Snow Crown

[Altered my planned route]

Snow Crown is an unofficially named peak south of Kearsarge Pass. It should host some fantastic views of the surrounding area and the Kearsarge Pinnacles. The hike will start off at the Kearsarge Pass trailhead and continue as normal until we pass Gilbert Lake. From there we'll head south to Bench Lake where we will begin our climb.

I attempted this hike last summer but the route I chose that day took me behind Heart Lake instead. When I got there I noped out of that climb as it looked way too steep for me. I saw this new route and I'm looking forward to giving it a shot.

We will meet at the Kearsarge Pass Trailhead at Onion Valley up in the mountains west of Independence.

• Difficulty: Very Challenging
• Maximum Altitude: 12,423 feet
• Distance: ~8-10 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: ~3,250 feet
• Duration: 9 hours