[pct-l] Alternate route across Northern Yosemite

[Ken Roberts]

An alternate route across Northern Yosemite was mentioned a while back.
I am hoping to be in the neighborhood in early September, and got to
looking at some maps. Going Northward, this route leaves the PCT at
Matterhorn Creek, and rejoins the PCT at Walker River. This possible
alternate route travels across the northern boundary of Yosemite Park.
It travels right by Matterhorn Peak which I have read can be climbed
from some direction. It looks like an interesting alternative, but the PCT is
pretty spectacular here also.  Any one familiar spend much time in this area?

Take the numbers with a grain of salt and a twist of lime, but to me this 
alternate route
looks to run about 500 ft higher on average, it is about 10 miles shorter, 
and has about 15% less
up and down stuff.

Miles					Elevation
0.0	Matterhorn Creek (PCT)		8,500
6.5	Burro Pass			10,650
9.1	Piute Creek			9,400
11.2	Mule Pass			10,450
12.1	Snow Lake Tr.			9,650
12.7	Crown Lake			9,500
13.4	Robinson Lakes			9,200
14.1	Barney Lake Trail Jct		9,200
14.9	Peeler Lake 			9,500
16.0	Kerrick Meadow			9,400
16.8	Buckey Pass			9,572
20.8	Buckey Creek Tr Jct		8,400
23.0	High Pass			9,900
27.1	Piute Mdws Cabin		8,300
28.4	West Walker River Crossing	8,100
30.3	Upper Long Lake		8,600
30.7	Walker River (PCT)		8,600