Haeckel Col ~ Cross Country Route Detail

The easiest way to access the cross country route to Haeckel Col is from Sabrina Basin. It is about six miles on a maintained trail from the Lake Sabrina trailhead to Midnight Lake. Once at Midnight Lake follow the easy granite benches on the east side of the lake to the top of the ridge between Midnight Lake and Hungry Packer Lake.

The route up the ridge from Midnight Lake: 

Follow the top of the ridge heading uphill/southwest: 

Looking back from the top of the ridge between Midnight Lake and Hungry Packer Lake. Moonlight Lake is the greenish lake in the background:

When this ridge levels out continue to the west and stay to the immediate left of the pointy ridge. Avoid descending to the lakes on either side. There are some ducks along the route, but it is necessary to climb up along the left/west side of the pointy ridge to find them. The climb over this obstacle can be challenging, but keep climbing around the left side. It is sometimes necessary to ascend to avoid cliffing out. Once over this pointy ridge the large valley that eventually leads to Haeckel Col comes into view. 

The view of the valley that leads to Haeckel Col: 

Looking back while hiking up the canyon. The 'pointy ridge' is visible on the left. The red route line shows the way around: 

At the west end of the valley is Lake 12,345. Haeckel Col is visible from the lake (see red arrow): 

There are several use 'trails' up this boulder field to Haeckel Col. 

Looking back at Donn on the way up the boulder field from Lake 12,345: 

Haeckel Col approach from the east side:

The right side of the triangular rock is the crossing point. Granite benches provide an easy route.

The views from the top are awesome! Mt. Haeckel from Haeckel Col:

The view of the west side from Haeckel Col:

Lake 11,808, Mt. Fiske, the Fiske Glacier and Mt. Huxley.

The boulder field on the west side. There is an amazing view all the way to the Minarets from the first notch below Donn.

The Class III route down the west side of Haeckel Col:

Farther down the boulder field on the west side:

The route from the top of the west side. While facing down toward Lake 11,808 avoid the rocky cliffs on the right and the steep smooth granite wall (not visible here) on the left:

Looking back at the west side approach to Haeckel Col from Lake 11,808. Avoid the rocky cliffs to the left and the giant smooth granite wall on the right. There are some use pathways that help find the way between the cliffs on the left and granite wall on the right:

Looking back at the west side approach to Haeckel Col. The route is partially obstructed by the rocky cliffs on the left:

Easy scrambling on the way to Sapphire Lake. Mt. Haeckel and Haeckel Col visible in the background:

A detailed map of the cross country route over Haeckel Col:

For even more details of the route I did an amateur Haeckel Col movie: 

Thanks for reading! Andy.