A Backpack Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets

On the "Trail" to Cecile Lake, looking back at beautiful Minaret Lake.

The Cecile Lake Cross-Country"Trail"

A Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets, August/September 2006

The "cross-country" route between Minaret Lake and Iceberg Lake is one of the most used routes of its type in the Sierra, so it is not surprising that a trail of sorts has developed for most of the way. The rout begins near the west side of the Minaret Lake camp and heads west on good trail up the gully seen below.

Looking towards the dam wall of Cecile Lake, which is just behind the wall ahead. The "trail" goes up the slope on the right.

About mid-way up this small canyon-gully the trail begins switchbacking on the right up a slope north. I swear that when I was there in 1999 that trail did not exist, but I could be mistaken. It sure does exist today, and for the first part of the way up the slope it is a pretty fair if loose trail.

Hikers on the "trail" to Cecile Lake. These people made it around the lake, but were turned back by the tricky class 3 on the other side of the lake.

Soon the trail switchbacks get shorter and steeper as it enters a somewhat narrow gully where the trail becomes very steep, loose and threaded (see below). Some care should be taken here not to let loose a rock on someone below. There is plenty of potential here to find clever ways to injure yourself.

Looking down the Cecile Lake "trail" near Minaret Lake.

When Dave and I went up this trail, we had no packs, which would surly complicate the safety equation of this section. As it was, I had to use my hands now and then, even with poles. Still, it was not too hard with extra care.