Sheep Camp to Happy Camp
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Sheep Camp to Happy Camp is usually a full day. You can go beyond Happy Camp, and many times we have gone on to Deep Lake and even Lindeman; but it's not recommended unless you are in a big hurry. If you are hiking to enjoy the outdoors, you'll want to stop at Happy Camp.
Either way, you leave Sheep Camp fairly early in the morning. If there are avalanche warnings out, they like you to leave as early as 5 am (Alaska time), but even 6 or a bit later would do too. The Rangers want to make sure you have plenty of time to get to Happy Camp.
The first 2-3 hours you will climb "Long Hill" towards the "Scales". It's called Long Hill for a good reason. It seems all you are doing is gradually going up. At first you'll be going through the forest, eventually you'll be scrambling some rocks, and as you get closer to the Scales you'll be leaving the tree line behind altogether. After the Scales it is a short hike to the base of the Golden Stairs. The Golden Stairs themselves don't take too long. You'll be using your hands for climbing; not because it is super steep, but because you'll need to climb up boulders. Basically teh Golden Stairs are a hill of boulders. Once you get to the summit, you'll be surprised to see there are two or three more summits until you actually get to the top. But even so, after the first summit, the hardest part is well behind you.
It has taken us anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to get from Sheep Camp to the Summit; depending on weather conditions and our own conditioning. In 2012 we did the portion to the summit in 4 hours and 10 minutes. It could take another 2.5 to 4 hours to get to Happy Camp. So with a break at the Summit, it could conceivably take up to 13 hours to get to Happy Camp. Usually most people will get there in 8 hours; but it is certainly possible to take longer, especially if someone is having a hard time on Long Hill.
At the summit you get a nice break in a shelter and then you head down on the Canadian side towards Happy Camp. In 2012 we did this portion in just under 3 hours.
When you look at the photos below, you'll see "Sheep Camp to the Summit (2010)" but no such pictures in 2012. That's because of the drizzle and fog. It was too wet and cold and foggy to bring the camera out. The scenery is much different in the sunshine!
Another thing you might want to compare is the "Summit to Happy Camp" pictures from 2010 and 2012. Such a huge difference. Tons more snow in 2012.
Either way, you leave Sheep Camp fairly early in the morning. If there are avalanche warnings out, they like you to leave as early as 5 am (Alaska time), but even 6 or a bit later would do too. The Rangers want to make sure you have plenty of time to get to Happy Camp.
The first 2-3 hours you will climb "Long Hill" towards the "Scales". It's called Long Hill for a good reason. It seems all you are doing is gradually going up. At first you'll be going through the forest, eventually you'll be scrambling some rocks, and as you get closer to the Scales you'll be leaving the tree line behind altogether. After the Scales it is a short hike to the base of the Golden Stairs. The Golden Stairs themselves don't take too long. You'll be using your hands for climbing; not because it is super steep, but because you'll need to climb up boulders. Basically teh Golden Stairs are a hill of boulders. Once you get to the summit, you'll be surprised to see there are two or three more summits until you actually get to the top. But even so, after the first summit, the hardest part is well behind you.
It has taken us anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to get from Sheep Camp to the Summit; depending on weather conditions and our own conditioning. In 2012 we did the portion to the summit in 4 hours and 10 minutes. It could take another 2.5 to 4 hours to get to Happy Camp. So with a break at the Summit, it could conceivably take up to 13 hours to get to Happy Camp. Usually most people will get there in 8 hours; but it is certainly possible to take longer, especially if someone is having a hard time on Long Hill.
At the summit you get a nice break in a shelter and then you head down on the Canadian side towards Happy Camp. In 2012 we did this portion in just under 3 hours.
When you look at the photos below, you'll see "Sheep Camp to the Summit (2010)" but no such pictures in 2012. That's because of the drizzle and fog. It was too wet and cold and foggy to bring the camera out. The scenery is much different in the sunshine!
Another thing you might want to compare is the "Summit to Happy Camp" pictures from 2010 and 2012. Such a huge difference. Tons more snow in 2012.
Sheep Camp to the Summit (2010)
Summit to Happy Camp (2010)
Summit to Happy Camp (2012)
Sheep Camp to Happy Camp
