Trinity Pass Route

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This cross-country route leaves from Trinity Lake and crosses over three passes to reach the top of the valley holding Lake Silex. Progress is difficult and involves boulders, loose rocks, exposure, and some cliffs. It's recommended that this route is completed as the day-hike portion of the longer Trinity and Silex Lake Overnight Loop. Bring plenty of snacks, water, and proper outerwear.

From Trinity Lake, Trinity Pass sits about 0.8 miles away (12,928'). The east side of the pass is loose shale, and while there is no exposure, each step knocks rocks down. The west side of the pass has a route marked with cairns that follows various ledges between cliffs. After passing Vestral Lake and Wham Ridge, the route turns to the south.

The next pass between Vestal Lake and Balsam Lake is unnamed. The north side of the pass is made of steep, loose rocks, similar to the east side of Trinity Pass. The south side of the pass has a route marked by cairns across boulder fields to Balsam Creek. Expect this mile to take an hour or more. A little under a mile above the creek is another unnamed pass and the west end of the Lake Silex Route.