Then it is violently opposed. Definitely a moderate hike, but doable in 4 days. The water was seriously cascading as it made its way over the steep edge of the valley, flowing downward into the South Fork San Joaquin River Valley, which I could see off the edge of space to the north. Conditions are continuously changing and wilderness hikers need to plan for inclement weather. Mosquitos are out a bit especially in Evolution Valley and Piute Creek. Peaks north of Bishop Pass, and south of Piute Pass form two basic groups, Bishop Group and Evolution Group. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. But we didnt see any rangers. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. 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. Hike down 6.6 miles to LeConte Canyon, which is a very beautiful, deep canyon with lush meadows and forests. Campsites: Good sites along Evolution Creek by Evolution Meadow, McClure Meadow and Colby Meadow. Turn left and descend to Upper Lamarck Lake. The Best backpacking hike ever! This will bring you onto the PCT north of Evolution Valley, a distance of about 16 miles. Day 4: Rest and explore. Here you will find the most recent trail conditions available to us. beautiful. Life was good again. For trail conditions and more details about this hike, check out my YouTube Video I made from this backpacking trip on my channel: Kikis Adventures. I had my food in a bear cannister, But getting partway up toward the pass seemed like a fine idea. Im a layman, what can I say? Highly recommend pushing up to lower Dusy Basin (though there are several campsites about 1200 vertical feet up from Le Conte, just prior to a bridge crossing) (night 4). Map Mono Divide High Country ($10, tomharrisonmaps.com). In between two crossings of the Sierra backbone at Muir Pass and Piute Pass, we'll visit beautiful and famous Evolution Valley. I highly recommend this one. Goode, Bishop Lake, Jigsaw Pass. We passed more than a dozen lakes some of which I will mention when I upload photos. Aside from stellar views, you will also find a station in McClure Meadow that is manned in the summer months by a ranger. Wished we could have camped at Evolution Lake as it's sooooo beautiful but it didn't work out for us. The ferry is worth it if its running. Day 1: The first day held an unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen Day. Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. The forest and meadows of Evolution Valley had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the way. $3,395: Description Itinerary Resources The John Muir Trail is one of the finest hikes to be found anywhere in the world. 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. Beautiful and challenging in a good way. Here the trail climbs 700 feet of switchbacks to Most of our campsites were fantastic with waterfalls or pretty lakes. Ive seen worse, bug-wise. This lake has no name on the map but it sits about a mile and a half after we started our descent from Bishop Pass. Oh, yes, this was heavenly! There was no bridge. 1993 . My two recommendations. There was a strong metal bridge just downstream, and it was fun to cross. The trail is quite rocky in most places so slower than you might expect given the elevation profile. It is my favorite all-time Sierra hike. Lots of mosquitos in some areas. These Photos Prove It. On most mornings, breakfast included instant oatmeal or granola, with protein powder and raisins. From there we day packed to evolution lake the third day. Imagine youre traveling on a moonscape in the protection of narrow corridors of granite with the imposing presence of two mighty peaks, Langille Peak and Black Giant, in your view. Your email address will not be published. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow Dawn on Piute Pass Back toward Pilot Knob West side, baby! 5 trip report day 12-16: Muir Trail Ranch to Onion Valley Trailhead. The rivers and meadows are stunning. It is visible from the trail, but some hikers have walked past it without noticing it. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that Next we go through Evolution Valley skirting Darwin Canyon, passing through Evolution Basin and crossing the Goddard Divide just before going over Muir Pass (11,855'). When we crossed the river it was only about knee deep and also like to mention NO mosquitoes so we were super lucky. 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.. Meadows and trees and waterfalls were on my menu. My girlfriends told me I started singing gospel at that point, but I really think they may be exaggerating. I jumped up and pumped them for information. Evolution Lake was beautiful! But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again. Day 2: Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park). Having two cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier. Yay! The climb up to Piute Pass was uneventful, passing a series of lakes on the way to the day's high point. Lodging is available at Vermilion Valley Resort at Lake Edison and also at nearby Mono Hot Springs. Would recommend to anyone wanting to experience the High Sierras. My wife and I did the trek in June with our 9 month old in tow. The next day we made it up to evolution valley. Some hikers like to stop for a soak at the public hot springs across the river, just beyond the Muir Trail Ranch. Following the PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow. Good campsites can be found there also. 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. Tough climb over the pass at 11,423 and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the JMT. We are slow hikers. Maybe if I waited a bit the sun would be at a lower angle as I headed north, so that the trees would have longer shadows for me to rest in. We fell about 2 miles short of the destination endpoint with loss of daylightlesson learned, if this is a short weekend excursion, you need to get there early and push through hard. We were lucky with good weather. Day 5: Cushy Day was followed by Payback Day. Bishop and Muir Pass are still very snowy. 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. What seemed like an irritating setback at the time, ended up giving us a chance to acclimate a bit before hauling ourselves, and 40 unaccustomed pounds, over Bishop Pass. 34.3 mi Distance 17 hrs 56 min Time terrain 4,821 ft Elev Gain Overview This is a difficult loop trail in Inyo National Forest. Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. I didnt pay a whole lot of attention, Im sad to say, and even fewer photos. counter-balance method. We camped up there on our second night. Piute creek was unrealistically beautiful, but not many places to camp we noticed. Permits issued from the White . Day 3: Today was another up and over day. 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. The trail descended steeply into the forest as it left Evolution Basin. Then back to camp and packed up everything continuing on JMT . Mostly True Stories of My Hiking Trips, a PhotoJournal. Others seemed to have no issues on the regular crossing. Trailhead to Piute Lake Distance from Trailhead: 7.0 miles (round trip) When I walk through this area again, perhaps I will do the same so I can see it from another perspective. At first the canyon was narrow, and the river had created deep channels to flow through. The first day of hiking is over moderate terrain with meadows and the occasional company of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Oh well. The tour described below is one example of a 7-day Ionian Basin tour. Leisurely pace over 6 days / 7 nights, This was an amazing hike! Bonner explored this area in 1895 while scouting a hikers route along the crest of the Sierra (it would eventually become the John Muir Trail). In other words, I was probably dehydrated. Okay, I need my camera again. We slept in our vehicle at the trailhead the night before starting. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. Thats what happens when you go to sleep at sunset! Light rain everyday around 3/4pm. North Lake to Hutchinson Meadow is very straightforward. I took off my shoes and let my damp feet dry out in the breeze. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. The next morning we discovered more good sites at the west end of the lake. What a sight! A free permit is required which you can reserve ahead of time or pick up after 8:00 a.m. at the White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop, California. Our simple food choices were holding very well. I'll be going back next weekend into the Evolution Basin higher up. Now, an 81-year old. 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. Along the way I came across the Muir Rock which I had seen on the topo map. This high col skips the portion in Humphrey's Basin, Piute Meadows and Evolution Valley resulting in total distance of about 35 miles. No smoke from the California wildfires. 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. Id see how I felt when I got to the the trail junction. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. A ranger later informed us that 80-90 deer were migrating seasonally over the pass during a snowstorm in November 2018, when presumably blinded by the snowfall, they one by one hit a patch of ice and fell to their deaths. Depending on your fitness level, you can get to the valley in a day, and choose to go farther to Evolution Lake. Did in 4.5 days south to north. The first 36 miles from Prather to Huntington Lake via Highway 168 are over good mountain road. Jessie Wheeler. By heading upstream on a use-trail for a quarter mile to a meadow, you will find a shallower ford. Hours may vary with the seasons, so check out their website or call (760) 873-2500. Membership. I would head up the trail. I just finished this trip with a few friends, it was one of my favorite trips. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. Muir Pass Wheres there a low altitude pass that brings me out East of the Darwin Glacier? 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. Difficult fordings backpacking Has Changed a lot over the Past 50 Years continuously changing and wilderness hikers need to for... 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