Route:  Hinman-Daniel Traverse
Climbed:  June 23, 2001


This is a 4 day traverse from the East Fork of the Foss River to Tonga
ridge, passing two Jade Lakes and climbing Hinman and Daniel
mountains.  

Day 1: Park cars at Tonga Ridge trailhead.  Hike up East Fork of Foss
River to Necklace Valley.  Camp in established camp on ridge between
Opal lake and Cloudy Lake (near south end of lakes).

Day 2:  Follow east shore of Cloudy lake to it's outlet.  Ascend east
up tallus slop to base of cliff.  There is a bit of a bench here (seen
on USGS maps), but it is steep and brushy.  Follow this in a rising
traverse, then cross the ridge to Lake Lepul.  

The Hinman Glacier is gone.  Where the lower Hinman Glacier was is now
a lake in a huge bowl.  The upper slopes are assumed to be snow fields
or benign.  From Lepul head south up easy slopes, across a bench,
through a bowl, then up to the summit of Hinman.  Descend ENE from
Hinman to two un-named lakes at 5900 ft and camp there.

Day 3:  Drop into the valley, head north, then climb easy slopes to
the outlet of Pea Soup Lake (base of Lynch Glacier).  Climb ridge
south and traverse onto the Lynch Glacier.  If it is inaccessible the
steeper snow slope to the west may provide access.  The peak marked
"Daniels" is not the highest.  

Return to the outlet of Pea Soup Lake.  From there climb north up
tallus slopes towards cliffs then traverse NE below cliffs.  Cross
an unnamed pass (6650ft) and descend northward to Jade Lake.
Beautiful camping here.

Day 4:  Continue north pas No Name Lake.  There is a poor trail down
to marmot lake - it follows the drainage from the small tarn near No
Name Lake then continues to the outlet of Marmot.  Cross the outlet
and stay near the shore to round the hump.  Follow tallus slopes in a
right ward rising traverse to top out on a flat spot on a ridge south
of Lake Clarice (5390ft.)  Follow that ridge WWSW (faint trail) to a
bench at 5700ft.  Take that north then walk the ridge crest north till
you are between Lake Clariece and lower Ptarmigan Lake (pt 5786ft).
Descend moderate slopes to lake Ptarmigan Lake and cross it's outlet.
The route to Fisher Lake follows a small drainage that enters
Ptarmigan Lake from the north.  Near the top of the drainage you'll
have to traverse to the NW to Fisher Lake.  Cross the outlet of Fisher
Lake.  From here you should pick up a trail which connects to the
Tonga Ridge trail.  Hike this to your cars.  



[Route description written by Tom Unger]