Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Shepherd Pass Conditions?

Hi All! Long-time reader, first-time poster.

My fiance and I are planning a trip to the Wallace Lake basin in August and are planning to enter and exit via Shepherd Pass. I know that the trail was badly washed out in 2013, but I'm having trouble finding information about its current state (the NPS site simply says that it has flood damage but is passable). I'm also a little concerned about how the recent bad weather may have affected the trail.

Any info you have is much appreciated! We're both experienced backpackers, but many of the forum posts etc that I've read from 2013 said that the washed out sections are dicey with a heavy pack, which we will both have as we're planning to be out a full week. Just trying to figure out what we're getting ourselves into. If it's really bad we could always adjust our plans and do a longer hike in from Cottonwood Lakes.

A woman just posted on the Ladies of the JMT Facebook group yesterday, saying that she and her friend had to exit the backcountry due to weather, and a ranger recommended Shepherd Pass. If I remember her story correctly, she said that they nearly met their demise, with the friend slipping, then sliding down a steep section. She was able to self-arrest, and they had to dismantle a hammock to belay themselves down a 300-foot cliff.

Some of the responses to that thread were from other hikers who thought that the 2 women got off-trail, but I really don't know. Sounds sketchy though!

Hi KaraKyrgyz,

I used the Shepherd Pass trail last September and it was fine. The washed out part, a mile or so east from Anvil Camp, had a detour use trail and simply involved scrambling down a short section of loose rubble on a stream bank and back up. We had heavy packs but with care it was no problem. There is obviously more to the story about a 300-foot cliff and I wouldn't worry about encountering any such thing.

If you haven't been to that area yet, you're in for a treat. The surroundings are spectacular. Above Wallace Lake, Tulainyo Lake is worth a visit either as a day hike or an overnight.

From the Shepherd Pass trail, you realize, there is an off-trail shortcut through the Wright Lakes to the Wallace Lake drainage going south over “Rockwell Pass”, the low point on the ridge a mile northeast of Tawny Point.

Have a great trip!

I just went up Shepherd Pass a few weeks ago - the washed out section isn't bad at all - on the way up, I found a use trail a bit further up the edge of the slide that then cut directly across. On the way down, I took the same trail. Minimal scrambling to get up and down each edge. Nothing to be worried about.

Thanks everyone for the info! We're definitely planning to check out Tulainyo!

Kara, Wallace Lake is known for good fishing, so if you are so inclined, take fishing gear along.

A recent conditions report: http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=12300&start=84#p98523