[chad2bad]

Does anyone have a rough idea? I'd also appreciate any information on distance and elevation from Waptus to Moonshine and Michael. Thanks.

[Bootpathguy]

[neek]

[Randito]

I reccomend allowing time in your schedule to dilly dally through the Escondido Tarns area as it is quite scenic. You can't camp in that area, but you don't want to rush through. When I did that section a few years ago, I hiked from the creek crossing just N of Catheral Rock to just North of the "no camping" zone on Escondido Ridge. That was a dry camp, so I had to pack water up from the Waptus River crossing.

[chad2bad]

Thanks for the info and tips/ideas. This is very helpful - for example I didn't know about the tarns near Escondido and would definitely leave some extra time for exploring. And Neek - great tutorial on the mapping! Last time I was out that way I set up base camp at Waptus and then did day hikes to Spade/Venus and Ivanhoe/Dutch Miller Gap. So, I'm thinking about setting up base camp at Waptus again but looking for some different day hike options.

[Navy salad]

[SeanSullivan86]

Can someone provide info about the no camping zone? Edit: oh I see, Escondido Tarns is listed in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Regulations as one of 5 places where camping is not allowed within 200 feet of lakes.

[D. Inscho]

I hiked that area a couple of years ago. This may provide some info on access: Escondito to Summit Chief

[rossb]

It is worth noting that as far as I know, there is no trail connecting the tarns above Escondido Lake, and the lake itself. To get to the lake from Waptus, you go up Quick Creek (at the southern end of the lake) then over Waptus Pass, then follow a spur trail to the lake that branches off at around 4200 feet. To get to the tarns from Waptus Lake, you have two choices. You can follow that same trail, but branch sooner, and connect to the PCT, which will take you there. You can also walk around the lake (to the east) and pick up the PCT sooner. I recently base camped on Waptus, towards the north end of the lake. We walked up the PCT to the little tarns (or at least the beginnings of them). This was a long walk, but very scenic (and pleasant). I never explored the Quick Creek trail. I do recommend the PCT walk, even if you find that getting to the tarns is just too long of a walk. It kind of reminds me of the area after the Kendall Katwalk, in that once you get up there, you want to just keep hiking. But if you don't have your tent with you, a little voice reminds you that you have to walk back. In any event, you don't have to get that far to enjoy that part of the PCT. I also walked up to Spade Lake. The official trail is very steep, and not at all pleasant. In my opinion, it isn't worth doing unless you keep going to Venus, and then the pass above Venus. The trail braids to Venus, and I found it harder on the way back. The route to the pass above Venus (on the west side of the lake) is obvious. This makes for a rough day -- but at least worth it as the view at the pass is spectacular. The last day it was hot, and we made the mistake of hiking the PCT northbound. I ended up hiking to Deer Lake, which isn't an especially interesting lake. Along the way the trail is often not shaded, making it annoying in the heat. Unlike going southbound on the PCT, there aren't views until you get close to Deep Lake (which I didn't do). It is possible that it gets a lot better, just as I turned off. Even so, it doesn't have the immediate benefit that the PCT the other direction did. But it also depends on which side of the lake you are camped. It just didn't make sense for us to go back and around to Quick Creek. If you are camped at the southern end, it might. Likewise, picking up the southbound PCT from the north end of the lake was easy for us. Oh yeah, be prepared for confusing discussions, as the PCT goes the wrong direction when it is close to Waptus (northbound through-hikers are hiking south, and vice-versa). I kept pointing north and saying "I want to go southbound on the PCT" which was confusing, even though it was accurate.