The hike began at the Copper Creek Trailhead at the end of Highway 180 near Cedar Grove. After gaining 5,000 feet elevation, I left the trail at the crossing to Granite Basin, and headed cross country to Grouse Lake. Skies were hazy from nearby forest fires. After a soup break at the lake, I hiked over Grouse Lake Pass and through the eastern reaches of Granite Basin. Goat Crest Saddle took me to the uppermost lake in Glacier Valley where I spent the night.

Day two dawned with a sky full of crystal clear air. A wind storm in the early morning cleared the skies of smoke from the nearby fires. After a quick hop down the valley, I followed the State Lakes Trail through the State Lakes Basin and hiked on to the Horseshoe Lakes Basin. At the northern Horseshoe lake, I left the trail and traveled cross country over Windy Ridge, Gray Pass, White Pass, and Red Pass to a campsite near Marion Lake.

On the third day, I hiked across Lake Basin then made it over snow-filled Dumbbell Lakes Pass and into the remote and lovely Dumbbell Lakes Basin. A downpour threatened, but all I got was sprinkles. I made my way over Cataract Creek Pass, the last and most difficult cross country pass of the trip. The north side of the pass was choked with snow which made the hike down time consuming. I made camp at Deer Meadow on the John Muir Trail.

I spent three leisurely days completing the loop, returning via Mather Pass, Pinchot Pass, and the Woods Creek Trail.