Thinking of a trip up either Taboose Pass or Cottonwood Pass (if the road is open of course) and was wondering if anyone has been up Taboose lately??? Is it even worth going up there yet??? Wanted to get some spring climbing in, but the weather has been rather uncooperative this spring. Thinking about Arrow Peak specifcally. Thanks for any info anyone may have......

I haven't been up there, but I've done a little research on Taboose since that trip (Arrow Peak) has also been on my radar for the past couple of years. My understanding from having read other people's trip reports is that early in the season the river crossings can be a problem. Given the snow we've had this year, that could be an even bigger issue when it all starts melting.

I don't think the creek crossings will too major of a problem on Taboose. Plan to hit the crossings early in the day and they will be easier. I was worried about them when I went up to the Pass on July 1st 2006 (an okay snow year) and in late April 2007 (low snow year) - I didn't have any problems crossing either trip, but you have to be careful. Every year is differnet though. I'll bet the King's River is raging and It's going to be a slushy suncupped mess on the west side of the pass pretty soon, but hopefully not yet.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weekend of June 10th will bring wonderful weather and a chance for me to get up to one of the eastern passes to enjoy the view; so if you go please bring back a trip report.

I was up that way in 2005 after a fairly heavy snow year, but later on in early July. Crossing the Kings River was a real problem ... scary, actually. Took us over an hour to figure it out. Supposed to have had even more snow this year, I think

On July 1, 2006 I stopped at the King's River - it was really raging and I decided I didn't want try crossing, but the creek crossings on the Taboose Trail weren't a problem.

That's what I had meant--the Kings River--just couldn't remember the name. If he's going to Arrow Peak, he'll have to cross it.

You just cross streams that flow down into the Kings River, on the way to Arrow, if I'm not mistaken. Topo seems to confirm this. These were much easier to cross for us, than say, on the way to Ruskin, where we had to cross the Kings River itself. I should have mentioned that earlier.

granite4brains wrote:You just cross streams that flow down into the Kings River, on the way to Arrow, if I'm not mistaken.

Actually, I didn't know that. I thought you had to cross the big boy itself. Thanks for clarifying.

To go to Arrow/Bench Lake you'll miss the big part of the Kings River - just streams to cross on the way over there.