 6:30pm the skies cleared and we discovered a stunning campsite close to the outlet of Decrease Titcomb Lake.
Titcomb Basin is a well-liked tenting location and I can see why; it’s staggeringly scenic. However remember that it’s additionally identified for robust wind! Select a campsite sheltered by rocks for those who can.
