15 Sept 25 - Trip Report: Contact Pass via North Fork of Big Pine Creek (11700’)

Store co-owner Matt recently set out for a September adventure up Big Pine Creek to tackle Contact Pass, a rugged route that rewards hikers with sweeping views of Temple Crag, the Palisades, and alpine lakes glowing in early fall light. With cooler mornings, lingering wildfire haze, and loose talus underfoot, this trip offered both challenges and highlights that showcase why the Eastern Sierra remains a world-class destination for late-season hiking.

Trip Report: 

Current As Of: 15 Sept 2025*

Activity During Report: On and off trail hiking, some rough and loose sections, but all hiking

Total Mileage & Elevation Gain: ~13 miles total (~9 miles on trail, ~4 miles off trail); +4000ft gain from trailhead to summit

Trip Information:

I set out from the trailhead near Glacier Lodge at about 7AM.  The smoke from the Garnet fire had been on everyone’s mind as we had a week of really, bad smoke in the Owens Valley.  Not as bad as September of 2021, but it didn’t make you want to go outside.

There was a really, minor haze but nothing worth worrying about.  In the mornings during fire season, the smoke can settle right into the bottom of the valley.  But when you drive up to 7700 feet you are above the smoke. 

The morning was cool and the air crisp in the high country.  I hiked up to First Lake in no time, as this was my forth hike up Big Pine Creek this year.  I didn’t intend to go up Big Pine Creek 4 times, but it is one of the best areas to hike in the Eastern Sierra.  Previously, I had done the Numbered Lakes Loop in May, then a hike up Middle Palisade via Brainerd Lake in July, and then up to Second Lake and back in August. 

Right after First Lake the trail leaves the main trail and crosses the creek between First and Second Lake via a small foot bridge.  After that it is time to start navigating on your own.  You can follow the shore of the lake for a while, then it starts to go uphill.  Once you gain the ridge you get awesome views of Temple Crag.  Loose rock and talus fields are the challenge for the next couple of miles up to Contact Pass.

Hiking along the base of Temple Crag you walk by some of the longest climbs in the Eastern Sierra. 

First is Dark Star, one of Peter Croft’s “Big Four of the High Sierra”.  2000 feet of 5.10 climbing.  A beer is named after this route at the Mountain Rambler Brewery.  Every time I drink one, I keep thinking, I need to climb this route.

As you continue hiking, you walk by Sun Ribbon Arete, Moon Goddess Arete, and Venusian Blind.  All routes that are on the list to do.

As you walk by these routes the hiking gets harder and harder.  Loose rock on steep hills makes the hiking fun but tiring.  This is for experienced hikers who have a good level of fitness. 

At the base of Sun Ribbon Arete it sure looks like the you are at the base of a rock glacier.  That is to my untrained eyes.

It looks like the moraine from the end of a glacier and  is pretty steep loose rock so we skirted it to the left side.  As we got to the top, there are several patches of ice.

Occasionally, you step on a rock the size of a car and it moves!  That is nerve racking and could give one nightmares.

After a short flat section of talus, there is the last descent up to Contact Pass.  This section is a lot of small loose talus that can be challenging to walk up.  Fortunately, in some places there is a foot trail.  Oh, and a coyote trail and some scat.  Who would’ve thought!

We ascended Contact Pass and stopped for lunch.  We could see the anchor that is used to descend from summiting Temple Crag.  You get some excellent views of Middle Palisade, Mount Sill and the Palisade Crest from Contact Pass. 

After lunch we headed back the way we came and were checking out the fall colors.  It is still early for the leaves to change but it will be coming quickly.  

After a quick dip in Second Lake(which is really, really cold), we got back to the trail and continued back to the trailhead.

Overall, another great hike in the Eastern Sierra!!

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Views west up Big Pine Creek with Third Lake and Mt Robinson

Excellent views of Middle Palisade, Mount Sill and the Palisade Crest from Contact Pass!

The Celestial Arete routes on Temple Crag

Gorgeous view of Second Lake while ascending Contact Pass

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