Chinese Wall - ridge walk thoughts and suggestions

[seaview53]

Hey,
I am hiking the Chinese Wall loop starting and ending at benchmark trailhead going off trail and hiking the ridge of the wall from near Larch Hill Pass to Haystack Mountain at the end of August. Looking for thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, etc. Any thoughts on clockwise vs counterclockwise? Suggestions on where to camp near Larch Hill pass? I assume we are going counterclockwise and will stop at the start of the no camping zone at the end of day 2. Thoughts on where to leave the trail? I assume we would leave trail 112 around 6,600 feet. Water is a concern. The only reliable water source I see is the tarn near Cliff Mountain. Anything else? Tips on negotiating the off trail terrain? Thanks in advance, Brian

 

[Jeffrey Chandler]

If I'm interpreting this correctly, you're wanting to do the offtrail traverse of the top of the wall? This trip report from accomplished Crown of the Continent mountaineer Ralph Thornton I think covers the S to N from White pass to Larch hill pass quite well (given the rarity this route is done)
http://earmountain.com/page/bigchoteaucam/bigwalltraverse.html

The route seems to be relatively intuitive but more difficult than one would benignly think. It seems to go. End of August may make water slightly more hard. It may be worthwhile to take shorter days with guaranteed water, but that's based on what you're seeing and how you are as a hiker. The navigating appears to be glacier class 3 with maybe some 4 due to exposure, so... spooky, steep, slippery, but doable if careful.

 

[TheMountainRabbit]

Check out @NorthwestWanderer's fantastic trip report here: Walking the top of Montana's CHINESE WALL | A Bob Marshall Trek

I haven't been out there, but am planning a trip for later this year. As far as I can tell, the route-finding is pretty straightforward, especially if the Chinese Wall is the extent of your planned off-trail - it provides a pretty hard to miss landmark.

I'd definitely be concerned about the water in late August - at least up on top of the wall. I'll be there in September, so I'm hoping for a little snow - but I'm still thinking I'll be carrying a good bit of water for the higher sections.

If you make the trip, I'd love to see a report!