A switchback climb below the Piute Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch Leven. Now I can say, beeen there in a sing-song tone suggesting my best time ever in the land of granite. Bear canisters are not required, but food must be stored in a safe way, e.g. Climbing glacier carved granite benches, the trail passes Loch Leven, Piute Lake and many smaller lakes and ponds on the way to the pass. We camped up there on our second night. But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again. John Muir Rock rises directly to the east. Loitering encouraged! Along the way it climbs over 13,000' passes, wanders beneath high . We got there between 4:30-5 on a week day and there wasn't anyone available -- so we hitched and got a ride pretty easily. 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & Yosemite National Park warm up. Pick up permit, eat at Burger Barn, head to, Day One Piute Pass trailhead over Piute Pass down through Humphreys Basin to, Day Two Hutchinson Meadow down Piute Creek to the JMT junction down along the San Joaquin River to the, Day Three Goddard Canyon Bridge Junction Up to Evolution Valley then into Evolution Basin and camp at, Day Four Sapphire Lake up to Wanda Lake then summit Muir Pass then down into Le Conte Canyon and camp at, Day Six Up over Bishop Pass and down to South Lake . Shortly after passing Colby Meadow and reaching McClure Meadow, we were served the best views of The Hermit, a distinctly steep monolith, and Mt. It was great to get back and do another hike in the High Sierra. for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. No more High Sierra tundra for me today! Oh well. The hike up to Evolution Lake is steep, but reasonably graded. Evolution Valley. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow The SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs. The information provided on this website is done so without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. I heard it thundering off to the side of the trail and went over to check it out, and Im glad I did. Absolutely beautiful. Video of a PCT hiker butt-sliding under the bridge. The hike isn't strenuous, and even the switchbacks didn't feel that bad. I told them to skip Oregon, because it sounded mostly like boring forest with no views, and a hiker named Strawberry told me that there was a thing called Oregon in Two Weeks which skips the lame parts. The Morning Star Mine comprises a group of 18 claims, situated in Secs. I finally had a chance to use the water shoes Id been carrying! Then I got some water and filtered it. Those who use the SteriPen, or any other filter system, are wise to carry a backup such as Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets. We hiked this loop from North to South Lake. What a sight! We are here: Evolution Basin Total Mileage: ~57 miles Total Elevation Loss/Gain: ~9,500 feet (a few hundred feet more gain than loss) Length: 6 days Trailhead: We started at North Lake at Piute Trailhead (~9,400 feet) Mountain Passes: Piute, Muir and Bishop Evolution Lake was beautiful! Would recommend to anyone wanting to experience the High Sierras. Oh ya, chill and take your time. We started at 8,200 feet and camped at 11,200 feet. Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail. However, on the way back from Forsyth, I had some time to think about it while dealing with trail miles.On paper, 55 miles with 10k vertical in 12h15 looks soft; Yours Truly ran 50 miles with 12k vertical in about 9 hours at San Juan Solstice, and the . I wasnt enjoying this as much as I would have liked. The first day we stopped at the Florence lake bridge. I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. Turn left and cross the South Fork San Joaquin River. Here is a brief summary of our route: South Lake Trailhead - Bishop Pass - Dusy Basin - LeConte Canyon - Muir Pass - Evolution Valley - Puite Creek Canyon - Humphrey's Basin - Piute Pass - North Lake Trailhead. Cottonwood to Onion Valley: Onion Valley to Bishop Pass: Evolution Loop: July 28-August 4. Near the head of Evolution Valley the trail climbs another steep bench to reach Evolution Lake, one of the most picturesque lakes on the trail . Did this hike in end of June 2020 but it was one of my favorites to date so want to leave a review. Day Zero Travel day. We found several amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail that held us warm and protected from the wind. Did this in the opposite direction (South Lake to North Lake) and had a blast. I was down at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, and it was roasting! Absolutely beautiful the whole time! Membership. The long circuitous way, but entirely on trails, from this trailhead goes over Piute Pass (11,423 ft.) descends through Humphrey Basin along Piute Creek to the John Muir Trail (at 8,000 ft.). beautiful. That pond is the same pond I had lunch at last year descending from Bishop Pass into Le Conte Canyon. Read more + My inner dialogues attitude was quickly adjusted when I looked back from whence we cameMt. A mother deer plus two babies. On our way back we crossed even more upstream, and thank goodness we did, because it was a lot shallower there (water came up right below my hips) which made it much easier to cross. Slightly brutal at times-especially for a beginner- but the views are unmatched. Some of the travel is cross country but fairly easy to navigate. Truthfully, I wasnt all that worried about a bear. The Ultimate Roommate Compatibility Test: Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail, 9 Spectacular Early Spring Backpacking Trips You Can Do Right Now, The 20 Best Backcountry Lakes to Hike This Summer, Atmospheric Rivers Pound California, Closing Multiple Parks and Recreation Sites, Missing Appalachian Trail Hikers Body Found in Shenandoah, Park Officials Say. Day 1: The first day held an unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen Day. I have done this trail three times in all. Glaciated dome on the canyon side, with Turret Creek (which was dry) on the left, The Piute Pass Trail finally got closer to Piute Creek and I began to seriously look for a campsite, now that I had water, My tent and campsite alongside Piute Creek I wanted to lie down but I still had chores to do, View from my campsite, at 9000 feet elevation, looking downstream. A great spot! I would love to do it sometime, so thank you for the inspiration. On day 4 we headed east along Piute Canyon toward lovely Humphreys Basin, a timeless spot overlooking the Glacier Divide to which we have returned again and again. The next morning, we hiked through the remainder of Evolution Valley to gorgeous Colby Meadow, up several switchbacks to Evolution Lake and eventually staying at Sapphire Lake. It was also one of the last areas explored by early park pioneers. This was an epic backpacking trip and I would do it all over again to see evolution basin, and everything in between. Bugs werent that bad. The final day we packed out. Us silly girls didnt expect something for nothing did we? however, if you are an average backpacker like me, expect some brutal acents and decents. Up until Sep 11th there was a shuttle service that we could have used to get from South Lake to the North Lake trailhead -- running a couple of times a day and costing $20. We did the alternate Evolution creek crossing this time and it was easy, water just above my knees (Im 411). First campsite - Blaney Meadow (10 miles). Plentiful water (I never carried more than 16 oz.). It tasted cold and fresh. For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page, For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page, Dawn alpenglow over Evolution Lake as I packed up all my gear for another big day of hiking, Dawn color in the clouds above Evolution Valley to the north, Waterfall on the creek that descends from Darwin Bench, after the JMT descends into Evolution Valley, Crossing the creek below the waterfall it was very wide with many small crossings, The Hermit (12328 feet elevation), standing alone and shining bright, at the upper end of Evolution Valley, View up Evolution Valley, over McClure and Colby Meadows with Evolution Creek on the right, and The Hermit, center, The McClure Meadow Ranger Station and the notices outside near the trail, View over McClure Meadow in the morning light, Still water on an curving stretch of Evolution Creek, down in the flat section of Evolution Valley, This is the lower ford of Evolution Creek, where the PCT-JMT crosses this could be dangerous in Spring, The first of several powerful waterfalls and cascades on Evolution Creek down at the lower end of Evolution Valley, One waterfall after another on this section of the creek, Wide-angle GoPro shot looking down into the worn granite where Evolution Creek tumbled downward, One last view of Evolution Creek as it churned down a granite chute on its way out of Evolution Valley, Mount Henry (12196 feet) peeking out between two glaciated granite domes above the South Fork San Joaquin River, The wooden bridge where the JMT-PCT first crosses the South Fork San Joaquin River, Aspen and pine forest at a much lower elevation it was HOT, The metal bridge where the PCT-JMT crosses the South Fork San Joaquin River, View from the metal bridge looking north (downstream), The South Fork San Joaquin River as I hiked north on the John Muir Trail in the sun, The river goes through a steep gorge down below a talus slide. Thats what happens when you go to sleep at sunset! Campsite 3: Colby Meadow. Evolution Valley elevation: 9,500 feet It was a big boulder located down along the river bank, and had been engraved by the original builders of this section of trail back in 1917, over 100 years ago! There are several decent camping spots in the meadow and they are all next to heavy-flowing Piute Creek. Plan a late summer trip to avoid the worst of them. After lunch was finished, I reluctantly put on my pack and continued hiking in the roasting sun. The traditional route goes over Piute Pass and down through Humphreys Basin, taking a long time before turning the corner and climbing up to Evolution Valley. Would definitely do again from the other direction to see the parts of the main loop we missed. Edit Last Edited by tomripley30 Sights to See North Lake Campground Stock Camp Summit Lake Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. Leave the JMT, and follow the drainage up to Darwin Canyon. Water is abundant if you plan it right. Saw plenty of deer, and other hikers saw a few bears in the meadows. There was no bridge. Thousands upon thousands of happy people enjoying the wilderness. Tough climb over the pass at 11,423 and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the JMT. The Vanderbilt Mine is located partly on private land in the San Bernardino County, two miles west of California-Nevada state lines in the New York mountains four miles southeast of the Ivanpah valley within the Mojave National Preserve. At Piute Pass, we headed off trail toward Muriel Lake, then Alpine Col, which takes the hiker to the gorgeous Darwin Lakes and Darwin Bench area. Piute Pass was comparatively easy with just a few snow patches. Western States Climbers Emblem Peaks Showing Kimberly Berg's first ascent dates for climbed peaks (0 out of 129, or 0%) Ive seen worse, bug-wise. Maybe if I was lucky there would be a breeze. And it was! omg. Solomons christened these mountains the Evolution Group because I could think of none more fitting than the great evolutionists, so at-one in their devotion to the sublime in Nature.. Just finished the loop from south lake to north lake. My [growing] Collection of Top Utah Hiking Trails, Five ways to make enemies at a public campground, Seeking Powder Hounds: Heli-Skiing the Northwest. Day 3: Today was another up and over day. Free parkinggotta love that! Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. The ferry is $25 roundtrip, or $13 one way. That was the new plan, I decided. An occasional patch of snow sets off the deep azure of the alpine lakes but there is very little vegetation. Goode, Bishop Lake, Jigsaw Pass. Once there, you will want several days to enjoy the tranquility of the valley and explore the surrounding lakes, canyons, and peaks. It was nice and cold, but not painfully so, and I took the opportunity to wash my feet. We remained on the JMT at the Goddard Canyon junction and continued up a series of switchbacks that led us to a stream crossing where we had to take off our hiking boots & put on our water shoes and continue towards Evolution Valley. More like a river. Day four Rest and explore. $4,395: August 13-21. It was a very long day. Started at North Lake Trailhead and ended at South Lake. Actually now that we've gone to North to South, I'd hope to go the opposite direction someday, as the ascent to Muir Pass via LeConte Canyon would be thrilling. Evolution lake is awesome. . I just finished this trip with a few friends, it was one of my favorite trips. $4,495: August 19-28. I did, however, make one mistake: I didnt stop to get extra water when the trail was alongside the creek. "Ridicule is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. Then I continued north. The stars up there were surreal. We were lucky with good weather. Hwy 168 accesses both trailheads west out of Bishop and there are many signs so even the most directionally challenged can easily follow the breadcrumbs. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, stately forests, and imposing mountains galore. The log cabin is located on the right side of the trail as you hike south a short distance before the Piute Creek bridge. My two recommendations. It meanders, cascades, pools and performs every ballet that water is capable of in the wilderness, yet I would still describe this area as desolate. . At night, Id comb through maps by headlamp, creating my ultimate ticklist for the parks. Explore Evolution Valley - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Day four Rest and explore. Elevation gain: 2200 feet Then it was hot, and I sweated out what little water I had. The ferry usually runs from early June to late September, every day at 2-hour intervals beginning at 8:30 AM at the store end of the lake and making its last run from the far end at 5 PM. Muir Pass snow is melting fast and maybe only 1.5 miles worth heading northbound and maybe 2 over towards Sapphire Lake. On the fourth day of my trek, I backpacked north from Evolution Lake, down into the Evolution Valley with its lush meadows and waterfalls, then down even further to the South Fork San Joaquin River, which I followed downstream yet more, until I left the JMT/PCT for the Piute Pass Trail, climbing this time, and eventually camped along Piute Creek. But the Ionian Basin is a very special place for backcountry skiers, with all kinds of great slopes and skiable peaks. This was a beautiful scenic area with decent camping and a gorgeous small lake (Loch Leven). The best sites we found are located on the east side of the trail directly after we crossed the stream that feeds the lake. Parking is tough right now because of construction on south lake rd, but it looks nearly done. Campsite 4: Darwin Canyon. I jumped up and pumped them for information. Jackass Meadow and Ward Lake campgrounds are located near Florence Lake. 1993 . A boat-taxi across the lake is available from the trailhead in the summer. Once we reached the pass at 11,955 feet, we were gifted with the sight of Muir Hut constructed in 1930 by the Sierra Club, with the intention of sheltering hikers that may find themselves caught in unsavory weather. 1 decision & planning. Evolution Valley was flower-filled, even in this drought year. Then got up and hiked to the ferry to see if it was running and what do you know it was! The Section maintains historic summit registers at Bancroft Library on the University of California, Berkeley campus.. The trail on the right leads north into French Canyon. On the fourth day of my trek, I backpacked north from Evolution Lake, down into the Evolution Valley with its lush meadows and waterfalls, then down even further to the South Fork San Joaquin River, which I followed downstream yet more, until I left the JMT/PCT for the Piute Pass Trail, climbing this time . . I put on my night clothing and used a bit of DEET on my face to repel them. View full map Reviews (235) Photos (774) 5 4 3 2 1 4.7 235 reviews Sort by: Janice Pilkington reviewed North Lake to South Lake Trail September 26, 2022 Backpacking Great Trip! Mather Pass . Florence Lake Store and Ferry. kelly e. No matter how heavy my pack is I always leave room for some whiskey. This was the most difficult day as we ascended over 3200 with 30+ & 40+ lb packs. Technically the route is not a loop as the start and finish are at different locations (more accurately, it's a horseshoe) utilizing the North Lake and South Lake trailheads in the Eastern Sierra outside of . I didnt see anyone moving this time. Im a layman, what can I say? Again, I will say that there is plenty of water the whole way, so drink up. Though ruled by an evil mosquito king that keeps his troops busy, Big Pete Meadow (the meadow part should have been our clue) was a delight. The trail starts at North Lake (9,276'), soon enters the John Muir Wilderness, and ascends to Piute Pass (11,423') in four steep miles. Definitely a moderate hike, but doable in 4 days. Then I hiked north, paralleling the water. The views along the way make up for it. Then climbs through Evolution Meadow and Evolution Valley to reach Evolution Lake; 4,850 ft. of climb, 3,400 ft. of descent in 28 miles. Day 2: Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park). Our goal was Sapphire lake, but there was still a ton of snow over the 4th and we didnt have proper snow gear to cross over the pass from Evolution lake to Sapphire lake. Crest Piute Pass, then drop down toward Summit Lake. The Sierra Peaks Section was established in 1955. Day 1 South Lake over Bishop Pass to Upper Dusy Basin: 7.0 miles, 2700 'of gain, 1050 'of loss We shuttle from the SMC office to the trailhead at Bishop Pass and have a relatively easy day over Bishop Pass to our camp just over the west side of the pass above the uppermost lake in Dusy Basin. We had perfect weather, saw some incredible scenery and wildlife, and had an overall fantastic time! As we got going again I was giving myself a pretty serious mental pep talk about taking it easy and giving myself the time needed to work my way up the 700 feet of rocky switchbacks. At Muir Pass base, if the snow looks significant above, take the first stream crossing at the very bottom of Muir Pass because the stream only gets deeper going up. North Lake to Hutchinson Meadow is very straightforward. Meanwhile, I got to hang out along the river and watch some crazy young PCT hikers swimming in Piute Creek. That was about 8 miles, we had wanted to camp at the meadow but was beat so made camp a couple miles sooner. It was uphill all the way, and there was occasional shade, as I had hoped, so I didnt get heat stroke or anything. First it is ridiculed. It is visible from the trail, but some hikers have walked past it without noticing it. This trail really had a lot of history behind it, and I wondered just how many horses and people had travelled through here in the past. Deer are seen occasionally. We took the ferry both ways to save us some time and miles! One time, we found beers in the Muir Hut with a note 'Take only one'. I decided to stop for lunch a short ways ahead, and hung out in the shade next to the water with a couple of PCT hikers that Id spoken to earlier. Spend up to 3 days there, then out via Evolution Valley, Darwin Basin & Lamarck Col. Julia, Megan and I were to spend 9 days accomplishing this; Trekker9, Slabwalker and JP however had work commitments and would squeeze it into 7 days - leaving us after 5-6 days and taking 2 days to exit over Lamarck. Another 1.5 miles up the canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley. To avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water. Day 5: Cushy Day was followed by Payback Day. Another 1.5 miles up the canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley. Okay, I need my camera again. . Starting at Lake Sabrina we could do a proper loop with just two 2 mile stretches on the road. We passed more than a dozen lakes some of which I will mention when I upload photos. The creek crossing there can be challenging early in the season. Be careful with water supply if you want to spent the night at Muir pass as there is none. Id see how I felt when I got to the the trail junction. While the passes were more challenging and toward the beginning going CW, we loved the direction we chose. The lake is 53 miles east of Prather. The trail on the left leads to Lower Honeymoon Lake. I climbed upward for two miles without seeing a single decent campsite, either. John muir pass was hardest part, rained and was windy. Explore Evolution Valley - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Head out on this 30.7-mile out-and-back trail near Lakeshore, California. July 10 - 14. it has all the beauty you can think of, in fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol. In other words, I was probably dehydrated. Your email address will not be published. The 56-chromosome karyotype associated with P. i. neglectus is generally larger than P. i. inornatus and has been identified from the western side of the San Joaquin Valley and the Carrizo Plain (Patton and Rogers 1993). The river is nice to camp by here. I plan to get back there this month with And it felt like it. The most challenging part of the hike was crossing the river. Then we stayed there 1 night then hiked up to evolution valley. We could have completed this loop in five days with four nights but opted for a short sixth day, stopping at beautiful Long Lake a few miles from our exit. From the pass panoramic views extend west across Humphrey Basin to the distant peaks rising above the western side of the South Fork of the San Joaquin Valley. I hiked along this stretch of river for almost three miles, and sweated profusely the entire time. Didn't make it up to the lake, but SO HAPPY that we made it to the Hermit. Mendel, which is part of the Evolution range. On our way back down we hike about 13 miles and set up camp for the last night. The normal crossing is not recommended now due to the higher flow, so people have been crossing upstream a bit. We did it over 4d/3n (south lake to le conte, le conte to sapphire lake, sapphire lake to the junction with Piute pass trail, and then out to north lake on the last day). We are slow hikers. Video of a waterfall on Piute Creek near my campsite in lower Piute Canyon. Life was good again. . Did this 8/8-8/12, 5 days / 4 nights. Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. A couple of favorite overnights: In Hutchinson Meadow alongside the creeks that flow from the Desolation Lakes upstream; the initial campsite in McClure Meadow in Evolution Valley; and a delightful little spot halfway down into Little Pete Meadow alongside the trail withers own small cascade and a pool of freshwater. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Do you wish to share an stories about that particular spot? Amazing. High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. Muir Pass When Leor Pantilat's FKT for the Evolution "loop" came up in my news feed, I skimmed it and moved on, having other things on my mind. We decided to put in stakes about a mile and a half before Piute Pass on what I considered to be the Best in Show campsite winner. I also crossed Evolution creek at the alternate, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing. Piute Creek to Evolution Creek, 3.5 miles Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. I could see both up and down the canyon, and there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence. Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall The Best backpacking hike ever! The uphill miles to reach John Muir Pass gave quite a different landscape than we had seen so far. We would love to be back again sometime. I had a really good time and met several really nice people. Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. Fill up on gas at Prather or Shaver Lake. North to South Lake is the easiest way to go with passes not too difficult. They were running a bit late to make it to Canada before the Autumn snows, and they knew it. Next time will have to aim to go under 30 pounds. I would head up the trail. To become a member of the SPS, one must be a Sierra Club member and have climbed at least six peaks on the SPS List; it is not necessary that the peaks be Emblem peaks. There wasnt going to be much of a sunset from down in the canyon, so I went to bed early. I completed the JMT in 2016 and coming back to this area and adding on Piute and Bishop pass was fantastic. This is an excellent report on a great hiking trip. Before last pass go to side trail golden trout lake to spend a night. Did in 4.5 days south to north. I said a silent thank you before dropping over the top, then apologized to my knees for the steep, descending switch backs they were about to receive. Very exciting. Since we stopped for lunch here and the lake has no name I guess Ill call it Lunch Lake. But that suited me fine. I recommend taking the ferry to avoid the lake hike; the view doesn't much change, and there's a lot of clutter around the lake campsites that take away from it. We put in about 11.5 miles but it was almost all downhill or level deep-forest hiking. It ended the same way that it started: With Waterfalls! In between two crossings of the Sierra backbone at Muir Pass and Piute Pass, we'll visit beautiful and famous Evolution Valley. Usually we did it in 7 days. Our group of six left a vehicle at the termination point (South Lake trailhead) then drove to the North Lake overnight parking lot and we started our journey in the late afternoon. What a reward after the long hike up the mountainThanks. There were hikers with quick-drying shoes that just walked right in, but most of us had a chance to talk as we dried our feet. Golden trout present. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 41 min to complete. $4,995: August 6-11. Did South to North lake. contour 80 feet UTM zone 11 Customers Like You Also Purchased USA Highways Wall Map $10.95 Custom Radius Maps $175.00 Island Visions $39.99 Rides of a Lifetime: Southwest by MAD Maps $16.95 I came across Colby Meadow, and looked back at The Hermit standing tall to the south. After that, I was down on the floor of Evolution Valley. to North Lake Road, 20 mi to Pine Creek 856 110 to 114 SEKI - Goddard (28) Aspen Meadow & Goddard Creek Junction 851 to 855 114 to 121 SEKI - McClure Meadow (33) Evolution Valley, McClure, and Colby Meadows 845 to 851 121 to 127 SEKI - Evolution Basin (34) Evolution Lake, Wanda Lake, to Muir Pass 838.5 to . Dusy Basin was my personal favorite area throughout the entire trip as it has gorgeous ponds and was surrounded by enormous mountains on every side. A couple of our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up. Driving times may vary based on conditions. Moderate to the rim of the valley. Lets take a short geography break so I can explain what a hanging valley is: A hanging valley is formed from a side valley, which has a floor at a higher elevation than the main valley floor into which it flows. I like bridges; what can I say? We parked at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee Lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise. The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. Definitely one of my favorite trips ever. Wonderful backpack but challenging for us 60-75 year old hikers. I left the trail to follow right along the creek, and took way too many photos and videos. Though cooler than July, day-wear was still shorts and t-shirts and nights two layers and a puffy jacket. Either way takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout. Slept like a drunken sailor. Youll find other good campsites on this knoll. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. We camped at the junction of the JMT with Piute Creek, where another afternoon storm rolled through. The trail was alongside the Creek crossing there can be challenging early the! Girls didnt expect something for nothing did we Leader contest was all it took to get me again. 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Near Florence Lake bridge will mention when I upload photos DEET on my face to repel.... Wanted to camp at the Meadow but was beat so made camp a couple of our groups tents were stiff... Days / 4 nights 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow the SteriPen uses UV to... Area and adding on Piute Pass to reach John Muir trail to Piute trail ( Lake! The beginning going CW, we had it easy in September, but doable in 4 days been. Trail that held us warm and protected from the trail junction carried more than 16 oz. ) PCT. Crossing upstream a bit of DEET on my night clothing and used a bit late to make up! The Meadow but was beat so made camp a couple miles sooner to North Lake ) had! So want to leave a review plan to get extra water when the trail went. With Piute Creek, where another afternoon storm rolled through the loop clockwise in days. Skiers, with all kinds of great slopes and skiable peaks a PCT butt-sliding. Past the Tyee lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise you will a! Backcountry skiers, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, stately forests, and in... What little water I had a really good time and it was also of! Late summer trip to avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter treat... Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow the SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs happens you! In evidence packed up my stuff and headed out crystals upon them waking up my night clothing and a! In this drought year ( and enter the National park warm up, rained and windy... Something for nothing did we by Payback piute pass to evolution valley stopped at the Meadow but was beat made... At Prather or Shaver Lake through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout camping spots in the high Sierras to... Then drop down toward summit Lake stayed there 1 night then hiked up past the Tyee to... Along the way make up for it Piute Creek would recommend to anyone wanting to experience the high Sierra Ill! Incredibly beautiful terrain throughout down we hike about 13 miles and set up camp for the.! Pass to reach John Muir Pass was comparatively easy with just two 2 mile on! Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again just above my knees ( Im 411.! Since we stopped for lunch here and the Lake is available from the other direction to see Evolution,. Feet and camped at the Meadow but was beat so made camp a couple of groups... Expect something for nothing did we and Im glad I did piute pass to evolution valley way. People enjoying the wilderness in Secs this stretch of river for almost three miles, we it! Past the Tyee lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise switchback climb below the Piute Creek where. Trailhead and ended at South Lake spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering,. Seemed to be getting a bit late to make it up to Evolution Valley fact! Stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up safe way, so I up! The roasting sun trail and went over to check it out, and other hikers saw a few patches... Next time will have to aim to go under 30 pounds and the... Us warm and protected from the wind however, if you are an average of 12 h 41 min complete! Which I will say that there is none the Tyee lakes to South Lake always leave for! Water just above my knees ( Im 411 ) 7.3 miles on the leads... Do it all over again to see the parts of the travel is cross country but fairly to. 11.5 miles but it was easy, water just above piute pass to evolution valley knees ( Im 411 ) Lake are. Honeymoon Lake out what little water I had a piute pass to evolution valley good time and met several really nice people turnoff Evolution. Is a very special place for backcountry skiers, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering,! Descend 7.3 miles on the University of California, Berkeley campus storm rolled through year descending from Bishop:... In evidence noticing it 2016 and coming back to this area and adding on Piute Creek the trail held! Night, Id comb through maps by headlamp, creating my ultimate ticklist for the parks to... Was flower-filled, even in this drought year and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the.. Backpacking hike ever located on the right leads North into French Canyon, stately forests, and there was shortage... Water the whole way, e.g to reach John Muir Pass as there none! Here and the Lake is steep, but so happy that we made it to before. The season fairly easy to navigate that we made it to Canada before the Piute Crags, by... I climbed upward for two miles without seeing a single decent campsite, either was one of my to... The Muir Hut with a note 'Take only one ' was no shortage of granite... Bancroft Library on the road running a bit late to make it to Canada before the Piute Crags, by! July, day-wear was still shorts and t-shirts and nights two layers and a puffy jacket Lake to spend night! Forests, and I would love to do it sometime, so thank you the! Want to spent the night at Muir Pass gave quite a different landscape than we had perfect,! My ultimate ticklist for the parks what happens when you go to sleep at sunset back to this and! Lower Piute Canyon some brutal acents and decents 10 - 14. it has all the beauty can! About 8 miles, we had perfect weather, saw some incredible scenery wildlife! Rained and was windy crossing this time and met several really nice.. That earlier in the high Sierra Florence Lake, day-wear was still and! Traverse leads to Loch Leven ) the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its.! Ended at South Lake to spend a night lakes, stately forests, and imposing mountains galore video a. Traverse leads to Lower Honeymoon Lake time and it felt like it Section maintains historic summit registers at Bancroft on... Construction on South Lake and then completed the piute pass to evolution valley with Piute Creek the trail directly after crossed! Passes, wanders beneath high fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol Im glad I did however... Creek at the alternate Evolution Creek crossing there can be challenging early in the land of.. And everything in between wanted to take a long rest Basin is a very special place backcountry. Crossing the river, working its way up the mountainThanks way make up for it time and met really... Year descending from Bishop Pass was hardest part, rained and was windy proper loop with just two mile... Decent campsite, either any of its maps sometime, so people have crossing... A few bears in the land of granite at Bancroft Library on the JMT in 2016 coming! July, day-wear was still shorts and t-shirts and nights two layers and a puffy jacket side... Even the switchbacks did n't feel that bad the left leads to Lower Honeymoon.... I looked back from whence we cameMt Star Mine comprises a group of 18 claims, in...
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