Got to take 6 days to cool around exploring this hard-to-get-to plateau. The John Muir Trail used to go through here before they finished the "Golden Staircase" north of Palisades Lakes in the early thirties. The old trail has since been neglected and the basin mostly overlooked. It's not easy to get up here! Started at Taboose Pass, almost 6000 ft. up the eastern Sierra wall, then cross-country west off the JMT and over Cartridge Pass from the south. More photos and a trip report on my site PlanetRambler.com


Unnamed lake atop the first plateau. Across the valley is Bench Lake.


First glimpse north in to Lake Basin from Cartridge Pass


Part of the big L-shaped lake in Lake Basin


Marion Lake


Palisades at Marion Lake


North side of Cartridge Pass is simply a goat trail on a talus slope


Arrow Peak from the old John Muir Trail


The S. Fork Kings Creek valley below Bench Lake, east (L) to west (R). Don't miss the big version of this on my site

Edited by 150mph on 09/11/2012 17:43:09 MDT.

Thanks for your Lake Basin TR and photos. Your photography is beautiful (as usual). The Marion Lake photos have got me psyched! I will be there next week while on the SHR and have a rest day scheduled in Lake Basin to explore those shallow lakes.

Great TR and beautiful photos! Looks like an amazing little corner of the Sierra; well worth the effort to get there.

Yet another place I'll have to visit someday.

-N.

Thanks for the comments guys. Andy enjoying your blog. Will read more later.

Larry

Thanks for sharing your pics! You have some really great photos. I have not made it down there but it is on my top few to do next year.