I just wanted to post a quick trip report, Cameron Pass is definitely quite challenging right now. It would be much preferred to ascend it then to descend it. I personally would not have been able to do the descent without an iceax. The image below is from the upper basin. I would say that there are 3 snow field crossings with run-out. The rock itself is quite brittle and doesn't provide much comfort either at least for a descent.
I'll try to post a full report in a few days.
Comments
Based on what you saw, do you think it will still be ice axe terrain after a week's melt? I'm targeting this pass on 6/6. Also, did you go over Gray Wolf and visit the Cedar Lake area? Sentinel shows it's still holding snow too.
Posted by:
TJ Zimmerman on Jul 03, 2024 09:19 AM
There will still be snow in a week. Assuming you are experienced with high angle snow, I think ascending it would be do-able, but I personally wouldn't want to descend it without an iceax while there is any meaningful amount of snow.
Lost Pass is fine and there was only one snow field you need to cross on the South side of Grey Wolf just below the pass and it isn't a big deal.
My route was going from Slab Camp TH, up the Grey wolf, Cedar Lake way trail then x-country to below Grey Wolf pass, over Grey wolf pass, along the Dose and then up and over Lost Pass and Cameron Pass and completing the loop to Slab Camp. If I was to do it over again, I would have gone the other direction and gone up Cameron and done Cedar lake on another trip (or done Cedar lake as an out and back and skipped the x-country element). The Cedar Lake Way trail was fine, no snow, the x-country route did involve plenty of snow. It was not a straight forward as it looks on the topo and it was good I had my iceax, which got used both on the ascent from the lake (though spikes and poles would have been fine) as well as on the x-country section, which was more challenging than I thought it would be.
Posted by:
Max B. on Jul 03, 2024 10:36 AM
Great beta, thanks. I was also considering the high route from Cedar to Gray Wolf. Appreciate your response.
Posted by:
TJ Zimmerman on Jul 03, 2024 10:44 AM
I’m hiking The Grand Loop next week. With the hot weather the next week I’m hoping a lot of the snow will melt. Other than the snow how were the trail conditions?
Posted by:
PNW Adventures on Jul 03, 2024 05:43 PM
I traversed Gray Wolf, Lost, and Cameron Pass this past weekend and an ice axe wasn't necessary for any of it. Snow could be avoided in almost all cases.
Trail was in decent shape. Lots of down trees but only had to take my pack off maybe once. A couple required river crossings. Cameron River trail was brushy but the trail was well defined.
Posted by:
TJ Zimmerman on Jul 08, 2024 08:57 PM
Thanks for the updated report! I'm super excited to head out Wednesday for my trip!!
Posted by:
PNW Adventures on Jul 08, 2024 09:35 PM