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Deems Burton | profile | all galleries >> The Salmon Trinity Alps Wilderness >> The Trinity Alps High Route tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Trinity Alps High Route

I dreamed of an Alps High Route while I explored the Trinty Alps, her lakes, ridges and trails during my first years experiencing this grand wilderness. My Alps High Route starts in Canyon Creek at Boulder Creek Lakes, and goes clockwise to Grizzly Lake, Mirror Lake, Smith Lake and ends in Canyon Creek. It took me 9 days, with 2 layover days the first time I hiked it. One week would be a good pace. This hike is for the cross country experienced hiker, since the route is full of difficult routes, riddles, canyons, cirques, hanging ledges, unknown encounters, and constant risks during this unique hiking adventure.
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Grizzly Lake Waterfall Outlet
Grizzly Lake Waterfall Outlet		 Grizzly Lake and Thompson Peak
Grizzly Lake and Thompson Peak		 Leaning whitebark pine on route to Bear pass
Leaning whitebark pine on route to Bear pass		 Cassiope heather, John Muir's favorite alpine flower near Thompson Peak
Cassiope heather, John Muir's favorite alpine flower near Thompson Peak
Route to Mirror Lake from Grizzly Lake, and Mirror Pass
Route to Mirror Lake from Grizzly Lake, and Mirror Pass		 Switchback's ULA P1 pack in the Trinity Alps
Switchback's ULA P1 pack in the Trinity Alps		 Mirror and Kalmia Pass
Mirror and Kalmia Pass		 Mirror Pass northside panorama
Mirror Pass northside panorama
Mirror Pass from northside
Mirror Pass from northside		 Sawtooth peak from below Mirror Pass
Sawtooth peak from below Mirror Pass		 Mirror Pass from southside view is north
Mirror Pass from southside view is north		 Mirrror Pass from southside view is south
Mirrror Pass from southside view is south
Mirror Pass
Mirror Pass		 Alps panorama and Mirror Lake
Alps panorama and Mirror Lake		 Easy walking on the distant slabs, Sawtooth Peak
Easy walking on the distant slabs, Sawtooth Peak		 Sawtooth Peak in the distance
Sawtooth Peak in the distance
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Guest 20-Dec-2023 03:40
Let folks figure it out for themselves. That is the adventure, not following GPS files to show the route.
Andrew Irvine 31-Jul-2017 17:29
Do you have gpx file of the route you would be willing to share? This is great information and very helpful.
Guest 21-Aug-2016 07:25
So you are a bigger man than I. Quit posting this stuff. Let the peeps figure it out for themselves.
Josh 17-Jun-2014 17:00
Thank you Deems for your work and passion for the Trinity Alps. Thanks to you and Shawn we completed the high route. I will never forget the Bear Hole.
Shettalian 16-Aug-2012 00:32
Deems,

After years of backpacking and months of reviewing your photos of the TAHR, I am planning on attempting this route in early to mid-September. Do you think your could send me a higher resolution topographic image of the route, other than the one that you have graciously provided here? Either way, an immense thank you for sharing this recurring adventure with us all! You have inspired me to shake hands with the Trinities in a way that exceeds the bounds of normalicy.

Shettalian
Guest 26-Jul-2009 07:46
Very cool route. In 2007 I hiked to Smith Lake via Alpine Lake, on the route you have marked. I then headed from Smith Lake to Canyon Creek going down the same canyon you have marked here, the "small" canyon SW of Smith Lake. It is also doable if you stay on the north side of the main creek, from the top all the way down. Near the bottom, the creek gets too steep as it heads into the chute at the bottom. So near the bottom stay well above it in the brush. In fact, if I did it again I would avoid the creek all the way down as the brush gets extremely thick next to the creek, and instead I would stay well above the creek, on the lower slopes, where the brush is not as thick but still quit an arduous push. It's mostly thick brush all the way down, though the snow makes the brush lean downwards, which makes it much easier to bushwhack. I would NOT recommend hiking up this way to Smith Lake, as the thick, endless brush points downwards and would constantly thwart your upward progress.
sfresz 05-Feb-2008 01:03
your pictures are enlightening to the hiker's soul. I have been to every lake on your high route....just not "the high route" Simply unreal. I would love to share some pictures and stories.
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