Noname basin from Vallecito

[atodor]

I am wondering what is the easiest way to cross from Sunlight basin to Noname basin. I have seen a report via the saddle between Sunlight Peak and the Knife Point, but I don't know how hard that is. I have also seen that Peak Six is a class two climb, so I am hoping I could find a route at that level, via the peak, if nothing else.
I am doing this to avoid crossing from Chicago Basin to Noname basin through Twin Thumb pass, which I would be too worried about, so I hope the above would be a better route.
Also, are there good campsites in the Vallecito valley near Sunlight Creek? I want to avoid hiking up Sunlight Creek with the backpack. Are bear canisters absolutely necessary? I hope to find some branches to hang the food.

[Dobsons]

I was just in Sunlight basin a few weeks ago for peak Ten and then went to No Name for The Heisspitz, five and four and then came back to sunlight basin that day. I think the saddle between Knife point and ten would go. I have climbed to knife point from No Name via this saddle and I know people do it from Sunlight basin as well so I imagine it would be mostly class 2 and fine. However, I think the easiest way would be just going from Sunlight basin to Jagged Pass just north of Jagged at the low point between Jagged and Peak Six then drop into noname that way though. There is a climber's trail most of the way from Sunlight basin with the "Kodiak high route" there and a trail mostly through the pass. The noname side is a bit more talus and loose then the Sunlight basin side which is mostly just nice grass but I think most people would use that to get into noname from Sunlight basin and it's definitely class 2 and beautiful.
Good luck and hopefully that helps
Corey

[Dobsons]

Also, sorry I forgot your other questions. Yes, there is a huge meadow right by the vallecito before the climb to sunlight basin starts. One could find a flat spot to camp for sure right there if not wanting to carry a heavy pack up in there then day hike up into Sunlight basin. I will say compared to Ruby Basin, North Pigeon, Vestal Basin, No Name etc from the Animas the Sunlight climb with a pack was the easiest in my opinion. The trail is pretty good the whole way, less steep then some of the other climber trails, and much less downed trees then those other approaches so I found getting a backpack up into Sunlight much easier than many of the other Wemi Basins just FYI.

As for a bear canister I guess I can't say what others on the forum routinely do but I have never taken one and always just hang my food in a stuff sack over a high branch and been fine. I have always worried slightly about a bear somehow getting it and ruining a trip but so far so good. Unfortunately there are plenty of beetle kill trees in the Wemi so I have never had problems finding a big branch to hang the food up with a rope.
Corey

[atodor]

the easiest way would be just going from Sunlight basin to Jagged Pass just north of Jagged at the low point between Jagged and Peak Six
Corey

Thank you; I saw reports about Jagged Pass but I was not sure where that was exactly.

[BKS]

All the approaches to jagged end up at jagged pass. Noname, sunlight and Kodiak high route. Easy crossover from sunlight to noname.

[atodor]

How difficult is the Windom-Sunlight spire saddle pass, if I want to combine this with Mount Eolus?

[Mtnman200]

How difficult is the Windom-Sunlight spire saddle pass, if I want to combine this with Mount Eolus?

I used that saddle to climb Peak Eleven and didn't think it was difficult. My trip report is at https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=18225
(Scroll down to 9/4/2017 for the description. Also, there's a map at the very end of the trip report.)