Re: Hanging Basket Lake

Hi, I'm going to be in the Vogelsang area this weekend and wanted to check out Hanging Basket. Is the best path up to the lake obvious? Is it fairly easy with a full pack?

My plan is to head up Rafferty to Emeric for the first night. Then on the second day, make my way over to Hanging Basket. I'll probably follow the trail to Fletcher and then head over to Townsley and Hanging Basket. Thanks in advance for any information!

Not sure there is a "best path". We had to climb over large bolders to get there. It was difficult for me (old man) but easy for my 20 something son. I wouldn't attempt it with a full pack.

Why you taking a full pack up to Hanging Basket?
There is no reason to do that. It's in a cirque and unless you are inventive and
really gung ho on sleeping next to it ... plus there isn't really anywhere to
camp 100 ft. from the water around it.
Drop your pack at Townsley and just hike up there and back down.
It should be fairly obvious where the lake is. Just head up the outlet... or the
notch you can see from East of Townsley.
You can spy where it is from many places due to the interesting little peaklet
sticking out of the hill behind it.
Have fun

Prob. Google Earth has a pix ... or I can post one quick if u like.

Why not... Townsley on right ... rest of what I said should be clear with this pix:

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking there might be more solitude there than at Townsley due to the holiday weekend but you've all convinced me to stay at Townsley. I'll visit Hanging Basket without my pack. Thanks for the photo!

Just so I can calibrate myself, the scramble up to Hanging Basket would be classifed as what...class 3 ?

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The Other Tom
Just so I can calibrate myself, the scramble up to Hanging Basket would be classifed as what...class 3 ?

Actually, it rather depends on your abilities, experience, and comfort level.
Rating of a climb or hike is somewhat subjective.
See the following link: http://climber.org/data/decimal.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2010 07:16AM by szalkowski.

Agree w/ Len. Although personally I wouldn't tell anyone Hanging Basket is Class 3.
Especially knowing that Secor rates Fletcher SE route Class 2.

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szalkowski

Quote
The Other Tom
Just so I can calibrate myself, the scramble up to Hanging Basket would be classifed as what...class 3 ?

Actually, it rather depends on your abilities, experience, and comfort level.
Rating of a climb or hike is somewhat subjective.
See the following link: http://climber.org/data/decimal.html

Thanks for the link. Despite what Secor says, I'd rate it as class 3 (MUST use hands for progress, etc)

bill-e-g,

From the conversation on Class ratings I would call the boulder field just below Echo Peaks Class 2 without a pack and Class 3 with a full pack. I was hand-over-hand in places fighting the wind with a full pack plus two poles. What do you think?

I dunno... I wouldn't call it Class 3.

As Len said... it's what you're comfortable with I guess.
I don't recall HAVING to use my hands going up to HB either though.
But... it's been a couple of years and only been up there twice.
I trivialized the entire Sierra Pt. "trail" too though.. so maybe
I'm calling it easier than what it really is.
Maybe Mike wants to comment about Sierra Pt. ???

Here's another pix of buddy heading up to HB:

And here is a shot from just below Tower... looking down...
at an "easy" Class 3 section (called easy class 3 by many people):



(it's > 1500 ft. from this spot to the pass below) (just N. of Mary Lake)

This is why I wouldn't call those places Class 3.
I guess easy class 3 would suffice tho and end the discussion more or less.

There were a couple of point on the Sierra Point trail where I was very inclined to have contact with the ground in three places at all times while traversing them.
I haven't done the climb to Hanging Basket but I've watched my son-in-law do it. Class two and certainly easier than the traverse around the west end of Horse Ridge to Ostrander Lake.

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Old Dude

Quote
bill-e-g
I trivialized the entire Sierra Pt. "trail" too though

I found the trail to be just fine. It was the bush whacking I did to find the trail that was what I didn't care for.

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eeek

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bill-e-g
I trivialized the entire Sierra Pt. "trail" too though

I found the trail to be just fine. It was the bush whacking I did to find the trail that was what I didn't care for.

Your call:

Note old dude:

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bill-e-g

Quote
eeek

Quote
bill-e-g
I trivialized the entire Sierra Pt. "trail" too though

I found the trail to be just fine. It was the bush whacking I did to find the trail that was what I didn't care for.

Your call:

Note old dude:

I still like that part a lot more than what I was on for a while.

I think this was the part where you could tumble to your death. There is another part where you can fall to your death.
(Is there some topic creep here?)

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Old Dude



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2010 06:59PM by mrcondron.

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mrcondron
I think this was the part where you could tumble to your death. There is another part where you can fall to your death.

How is that different from the Yosemite Falls Trail?

I guess the likelihood of forever being on utube.

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Old Dude

For funs... heres it from da top.
(do-ables to come right downs from Parson Plateau)
(since we doos it)

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Wow, that's amazing. I looked up there and didn't think anyone could traverse that. Heres it from da bottom. (First picture posting so I hope it works)



By the way, going up to Hanging Basket was no problem. It took 15-20 minutes. What a gorgeous lake. Fished for about an hour with no bites. Then as I was packing up, I was teased by the loudest splash from the middle of the lake. Had better luck fishing at Townsley.

Here's your pix:



You had this:
http://picasaweb.google.com/107876093193344077278/Forums?authkey=Gv1sRgCNG_m4qz4L3qnQE#5518875603209566514

from there right click on your pix and get the image info:
i.e.:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_y0pq1HOd9tA/TJb8HvDgOTI/AAAAAAAAAas/HzZE8BAaD1I/s640/P1000762a.jpg

btw.. there are cutthroat in that lake... decent size.. but that was a number of years ago when I fished frequently...