Sand Mountain Pass

Sand Mountain Pass was the first major pass along my Sawtooth Wilderness backpacking route. It divided the main loop from the resupply loop. It is 4 miles from Edna Lake (8,404 feet) over the pass (9,303 feet) to Toxaway Lake (8,323 feet), one of the most spectacular in the Sawtooths. Indeed, as seen above, the approach to Toxaway from the pass is breathtaking.

I started the day packing up my campsite on a high point between Vernon Lake and Edna Lake. I hit the trail around 8:15 a.m. and quickly reached Edna Lake. I knew I would return to its shore in a few days, so I paused for a quick look and then began an immediate climb. The trail remains about 60 feet above the lake and about 0.1 mile from the shore until it meets the trail to Sand Mountain Pass.

The trail turns away from the lake and climbs gradually, eventually reaching a drainage, which it follows for some distance. The pass is evident on the valley’s steep head wall, a depression straight ahead. It was a pleasant hike in the early morning light, though the sun was in my face (and the camera’s).

There was some water flowing in the creek, burbling and warbling over miniature waterfalls. It passes an unnamed lake with a flat island in its middle. Views of Sand Mountain improved as the trail continued a fairly gentle climb.

Sand Mountain looks very different from its neighbors. Its reddish hue contrasts sharply with the gray granite peaks, and its harsh slopes are barren, save an occasional solitary tree growing impossibly from roots in the rubble.

Once the trail reaches about 9,050 feet, it begins a series of well-designed switchbacks up the boulder-strewn slope. As it gains the final 250 or so feet to the pass, views back to the west open up, and the northern peaks of the Sawtooths rise over the valley wall.

I reached the pass around 9:45 a.m. and stopped for a snack and to soak up the views. I sat with my back against the wind-blasted remnants of what was once a grand tree. Its hollow trunk provided an effective wind break — It was breezy on the passes — and a nice place to look at the mountains I’d be seeing for the next several days. Two trails lead east from the pass. The left fork heads over a series of passes to the Hellroaring drainage. It would be my return trip. The right fork heads down to Toxaway Lake and Snowyside Pass.

After about 25 minutes, I put my pack back on and began the descent.

After a short descent, the trail actually climbs to a shelf just below the rounded dome of rock just south of the pass. The views would only get better as impossibly blue Toxaway Lake appeared.

The trail descends imperceptibly as it swings southwestward, until the whole of Toxaway Lake appears. Toxaway Lake’s shoreline is 1,000 vertical feet from the trail’s high point. A series of steep switchbacks drops straight down the wildflower covered southern flank of Sand Mountain. The lake amazes at every turn, as does impressive Snowyside Peak.

The final 200 or so feet of descent is quite steep, as though the switchback builders were weary of toil and desperate for ice cold water.

The trail reaches a junction still a quarter mile from the shore. The left fork heads down the valley toward Yellowbelly Lake. The right fork heads for Snowyside Pass, my next destination. My immediate destination was the lake, so I took one of the many social trails leading there. A large camping area is to the left, and I could see numerous tents and fishing parties. I trended right, almost due south, before finally reaching a rock outcrop on the shoreline at 11:30.

I spent an hour here, gathering water, having my hot meal, and soaking up the incredible views.

Sand Mountain Pass was my favorite of the Sawtooth’s high passes, and the only one I’d see twice. On the return trip, I ran into some locals whose affection for “Sandy” was quite clear, and clearly the pass deserves the love.

Toxaway Lake and Snowyside Peak, SW09-0815-5464R, UTM 11T 0662936 E 4870234 N NAD27, Sawtooth Wilderness, Sawtooth National Forest | Approaching Sand Mountain Pass, SW09-0815-5420R, 0662104 E 4870865 N; Sand Mountain, SW09-0815-5428R, 0662784 E 4870766 N; and View West From Sand Mountain Pass, SW09-0815-5435R, 0662848 E 4870725 N, Sawtooth Wilderness, Boise National Forest | Sand Mountain Pass, SW09-0815-5451R, 0662942 E 4870590 N; First Glimpse of Toxaway Lake, SW09-0815-5454R, 0662914 E 4870396 N; Closing in on Toxaway Lake, SW09-0815-5487R, 0662541 E 4869751 N; and Toxaway Lake Reflection, SW09-0815-5493R, 0662749 E 4869464 N, Sawtooth Wilderness, Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho | ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

Potentially related posts:

• Snowyside Pass
• Lakes of the Sawtooths, Part 2
• The Two Passes
• I Love Me Post, Idaho Edition
• Farewell to the Sawtooths
• Lakes of the Sawtooths, Part 3
• Lakes of the Sawtooths, Part 4