If you approach Charlotte Dome from the east (Kearsarge Pass, etc.) and would like to set a basecamp much closer to the dome than Charlotte Lake, there is excellent camping on a bench on the north side of the canyon about 400-500 feet above Charlotte Creek. This bench is actually part of one of the recommended ways to approach Charlotte Dome from the east. Instead of taking the trail down the canyon to the foot of the dome, you diagonal up to this bench a little earlier. This puts you at about the same elevation as the middle of the dome; from here you never have to negotiate the lowest slabs of the dome to start or finish your climb. You just come in from the side, contour down around the base to start, and finish not too far from your camp.
The bench mentioned above includes several sub-areas with perfect sandy flats, flat soft duff under lodgepole pine groves, and a couple of creeks.
Eric O - Aug 7, 2005 2:52 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentIf you approach Charlotte Dome from the east (Kearsarge Pass, etc.) and would like to set a basecamp much closer to the dome than Charlotte Lake, there is excellent camping on a bench on the north side of the canyon about 400-500 feet above Charlotte Creek. This bench is actually part of one of the recommended ways to approach Charlotte Dome from the east. Instead of taking the trail down the canyon to the foot of the dome, you diagonal up to this bench a little earlier. This puts you at about the same elevation as the middle of the dome; from here you never have to negotiate the lowest slabs of the dome to start or finish your climb. You just come in from the side, contour down around the base to start, and finish not too far from your camp.
The bench mentioned above includes several sub-areas with perfect sandy flats, flat soft duff under lodgepole pine groves, and a couple of creeks.