Deer Spgs to Marion Mtn to Wellman Cienega?

[Hikin_Jim]

OK, based on everyone's input (THANK YOU!), I've got a revised route map.

I'll head up the Seven Pines Trail to Deer Springs Camp. I'll take the "Norris Route" up the drainage to Deer Springs, bag Marion, Shirley, and Jean, and then take the "Otherhand Route" to Wellman Divide. I'll go down to the boundary sign below Wellman Cienega and descend Willow Creek to my intended camp site vicinity point "Q." In the morning, I'll head up to Hidden Lake Divide and proceed west along the divide bagging Landells/Luella Todd and Divide Peaks. After bagging the peaks, I'll head to Wellman Divide where I'll retrace my steps on the Otherhand Route and then descend via Bed Spring to the Deer Springs Trail. Assuming I can find it, I'll descend the old upper Seven Pines Trail ("X", "Y", and "Z") back to the modern day Seven Pines Trail back to my car.

That's two days, and a very ambitious (for me) two days. If Day 1 wipes me out, I may just head to Saddle Junction from my Night 1 camp at Point "Q" and follow the PCT up to the State Park Boundary and from there to Wellman Divide and then get back on my above route. My permit is for three days, and I'll bring enough food to make the "extra" day no problem if it's needed. My permit is for the North Rim Zone, so the flattish ridge top between point "N" (Wellman Cienega) and point 9144 is an alternate camp site if I'm too fatigued or what have you.

HJ

[Phil B]

HJ,
When you mentioned "Shirley Peak" I assume you are talking about the Peak at 10,388' (un named on the topo) that lies between Jean and Marion. I always wondered about that one, glad to know it has a name. Also, in that case, I agree the Marion/Shirley saddle is a gorgeous area. I know people use to camp at the saddle a long time ago, but don't know if you can today.

Cheers Phil,

PS. A few weeks back I lost my favorite navy blue fleece(8 years old) between the saddle and Marions summit, hopefully it is still laying around there when I go back in two weeks.

[Hikin_Jim]

When you mentioned "Shirley Peak" I assume you are talking about the Peak at 10,388' (un named on the topo) that lies between Jean and Marion.

Yep, that's the one. There's a summit register that christens it "LePake Peak", but who knows where that name came from. Shirley Peak is the name commonly in use. I tried to find info on whoever this LePake person might be, but I came up empty.

I don't know the derivation of the name "Shirley Peak" (although it may be some play on the fact that the peaks immediately to the north and south bear women's names), but I did find entries going back some years with reference to that name.

A few weeks back I lost my favorite navy blue fleece(8 years old) between the saddle and Marions summit, hopefully it is still laying around there when I go back in two weeks.

Sorry to hear that. I didn't see it when I was there on Friday, but I didn't know to look for it either.

HJ

[Jill G]

Hi All, Planning a trip from Devil's Slide to Wellman Cienega then xctry to Marion. I read HJ's threads and looking at the awesome ACME maps and photos can see the possibility of the brush avoidy route through the trees.
Wondering if RMRU Pete and/or HJ can let me know if there is still a way to get up there without disapperaing in to the chinca manza monster thickets?
Thanks

[Hikin_Jim]

OtherHand and RMRU Pete have been up there a lot more than I have, so you should probably take whatever they say to heart. However, let me share what experience I have.

Take a look at this graphic:


The dark blue route is the route I took on my 7/5/2013 - 7/7/2013 trip. This is a good, brush-free route, mostly class one, maybe a couple of short class two bits. Of course, you want to come up from the east, so no help there.

The light blue route is my best guess as to the route that OtherHand described.

The black route is the route I actually took on my 7/5/2013 - 7/7/2013 trip. It worked OK, but I got into significant brush around 10,250' to about 9900'.

The red route is my best memory of my 2008 route that I used to gain access to Marion Mountain. Not a lot of brush, but my memory is vague as to where the route exactly went.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but hopefully others will chime in.

GENERAL NOTE ABOUT MARION MTN:
The benchmark shown on the USGS topo map is NOT the high point of the peak. The high point is to the west and is fairly evident. If one were navigating by GPS, one might be seriously off course if one navigated to the benchmark instead of the summit.

HJ

[Jill G]

Thanks so much. We'll try the red route up and if no joy, maybe blue for Plan B.

[Hikin_Jim]

You're welcome, Jill. I hope it's helpful.

You should also be aware that the highest point on Marion Mountain is NOT where the little "X" is. The highest point is quite a bit west of there. See: Marion Mountain Wrong on USGS Topo? for further info.

HJ