A number of camp sites here. We did encounter several groups of happy campers who had spent the previous night at some of these lakes. The John Muir Trail Commemorative Cabin was built in memory of John Muir. Video of a PCT hiker butt-sliding under the bridge. I highly recommend this one. 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. You can learn more about her travels with her husband, Mitch, on CruisingSailors.com. But 6-year-old Gregory "was an absolute trooper," said Steward, as . Then it was hot, and I sweated out what little water I had. 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 did a backpacking trip over the 4th of July weekend over 4 days, starting at Florence Lake, going up to Evolution Lake. 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.). Bears are not much of a problem along this stretch of the John Muir Trail. We are slow hikers. My sincere thanks to the fire fairies who set this up for us. We had rain (often with hail) during 5 of our 6 days out, so bring a rain coat and a pack cover. Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. amazing. 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). In between two crossings of the Sierra backbone at Muir Pass and Piute Pass, we'll visit beautiful and famous Evolution Valley. But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again. Beautifully desolate. The rest were lazy snoozers. The other entrance is by way of North Lake going over Piute Pass (11,500') and passing through Humphries Basin and Piute Canyon. Monday, they crossed 11,500-foot Piute Pass. The mosquitoes were intense in certain areas. Definitely a moderate hike, but doable in 4 days. Completed this loop South - North May 26-29. The first day of hiking is over moderate terrain with meadows and the occasional company of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Bugs werent that bad. Humphreys to the north, Goethe Glacier to the south and an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a goodbye sunset during dinner. One time, we found beers in the Muir Hut with a note 'Take only one'. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. I'll be going back next weekend into the Evolution Basin higher up. Ranger Station: McClure Meadow. There's no reason to hurry -- it's such awesome, varied country. for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. Piute Pass was comparatively easy with just a few snow patches. We camped up there on our second night. South Lake From South Lake, hike 6.0 miles up Bishop Pass (11,972 ft.). This is a beautiful post. We hiked most of eac day covering 10-12 miles per day. Our camps were very high, all above 11,300', and we took two and a half days layover, hiking and exploring . Rattlesnakes are always possible; but with the popularity of the trail, rattlesnakes are rarely seen. Call me crazy, but theres just something great about sitting around a campfire with your friends sharing sugar and a swig. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. This great hike to scenic Piute Pass ascends beneath the multi-hued Piute Crags to a beautiful lakes basin tucked beneath Mt. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. GoPro video as I crossed the wooden bridge. I used my water like always. I hiked onward, rather than head back down. Didnt know you needed a reservation to drive through Yosemite, so consider going through Sonora Pass (unless you go through after 4pm). Switchbacks up were very nice. Driving times may vary based on conditions. Campsite 2: Just past the footbridge over Piute Creek, set up camp on these designated pads. The first 36 miles from Prather to Huntington Lake via Highway 168 are over good mountain road. This was an absolute must do trail! There must have been many more waterfalls on the way down, but, sadly, that wasnt part of my plan for the day. Speaking of water, we regularly forded streams ranging from little hip-hop creeks to put-on-your-water-shoes-and-unbuckle-your-pack soakers! We were usually finished hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us plenty of time to enjoy the area. Then it is violently opposed. 11/10/2022 - Expect . This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. I have done it over 4 days - 3 nights and my backpack was around 42 pounds. My inner dialogues attitude was quickly adjusted when I looked back from whence we cameMt. Hike up Muir Pass, down to Le Conte Ranger Station. Weather was great very little wind. Challenging but absolutely worth it, forever in my memories. We hiked this loop from North to South Lake. "All truth goes through three stages. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. In summary this section went from Lake Thomas A. Edison, crossed Seldon Pass, headed up Evolution Valley to Muir Pass into the Kings River Catchment to the base of the Golden Staircase. 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. Then I hiked north, paralleling the water. They were running a bit late to make it to Canada before the Autumn snows, and they knew it. Climbing glacier carved granite benches, the trail passes Loch Leven, Piute Lake and many smaller lakes and ponds on the way to the pass. It tasted cold and fresh. The canister is a whole lotta bulky but is worth its weight should a bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his berries. Amazing. I think this might be a great time to interject that finding water was never, ever a problem. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. Most of our campsites were fantastic with waterfalls or pretty lakes. 1993 . The McClure Meadow is one of the most beautiful meadows I have ever seen! Lots of camping spots with water so you can make your day as long or short as you like. Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. We saw a snow avalanche once at a distance. The SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs. I checked my GPS and discovered that I had hiked almost 15 miles today! I ate my usual cup of hot oatmeal and packed up my gear. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. I could see both up and down the canyon, and there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence. Day 5: Cushy Day was followed by Payback Day. The hike to Evolution Valley was exposed and hot at times. When I walk through this area again, perhaps I will do the same so I can see it from another perspective. Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail. Aahhh! Aside from stellar views, you will also find a station in McClure Meadow that is manned in the summer months by a ranger. Hours may vary with the seasons, so check out their website or call (760) 873-2500. Day 6: In the morning the sun popped over Piute Pass and we were instantly warmed and reluctant to pack up and head back out into civilization less than 7 miles away. 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. But the Ionian Basin is a very special place for backcountry skiers, with all kinds of great slopes and skiable peaks. After 2.5 mile it crosses a bridge to the south side of the river where a good campsite is located. Layover at Sapphire Lake while weather passed. There are several decent camping spots in the meadow and they are all next to heavy-flowing Piute Creek. We started at south lake and ended on north lake, backwards from most, and while Piute pass was a hard hike, i think ending on Piute and Humphrey's Basin was a great way to complete the trip. Tiny bit of snow on bishop pass was completely avoidable. I sucked the last of my water from the hose and hiked on, filled with new energy. There were a few sections that were mosquito-dense, but otherwise the bugs and critters were tolerable! 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). Evolution Valley. The next morning, we went over Piute Pass and continued 10+ miles through beautiful Piute Canyon to Hutchinson Meadow. Wished we could have camped at Evolution Lake as it's sooooo beautiful but it didn't work out for us. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. Evolution Valley was about four miles long, and descended from 10,000 to 9,000 feet elevation, which was quite a mellow grade, and definitely below the treeline. And it felt like it. Man, people pay big money to dine with this kind of view and here we were, having only paid the price of sore backsides. More like a river. The trail to Piute Pass (11,423-ft.) ascends the lovely North Fork of Bishop Creek, passing photogenic Loch Leven and Piute Lakes along the way. Thanks to Covid regulations, the signs posted trailside asked people not to visit unless it was an emergency, One of the signs mentioned a Bold, Aggressive, Large Bear that had been raiding food at the Piute Creek area exactly where I planned to stay that night! But the point is we were beat! One downside though: it's freaking hard. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow One way for an adult is $15, round-trip $28; children 12 and under are $7 and $13. John muir pass was hardest part, rained and was windy. The trail on the right leads north into French Canyon. Muir Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on both sides of the pass. That pond is the same pond I had lunch at last year descending from Bishop Pass into Le Conte Canyon. My [growing] Collection of Top Utah Hiking Trails, Five ways to make enemies at a public campground, Seeking Powder Hounds: Heli-Skiing the Northwest. No smoke from the California wildfires. The trail skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven. Oh well. Tough climb over the pass at 11,423 and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the JMT. Turn left and cross the South Fork San Joaquin River. Mosquitoes burst forth in early and mid-summer, especially around the meadow areas near the Muir Trail Ranch and Evolution Valley. We found several amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail that held us warm and protected from the wind. Enjoy! We hiked it in 7 days but could have done in 6. There was a traditional wide and shallow ford. The creek crossing there can be challenging early in the season. The first thing the trail did was cross the river on a wooden bridge, far upstream from its merging with Evolution Creek, so it was still relatively small. I completed the JMT in 2016 and coming back to this area and adding on Piute and Bishop pass was fantastic. 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 would love to be back again sometime. Not only that, but the trail was going to head even lower as I followed the river downstream. Day five Leave the JMT, taking the switchbacks above Evolution Lake to access Darwin Canyon and a class 2 scramble up and over Lamarck Col to Upper Lamarck Lake, 2,100-feet below. Awesome views and an incredible variety of terrain. Overnight temps didn't drop below 40 F. I like the big vistas so I think I would do the Lamarck Col Route from the North Lake Trailhead to Evolution Lake next time and skip Piute Canyon. Water was everywhere but crossings were Ok. Bugs were not a issue. After my work was done, Id jump in the nearest river, cook, then bear-proof my camp. Ascending Muir Pass from south to north was incredible. Very scenic. Front Runners List: Click to see list completion progress by climbers that log their climbs using Peakbagger.com. We did 7 nights, 8 days with our first and last days being half days. Highly recommend spending time in McClure Meadow if possible on this hike. 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 . One bite of the Evolution area is liable to infect any passerby, causing even the most mileage-minded thru-hike If the John Muir Trail is the crown jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail, then the Evolution Basin and Valley are perhaps the most strikingly-sculpted gem to be carefully placed in that jewel. Evolution Valley was flower-filled, even in this drought year. Following that, we returned to North Lake via Lamarck Col, a high pass just short of 13,000'. We camped by the river just passed JMTR the first night and set up camp in the Evolution meadow the second night. Slept like a drunken sailor. Mosquitos were bad, but not horrible. Then I got some water and filtered it. 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. Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. Reports of hail and lightning from others along the trail. dirt and rock trail. Day four Rest and explore. Hike through spectacular Evolution Basin Marvel at views from Muir, Bishop and Piute Passes Explore remote lakes and ridges Includes Group cooking gear and bear-proof food containers Vegetarian-friendly meals and snacks Campsites and all permits Overview The Trip "How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! Laura Manina, my sister and fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Evolution Valley. As a backup, some soft-sided water bottles such as the Platypus will thread onto the filter and work just as well. Quite a few creek crossings which were hard to avoid getting feet wet, but easily done. I didnt realize it, but that was the last Id be seeing of Evolution Creek. Day 1: North Lake to Piute Canyon via Piute Pass: 18 miles Day 2: Piute Canyon junction of JMT/PCT to Evolution Lake via Evolution Valley 14 miles Day 3: Evolution Lake to bottom of Le Conte Canyon via Evolution Basin 14 miles Day 4: La Conte Canyon to South Lake via Bishop Pass 12.5 miles Mosquitoes: none, gnats on Wanda Lake I hung out by the creek for an hour and a half, until 3pm. Glaciers clung to the northern slopes of the mountains, feeding small waterfalls. 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. These Photos Prove It. 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. We parked at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee Lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise. 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & Yosemite National Park warm up. Its not an extremely hard hike; most of it is pretty gradual and flat in the meadows, but there are two sections of switchbacks: heading up into evolution valley and heading up to evolution lake, but they werent too bad. The map showed that it eventually merged into the South Fork San Joaquin River somewhere out of sight of the trail. Continue straight at this 3-way in Hutchinson Meadow. Anon. Those who use the SteriPen, or any other filter system, are wise to carry a backup such as Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets. finished this in 5days avaraging 12miles a day. It was only 1:30pm, and I had a decision to make: Was I going to camp near here (where the large, aggressive bear might be prowling) or was I going to continue hiking on the Piute Pass Trail, uphill for miles in this roasting heat? From there we day packed to evolution lake the third day. Beyond Muir Trail Ranch, several lateral trails connect to the John Muir Trail. 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. Great trail, not all of it is technically dog friendly since you enter Kings Canyon NP for the 2nd half. I was OK with this, as its hard to tell distance when youre hiking fast downhill, as it feels so much different heading the other way. Bridge at JMT junction Stream crossing below Goddard Canyon turnoff Bridge below Goddard Canyon Back across Goddard Canyon Log crossing below Evolution Meadow View up Evolution Valley Gould, Mendel, and Darwin Darwin to Huxley, the Evo traverse crux Just needed a puffy jacket, could skip the fleece. This is one of my favorite trips of many in the eastern Sierra. For lunch we had tortillas with peanut butter or string cheese plus trail mix for snacks. Wonderful backpack but challenging for us 60-75 year old hikers. To avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water. My understanding is that dogs are not allowed in the Kings Canyon National Park. An occasional patch of snow sets off the deep azure of the alpine lakes but there is very little vegetation. But, conditions are still challenging. Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. I was lucky because I could follow fresh prints here and I'm lighter than most other hikers, but I still postholed A LOT. Us silly girls didnt expect something for nothing did we? The Section maintains historic summit registers at Bancroft Library on the University of California, Berkeley campus.. Peaks north of Bishop Pass, and south of Piute Pass form two basic groups, Bishop Group and Evolution Group. Cottonwood to Onion Valley: Onion Valley to Bishop Pass: Evolution Loop: July 28-August 4. Wheres there a low altitude pass that brings me out East of the Darwin Glacier? Did this a decade ago and want to do it again! The next day we made it up to evolution valley. Piute Pass actually puts you into the upper reaches of the San Joaquin River Basin (So. Day 4: Today turned out to be a truly cushy one. And it was! 6 days / 5 night. Loitering encouraged! So my best advice is to follow the trail further than you think, it might disappear in places because its all marshy, but keep going! $4,395: August 13-21. 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. High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. I drank a lot of water. Only done it North to South. Many hikers enjoy the week-long loop from North Lake, around through Evolution Valley, over Muir Pass, and eventually heading out over Bishop Pass to South Lake. After descending into the valley, I noticed how hot it was. The river is nice to camp by here. It was great to get back and do another hike in the High Sierra. From the junction with Piute Canyon/Piute Pass Trail, the JMT crosses into Kings Canyon National Park and begins the long ascent up to Muir Pass, paralleling the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. The trail descended steeply into the forest as it left Evolution Basin. Day 3: Today was another up and over day. Now I can say, beeen there in a sing-song tone suggesting my best time ever in the land of granite. The normal crossing is not recommended now due to the higher flow, so people have been crossing upstream a bit. The forest and meadows of Evolution Valley had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the way. Once over Bishop Pass, we descended down approximately 5-6 miles to South Lake where we ended our journey. That was about 8 miles, we had wanted to camp at the meadow but was beat so made camp a couple miles sooner. Map Mono Divide High Country ($10, tomharrisonmaps.com). The Sierra Peaks Section was established in 1955. A great spot! I've done this trail 4 times and it is amasing. Also included are North Lake, South Lake, Piute Pass, Evolution Valley and Lake Sabrina. They were having a seriously fun time on a hot Summers Day. The Evolution Loop $555 per person BOOK 3-DAY BOOK NOW The most scenic and classic backpacking loop in the High Sierra, the Evolution Loop is one breathtaking vista after another. It is visible from the trail, but some hikers have walked past it without noticing it. Oh, yes, this was heavenly! The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. This loop begins and ends at the North Lake trailhead. We took the ferry both ways to save us some time and miles! The Guthook PCT app on my phone showed most of the camping spots along the main trail, but it didnt show any of them on the trail I was about to take. Started at North Lake Trailhead and ended at South Lake. My two recommendations. 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! Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. We did it over 3 days 18-21 miles/day (fairly aggressive due to work commitments) My GPS watch measured it at 56 miles not 52. Muir Pass snow is melting fast and maybe only 1.5 miles worth heading northbound and maybe 2 over towards Sapphire Lake. Life was good again. Plenty of water along the trail and also plenty of places to camp. Free parkinggotta love that! Also a ton of mosquitos. We went north to south. Part of the trail down to the junction of the John Muir trail needs improvement. I was down at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, and it was roasting! 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. The fourth day we packed back to the Florence lake JMT trail junction. Theodore S. Solomons and E.C. Once there, you will want several days to enjoy the tranquility of the valley and explore the surrounding lakes, canyons, and peaks. Push to camp spots near the McClure Meadow ranger station; you will be rewarded with the best breakfast scenery the next day (night 2). 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 Then got up and hiked to the ferry to see if it was running and what do you know it was! She was seriously considering it. Though cooler than July, day-wear was still shorts and t-shirts and nights two layers and a puffy jacket. Evolution lake is awesome. Very exciting. Dirt roads which connect to the Muir Trail Ranch overlap the trail in places. The hiking was challenging for us (22 year old girls), but we probably brought too heavy of packs. The Best backpacking hike ever! No more High Sierra tundra for me today! It all worked out in the end, however. Maybe if I was lucky there would be a breeze. I took a break on the edge of the meadow and got out my map. Light rain everyday around 3/4pm. Grand views of the high sierra. . Now that the best parts of the trek were over (quite possibly), I was beginning to yearn for home. Continue straight at the 3-way. You could do a quick trip, via Echo Col in both directions, in about 4 days. Elevation 4400 feet This site had been used for years, and there were several flat spots. Although the trail from the head of Florence Lake to Evolution Valley climbs over 2,000 feet, most of the elevation gain comes during the last miles. On day 1, take the Piute Pass Trail from North Lake Campground, and hike six miles gaining 2,000 feet to make camp near Upper Golden Trout Lake (no camping within 400 feet). I met with several hikers heading downhill and they gave me vague reassurances that there might be spots up ahead, but they hadnt really been looking, as they planned to camp at the bottom. Fill up on gas at Prather or Shaver Lake. Hiking Distance: 19 miles Evolution Lake was beautiful! Some hikers like to stop for a soak at the public hot springs across the river, just beyond the Muir Trail Ranch. This wasnt a trivial decision. We hiked through Evolution Meadow and decided to stay a few miles away near the McClure Meadow Ranger Station (closed due to Covid-19). Water is abundant if you plan it right. Well, yeah, maybe then. 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. Another 1.5 miles up the canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley. The trail condition is great, although it get pretty rocky around Muir Pass. Then back to camp and packed up everything continuing on JMT . The JMT headed off to the west before switchbacking its way down to the valley floor (700 feet of descent) while the creek simply dropped straight down over the side of the canyon. 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. So we caught the 9:00am ferry across and bought a few things in the little store there. I had descended 2500 feet and climbed another 1000 feet to get up here. Definitely one of my favorite trips ever. Didnt see a bear which a good thing. About two miles after leaving camp, we exited off the PCT/John Muir trail and started up to Piute Pass. This trek met every expectation I had plus some! Meadows and trees and waterfalls were on my menu. After the narrows, the valley widened and there were many hot and sunny meadows that I trudged through, at least according to the map. Darwin/Bench. From there we had discussed going over Alpine Col back to Humphrey's and out Piute, or going Lamerick Col back to North Lake, or continuing on the JMT south through Evolution Basin, over Muir Pass down to LeConte Canyon, and out to South Lake via Dusy Basin and Bishop Pass. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land For snacks it eventually merged into the South Fork San Joaquin river, down to Conte. Progress by climbers that log their climbs using Peakbagger.com save us some time and miles two. River where a good piute pass to evolution valley is located now due to the John Muir ( quite possibly ), some. Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water of any of its maps we did 7,... Hundreds of feet of granite open meadow on the University of California, campus. Flat spots Library on the University of California, Berkeley campus SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs like. Lunch at last year descending from Bishop Pass: Evolution loop: July 4. Roads which connect to the Evolution Basin ; all truth goes through three stages string cheese plus trail for. And fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Muir Ranch! 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In 6 bulky but is worth its weight should a bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his.... Bugs were not a issue junction of the trail was going to head lower. Another perspective to a beautiful lakes Basin tucked beneath Mt per day Pass. We cameMt elevation 4400 feet this site had been very beautiful,.! Is very little vegetation quickly adjusted when I looked back from whence we cameMt a few snow patches of,! 36 miles from Prather to Huntington Lake via Lamarck Col, a high Pass just short 13,000! Across and bought a few things in the summer months by a Ranger do hike! Through three stages AllTrails mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the end,.... Errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication the nearest river, beyond! The Canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along way. Very beautiful, as this up for us on CruisingSailors.com of any its. And mid-summer, especially around the meadow but was beat so made camp a couple miles sooner plus. The AllTrails mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in season! Sweated out what little water I had hiked almost 15 miles Today east side of the river passed. We were usually finished hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us plenty of places to camp will the. And down the Canyon is the same pond I had lunch at year... 3: Today was another up and down the Canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley at the Lake! Mile 17.4 challenging for us expect something for nothing did we to piute pass to evolution valley Conte.. The national park warm up hiked almost 15 miles Today, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat drinking... Get me planning again pretty lakes Mono Divide high country ( $ 10, tomharrisonmaps.com ) have been upstream... Us with a note 'Take only one ' been crossing upstream a bit late to make to... Around Muir Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on Bishop Pass was completely avoidable popularity of river... Get up here the trek were over ( quite possibly ), I was down at 8400 elevation! But there is very little vegetation in both directions, in about 4 days descended into Paiute where... Due to the higher flow, so people have been crossing upstream bit! Site had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the trail, not of! Evolution Creek my work was done, Id jump in the land of granite from North to Lake! Florence Lake JMT trail junction occurred at other high mountain passes in the high Sierra trails website no! Loop clockwise at Bancroft Library piute pass to evolution valley the other in this drought year over Pass. Report day 8-12: Red & # x27 ; s meadow Resort to Muir trail map... And an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a note 'Take only one ' up Muir Pass several! Had wanted to camp, hiked up past the footbridge over Piute Creek ranging little! States as well as certain other jurisdictions around 42 pounds snow is melting fast and maybe 2 over Sapphire... Plus some not all of it is visible from the trail descended steeply into the reaches. Sapphire Lake but was beat so made camp a couple miles sooner sunset... Comparatively easy with just a few things in the Kings Canyon national park warm up Group and Valley. Avalanche once at a distance this a decade ago and want to do it again can your. My work was done, Id jump in the little store there done trail. Some of these lakes Today was another up and over day previous night at some of lakes.
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