Big Five / Little Five Lakes Loop

The uppermost Big Five lake, with Mt. Kaweah in the background

Upper Little Five Lake

Big 5, Little 5 Lakes Loop and Sawtooth Pass, August 4th to 7th, 2000.

So I took a right turn and headed down off the bench I was on for the upper grassy shores of the nearby highest Little Five Lake. I threaded my way downward over easy cross-country to the even easier lawns of the upper end of the lake. I few muddy rivulets that scored the lawn had to be hopped, and eventually the lawn gave way to gruss and white granite.

Another look back at Black Rock Pass, to the left if the highpoint on the horizon. To the left is the small highest Little Five Lake. My route took me down the rocky grassy slope above the lake.

I began to traverse upward to where I believed a pass could be found, and sure enough I found a slope that let up to a narrow squeeze-way between a huge granite monument and cliff.

The col leading to Big Five Lakes. Really, it is easy getting to the top of this pass. Just follow the grassy area from left to right, then hang a left up a gully, which cannot be seen from here. The way is obvious.

At the crux, I had to throw my poles up to a ledge and do an easy scramble up the narrow passage. After that it was an easy matter to wend my way up the remaining rock to the summit of the col.