Glen Pass - Magnus Hikes

After Seth dropped us off at the Kearsarge Pass trailhead, we hiked back in the same way we had come out a couple of days earlier. Except this time we were in daylight. It’s a beautiful trail. I’m glad we got to see it. Gilbert Lake was really pretty with its rocky backdrop. When we had come out in the dark, I hadn’t known there was a lake there at all!

Gilbert Lake is just a short walk from the Kearsarge Pass Trailhead. A breeze kept the bugs at bay.

Above Bullfrog Lake with distant peaks red in the gloaming.

We camped at Charlotte Lake, and made friends with a very cute little pika. He kept his distance, but otherwise wasn’t too bothered by us. I’ve seen pikas up in Washington State but they were really timid compared to this little guy. He had his little secret pathways through the rocks where he hides from birds of prey and coyotes, and where he probably hunkers down in the winter.

Not a brown recluse… but still kinda large.

Nearby we also saw a not-so-cute critter. This very large spider looks a lot like a brown recluse (but isn’t). I think it is not too harmful to humans, except that he nearly gave Dad a heart attack when it popped up next to him on a rock!

As the trail winds up to Glen Pass, there was a stunning view waiting for us. At the western end of Charlotte Creek and its deep valley is a large wave-like rock formation: Charlotte Dome. It stands at more than 10,000 feet, and reminds me of the Half Dome in Yosemite Valley. I visited Yosemite a few years ago with my family and loved it.

As the trail winds up to the bowl beneath Glen Pass there’s a stunning view to the west. Charlotte Creek coils down around Mt. Bargo to a large wave-like rock formation: Charlotte Dome. It stands at more than 10,000 feet, and reminds me of the Half Dome in Yosemite Valley. I visited Yosemite a few years ago with my family and loved it.

Going up Glen Pass there were times where the drop-off was really steep. The rocks were loose too. When I accidently put my foot a little bit off the trail, I started a mini-rockslide! I was glad there wasn’t anyone on the switchbacks below us. I might have earned myself a new trail name :|. When we got to the top of the pass, the view was incredible. I remember looking back the direction we’d come, and thinking WOW! And then I remember looking forward and thinking WOW! This is the first pass in the Sierras that looking forward and back is just as cool. We are really *in* it.

Me on Glen Pass. Video starts looking west and pans north to Rae Lakes, where we are headed.