Naturalist Basin: Blue Lake to Shaler Lake?

[DrNed]

Anyone ever gone off trail between Blue & Shaler Lakes in Naturalist Basin?

Would such a route even be possible?

Thanks!

 

[Ugly]

Hey, @DrNed longtime no see.

Many, many times...

There's a pretty distinct use trail, since a lot of people hike up from Jordan or the Morat Lakes and do a loop. Faxon is probably the least visited up there.
If you want to stay the night near those upper lakes there are a few prime places depending on the season and if you want shade. Most people stay the night at Morat, Blue or Jordan.

 

[jholmes01]

The Strava heatmap gives a pretty good sense of the off-trail routing people are taking in the area.

 

[Jackson]

Ditto what @Ugly said. The vegetation is also pretty sparse, so at most, you may have to pick your way through some bushes here and there if you lose the social trail, but you can always see where you're going. Easy navigating. Faxon Lake was pretty dried up when I went. Le Conte was my favorite, but there isn't much cover up around there if it storms, so I probably wouldn't camp there until later August or September when the afternoon storms die down.

Here's a TR from when I went up there a few years ago. https://backcountrypost.com/threads/naturalist-basin-september-2019.9081/

 

[DrNed]

Hey, @DrNed longtime no see.

Many, many times...

There's a pretty distinct use trail, since a lot of people hike up from Jordan or the Morat Lakes and do a loop. Faxon is probably the least visited up there.
If you want to stay the night near those upper lakes there are a few prime places depending on the season and if you want shade. Most people stay the night at Morat, Blue or Jordan.

Thanks @Ugly ! Good to be back. The report you gave when you took your is the one that gave me the idea.

 

[DrNed]

The Strava heatmap gives a pretty good sense of the off-trail routing people are taking in the area. View attachment 123377

That kind of info makes me want to get on Strava. Thanks for sharing!

 

[DrNed]

Ditto what @Ugly said. The vegetation is also pretty sparse, so at most, you may have to pick your way through some bushes here and there if you lose the social trail, but you can always see where you're going. Easy navigating. Faxon Lake was pretty dried up when I went. Le Conte was my favorite, but there isn't much cover up around there if it storms, so I probably wouldn't camp there until later August or September when the afternoon storms die down.

Here's a TR from when I went up there a few years ago. https://backcountrypost.com/threads/naturalist-basin-september-2019.9081/

Great report. Do you think there’s enough for 2 nights? Is one enough?

 

[Jackson]

Great report. Do you think there’s enough for 2 nights? Is one enough?

I thought one night was enough, personally, but I also don't sit in one place for very long backpacking. I'm not familiar with the peaks around there, but it looks like Spread Eagle Peak could be a good summit for day 2 if you decided to do two nights. I don't fish, but if you do, that could also make two nights worthwhile.

 

[Ugly]

You can do Spread Eagle, or even just the ridge to look over into Middle Basin is cool.
@DrNed if you want I can DM you some campsites. Shade is sparse, but a couple have moderate shade.
Most upper basin campers are at Blue Lake- because it is a pretty well stocked fishing spot.

How many nights can depend. In the middle of summer, with lack of shade, it can be rough in the upper basin. Early Sept into October... it's a good place.
We have done a myriad of things from a night at Morat and dayhiking the loop, to another trip where we did a night at Jacob, a night up high, a night down by Packard off the Highline... etc.
I usually stay at least 2 nights, because with kids the hike in is a slog, even though the burn areas are cool... so I cannot have them slog it two days in a row.
There is also a backcountry privy at Jacob in some trees between the lake and some small ponds to the SE.

 

[DrNed]

You can do Spread Eagle, or even just the ridge to look over into Middle Basin is cool.
@DrNed if you want I can DM you some campsites. Shade is sparse, but a couple have moderate shade.
Most upper basin campers are at Blue Lake- because it is a pretty well stocked fishing spot.

How many nights can depend. In the middle of summer, with lack of shade, it can be rough in the upper basin. Early Sept into October... it's a good place.
We have done a myriad of things from a night at Morat and dayhiking the loop, to another trip where we did a night at Jacob, a night up high, a night down by Packard off the Highline... etc.
I usually stay at least 2 nights, because with kids the hike in is a slog, even though the burn areas are cool... so I cannot have them slog it two days in a row.
There is also a backcountry privy at Jacob in some trees between the lake and some small ponds to the SE.

@Ugly if you’ve got info on campsites, I’d love it!
@Jackson do you think it’s worth a bag night or is it just a day hike?

Thanks again!

 

[Jackson]

@Ugly if you’ve got info on campsites, I’d love it!
@Jackson do you think it’s worth a bag night or is it just a day hike?

Thanks again!

I'm not sure I understand the question. I was just saying if you wanted to spend two nights up there, it could make for a good way to spend some time on the second day. Then you'd hike out the day after. You could probably do it and hike out on the same day too if you really wanted.

 

[DrNed]

I'm not sure I understand the question. I was just saying if you wanted to spend two nights up there, it could make for a good way to spend some time on the second day. Then you'd hike out the day after. You could probably do it and hike out on the same day too if you really wanted.

My apologies for lack of clarity.

You said exactly what I couldn’t quite put into words:

“I don’t sit in one place very long backpacking”

All my backpacking is solo now and I don’t fish or peak bag, so hanging around camp, especially in the middle of the day is not my favorite thing.

Since I now know how to make it a loop I’m going to start early and day hike the whole thing.

Thanks for giving me clarity!

 

[Jackson]

My apologies for lack of clarity.

You said exactly what I couldn’t quite put into words:

“I don’t sit in one place very long backpacking”

All my backpacking is solo now and I don’t fish or peak bag, so hanging around camp, especially in the middle of the day is not my favorite thing.

Since I now know how to make it a loop I’m going to start early and day hike the whole thing.

Thanks for giving me clarity!

Hope it's a blast!