A Backpack Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets

This is looking towards the outlet of Iceberg Lake, and towards Clyde Minaret.

Leaving Iceberg Lake

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

Retreating from that rocky steep traverse from Cecile Lake, beyond the outlet I found a nice set of level rocks to doff the pack and sit a while to rest my sore ankle and have a snack. The picture above was pretty much my view from my rest spot. All in all, a great place to be.

This is the reason I missed the trail to Iceberg Lake coming from below on the trail. Believe it or not, I am standing on the trail for this picture. The Ediza Lake trail is below to the left.

Soon enough it was time to leave and head back to the JMT. My plan on this 1999 trip was to go around to Minaret Lake and then after a night spent there head back to the trailhead at the Ranger Station at the Postpile. This segment of this story will take you to the JMT and the junction of the JMT and the Minaret Lake trail. From there you can follow the story back to the trailhead, or go back to Minaret Lake to take the tour down the trial from Minaret Lake to the JMT junction and then back to the trailhead. It is all up to you.

As you can see, cross-country to the north-west remains open and easy. Note the waterfalls and stream. The Roper route continues on in that direction.

From here we leave the traverse of the Minarets to head back to the JMT. To continue the cross-country traverse of the Minarets, follow Roper's Sierra High Route to Thousand Island Lake from Ediza Lake.