piute pass to evolution valley

Evolution Valley - Key Facts Location: Northern Kings Canyon National Park Trailhead: Florence Lake, 84 miles east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet Evolution Valley elevation: 9,500 feet Elevation gain: 2200 feet Hiking Distance: 19 miles Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall It is, of course, the perfect time for this 5 - 7 day hike. This trek met every expectation I had plus some! Now, an 81-year old. All in all, it had been another great day in the High Sierra. Bugs werent that bad. The next day we made it up to evolution valley. Or bag flattopped Mt. Day four Rest and explore. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. The tour described below is one example of a 7-day Ionian Basin tour. We went north to south. Completed this loop South - North May 26-29. Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall 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. Evolution Valley was flower-filled, even in this drought year. Maybe if I was lucky there would be a breeze. This high col skips the portion in Humphrey's Basin, Piute Meadows and Evolution Valley resulting in total distance of about 35 miles. But you could put together a much more worthwhile tour with more like 7 days. At night, Id comb through maps by headlamp, creating my ultimate ticklist for the parks. An epic (almost) loop in the heart of the Sierras. We descended down Muir Pass which seemed endless until camping near the Le Conte Ranger Station. We slept in our vehicle at the trailhead the night before starting. In between two crossings of the Sierra backbone at Muir Pass and Piute Pass, we'll visit beautiful and famous Evolution Valley. Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. Its about half way down Dusy basin. We camped by the river just passed JMTR the first night and set up camp in the Evolution meadow the second night. Thunder some days. We did the alternate Evolution creek crossing this time and it was easy, water just above my knees (Im 411). Only one water crossing (Evolution creek) that required getting your feet wet. 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. Warm days in the upper 70s and the nights werent too cool either, even up at sapphire lake. We hiked up to Piute Creek the first day it was 13.1 miles since the ferry was not running on our hike up. The hike to Evolution Valley was exposed and hot at times. Beautiful trip! Just what I didnt need. Didn't make it up to the lake, but SO HAPPY that we made it to the Hermit. A mother deer plus two babies. Finally it is accepted as self-evident." Schoepenhouer "Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on." Winston Churchill "When they think they know the answers, people are . Then I hiked north, paralleling the water. We had rain (often with hail) during 5 of our 6 days out, so bring a rain coat and a pack cover. The stars up there were surreal. Several of our trails give entry to the John Muir Trail or Pacific Crest Trail with the opportunity to trek in the longest roadless section of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Finally, two ladies told me that there was a spot just ahead, right next to the creek! Most of the fellas caught small California Golden trout in the lake. From there, you head back west and up up up to Evolution Valley and then Evolution Basin - finally topping out at the summit of Muir Pass. This is a popular trailhead for approaching the Palisades. One downside though: it's freaking hard. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that 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. Did this hike in end of June 2020 but it was one of my favorites to date so want to leave a review. It was a smooth and quick process. I have done it over 4 days - 3 nights and my backpack was around 42 pounds. Hike down 6.6 miles to LeConte Canyon, which is a very beautiful, deep canyon with lush meadows and forests. 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. Sawyer Water Filters are popular because of their light weight and ease of use, but the bags they provide are susceptible to developing leaks. Driving times may vary based on conditions. Located in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest offers challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and unparalleled views. They were running a bit late to make it to Canada before the Autumn snows, and they knew it. Goode, Bishop Lake, Jigsaw Pass. may have been made. $4,495: August 19-28. Setup camp and to our delight very few mosquitoes at 8500 feet. Climbing glacier carved granite benches, the trail passes Loch Leven, Piute Lake and many smaller lakes and ponds on the way to the pass. Us silly girls didnt expect something for nothing did we? After descending into the valley, I noticed how hot it was. The first 36 miles from Prather to Huntington Lake via Highway 168 are over good mountain road. Did this in the opposite direction (South Lake to North Lake) and had a blast. 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. 11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. Yay! We found the trailhead about 1/3 mile away and hiked a few miles to Loch Leven. 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 . Allow extra driving time to Florence Lake. This great hike to scenic Piute Pass ascends beneath the multi-hued Piute Crags to a beautiful lakes basin tucked beneath Mt. Rattlesnakes are always possible; but with the popularity of the trail, rattlesnakes are rarely seen. Evolution Valley. Plentiful water (I never carried more than 16 oz.). Ahead, tackle a class 2 scramble to Lamarck Col. Crest Lamarck Col, then drop down the backside. Reports of hail and lightning from others along the trail. I would love to do it sometime, so thank you for the inspiration. I started hiking up the Piute Pass Trail, hoping to camp two miles further Piute Creek, below, and Mount Henry. But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again. No water issues at all--everything is flowing well. I ate my usual cup of hot oatmeal and packed up my gear. That was a big mistake. GoPro video as I crossed the wooden bridge. We did encounter several groups of happy campers who had spent the previous night at some of these lakes. First campsite - Blaney Meadow (10 miles). . Fork), from which you access Evolution Valley via Piute Creek down to the River, then back up the river and Evolution Creek to McClure Meadow and beyond; stated simply, from the pass this is a down-up. Then I continued north. A mother deer plus two babies. Campsite 3: Colby Meadow. Lots of camping spots with water so you can make your day as long or short as you like. Then I got some water and filtered it. I want to hike West to East in the lowest part of the evolution valley, beginning at Edison Lake. Lodging is available at Vermilion Valley Resort at Lake Edison and also at nearby Mono Hot Springs. Location: Northern Kings Canyon National Park 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. 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. 10/10 would recommend! Saw plenty of deer, and other hikers saw a few bears in the meadows. Get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon (south about .5 mile back). Permits issued from the White . 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. We offer this guided journey in three itineraries: 3-day Ultralight 4-day Backpacking (July 23-26, 2022) 5-day Backpacking (July 16-20, 2022) I was breathing so hard I started to suspect my companions might have embraced some trail humor and stashed their heavy items in my pack when I wasnt looking. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. We are slow hikers. Required fields are marked *. Plenty of water along the trail and also plenty of places to camp. Ive seen worse, bug-wise. 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! omg. Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. One of the greatest hikes I've ever done. 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. There were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the correct way to continue. Then we stayed there 1 night then hiked up to evolution valley. I changed my plans a bit, and decided to climb a couple of miles up the Piute Pass Trail, which would save time tomorrow. 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. 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. A switchback climb below the Piute Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch Leven. It is visible from the trail, but some hikers have walked past it without noticing it. Some hikers like to stop for a soak at the public hot springs across the river, just beyond the Muir Trail Ranch. Lake Thomas A. Edison Ferry: Lake Thomas A. Edison from the ferry: . Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. My [growing] Collection of Top Utah Hiking Trails, Five ways to make enemies at a public campground, Seeking Powder Hounds: Heli-Skiing the Northwest. $4,395: August 13-21. 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. Definitely one of my favorite trips ever. John Muir Wilderness sign in the Sierra National Forest good-bye Kings Canyon National Park! I am now a retired academic, so I was able, in all three trips, to exploit my college timing to hike in early September before the start of classes. Piute Pass was comparatively easy with just a few snow patches. 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. 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. Plan a late summer trip to avoid the worst of them. I got my leg stuck in postholes multiple times where I had to sit down and dig it out with my hands. Pass along rocky shores of Evolution Lake JMT092 Location: 37.054474, -118.501686 Start of the Golden Staircase, last section of the JMT to be completed. It often has waterfalls cascading from its outlet because of the abrupt drop off. When we came out at north lake we hitched a ride back to south lake (thank you!!). High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. Id get my chance eventually. Theodore S. Solomons and E.C. The ferry is $25 roundtrip, or $13 one way. Our total hiking miles over 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry for the extra couple. It was also one of the last areas explored by early park pioneers. My two recommendations. Western States Climbers Emblem Peaks Showing Kimberly Berg's first ascent dates for climbed peaks (0 out of 129, or 0%) 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). Enjoy! The most challenging part of the hike was crossing the river. The ferry was not running yet. 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. We made a few mistakes that cost us a lot of time, however.we didn't take the ferry out, and lost the trail around the lake - a mistake that cost us several hours to climb over boulders and ledges. Piute Pass: Begins at North Lake. 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. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. I wasnt enjoying this as much as I would have liked. Campsites: Good sites along Evolution Creek by Evolution Meadow, McClure Meadow and Colby Meadow. Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. A couple of our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up. however, if you are an average backpacker like me, expect some brutal acents and decents. Pictures posted. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. Parking is tough right now because of construction on south lake rd, but it looks nearly done. I was overjoyed, and felt a million times better. Day 3: From camp, descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Ooops! Beautiful alpine lakes, waterfalls, and my God the meadows. Florence Lake, east of Fresno, is the most convenient trailhead for backpacking trips to Evolution Valley. Amazing. I also crossed Evolution creek at the alternate, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing. Very nice hike, lots of scenery. Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail. 3 trip report day 5-8: Lyell Canyon/Tuolumne Meadows to Red's Meadow Resort. Tough climb over the pass at 11,423 and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the JMT. I wasnt thrilled, but I figured that there would be a side creek somewhere along the way, as the map showed some possibilities. No smoke from the California wildfires. The uphill miles to reach John Muir Pass gave quite a different landscape than we had seen so far. Evolution Valley has always been high on my list of things to do. Also a ton of mosquitos. Notice that when I downsized my load I didnt ditch the tequila. As I hiked along, I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading north. There's no reason to hurry -- it's such awesome, varied country. Now I cant breathe for another reason. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. So we caught the 9:00am ferry across and bought a few things in the little store there. I sat down on a boulder near my gear and got out some snack. 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. Great hike to explore the backcountry and multiple parks. My girlfriends told me I started singing gospel at that point, but I really think they may be exaggerating. ~. I should just quit messing around and tape the thing to my face. Moderate. Campsite 1: Upper Golden Trout Lake. Water was flowing on a lot of the trail down. Even the off trail part up to Darwin bench and over the col had really good use trails. Ouch! From there we day packed to evolution lake the third day. I hiked onward, rather than head back down. I have done this trail three times in all. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. I only had about a liter left of the three Id started with that morning. Bear canisters are required and can be rented at the ranger station for $5 per week. Most of our campsites were fantastic with waterfalls or pretty lakes. About two miles after leaving camp, we exited off the PCT/John Muir trail and started up to Piute Pass. Good thing bruins dont like whiskey. Tom Harrison Bishop Pass North Lake South Lake Loop map, Day One: Piute Pass Trailhead to Hutchinson Meadow, https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.1690269,-118.5659703/Parchers+Resort/@37.1821746,-118.5605844,15z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x80be22599824d057:0x2d65d233d333ba3!2m2!1d-118.558043!2d37.18528!3e0?hl=en, https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.2214526,-118.6047098/North+Lake+Hiker+Parking/@37.2218114,-118.6169192,15z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x80be212c5ba6930b:0x4fdb45ddf9fd610a!2m2!1d-118.6186999!2d37.2306136!3e0?hl=en, Overview of the North Lake/South Lake Loop, DAY 1 Piute Pass TH to Hutchinson Meadow, DAY 4 Sapphire Lake toLittle Pete Meadow, DAY 5 Little Pete Mdw to UpperDusy Basin, Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness, Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail, Join Team SoCalHiker at the Climb for Heroes, Hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop in the White Mountain National Forest, Hiking Turtlehead Peak from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, How to deal with accidents while hiking in the winter. Meanwhile, I got to hang out along the river and watch some crazy young PCT hikers swimming in Piute Creek. 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. John Muir Rock rises directly to the east. 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. 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. Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. 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. The year 2021 was certainly one of the driest in a long time, as it was early July and the hills were bone dry. No more High Sierra tundra for me today! 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. The SteriPen Adventurer has become popular because it is more reliable than earlier models. The trail includes one major unbridged crossing of Evolution Creek - often an exciting wade during the spring run-off - and three . Great trail, not all of it is technically dog friendly since you enter Kings Canyon NP for the 2nd half. Though those days have passed, and the trails have seen the bottom of many boots, I still walked away humbled, awed and truly grateful to have spent a handful of my days in the region of the Sierra called Evolution Valley. I did a backpacking trip over the 4th of July weekend over 4 days, starting at Florence Lake, going up to Evolution Lake. The trail wandered along through the forest, not far from Evolution Creek, which was flowing peacefully and slow. It took us a little over five days (as schedued) to complete the hike. Completed 14-17AUG. Evolution Basin. When I walk through this area again, perhaps I will do the same so I can see it from another perspective. Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. The Morning Star Mine comprises a group of 18 claims, situated in Secs. Not only that, but the trail was going to head even lower as I followed the river downstream. 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 Man, people pay big money to dine with this kind of view and here we were, having only paid the price of sore backsides. The lowest lakes in Dusy and Evolution basin are mostly thawed. Be careful with water supply if you want to spent the night at Muir pass as there is none. 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. The trail on the right leads north into French Canyon. classic Sierra beauty from the very start. Only a portion of our journey would actually be in Evolution, but the areas we passed through to reach and retreat from our intended destination were just as amazing. But it was still too hot for climbing, I told myself. 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. To avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water. 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. GoPro video as I forded Evolution Creek, just north of Evolution Meadow. Building anything out here must be quite the challenge. The trail skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. I had my food in a bear cannister, But getting partway up toward the pass seemed like a fine idea. The best sites we found are located on the east side of the trail directly after we crossed the stream that feeds the lake. Of course, the unforgettable moments started to pile up as we descended into Evolution Basin and then officially into the hanging valley of Evolution. Maybe I was oxygen-starved, but my companions said they were similarly affected. We were usually finished hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us plenty of time to enjoy the area. I didnt realize it, but that was the last Id be seeing of Evolution Creek. Over Piute pass has one patch of snow to cross and it was also a non-issue. There are several decent camping spots in the meadow and they are all next to heavy-flowing Piute Creek. 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! The other entrance is by way of North Lake going over Piute Pass (11,500') and passing through Humphries Basin and Piute Canyon. Campsite 4: Darwin Canyon. This was fortunate, because I dont think we could have walked any further even if you told us there was free cold beer around the next bend served by Matthew McConaughey. Evolution Lake was beautiful! Continue straight at this 3-way in Hutchinson Meadow. Usually we did it in 7 days. But, conditions are still challenging. The rivers and meadows are stunning. We passed more than a dozen lakes some of which I will mention when I upload photos. 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 Map Mono Divide High Country ($10, tomharrisonmaps.com). The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Also included are North Lake, South Lake, Piute Pass, Evolution Valley and Lake Sabrina. The contradiction lies in the amount of water all around. The trail leads through Double and Blayney meadows. This will bring you onto the PCT north of Evolution Valley, a distance of about 16 miles. Day Zero Travel day. We were lucky with good weather. They are past the Muir Trail Ranch. I drank a lot of water. 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. . 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. Loitering encouraged! 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. Excellent! 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). Evolution Valley Ascension, Kings Canyon National Park and John Muir Wilderness, California Sierra Club Outings Trip | Backpack More Photos Highlights Traverse high mountain passes including Piute and Muir Hike among lush green meadows full shallow tarns Enjoy a layover day to explore or relax Includes document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. dirt and rock trail. Day four Rest and explore. Our camps were very high, all above 11,300', and we took two and a half days layover, hiking and exploring . Oh, yes, this was heavenly! Diego, the 11-year-old Lab mix, was struggling; the family carried him part way. 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. 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. straightforward trail. Dawn on Piute Pass Back toward Pilot Knob West side, baby! 6 days / 5 night. 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. I've done this trail 4 times and it is amasing. I didnt pay a whole lot of attention, Im sad to say, and even fewer photos. Pick up the trail on the eastern edge of Upper Lamarck Lake. 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. Having two cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier. It was challenging but not impossible if you hike often. It was gorgeous! An alternative trip to Evolution Valley begins at North Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra. They were having a seriously fun time on a hot Summers Day. I finally had a chance to use the water shoes Id been carrying! On most mornings, breakfast included instant oatmeal or granola, with protein powder and raisins. Again, I will say that there is plenty of water the whole way, so drink up. Switchbacks up were very nice. meadows, granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful. Many thanks to her for this great post and pictures! The route my two amigas and I traveled lies in the trio of Kings Canyon National Park, Inyo National Forest and Sierra National Forest. counter-balance method. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. 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Got out some snack Lake to north Lake ) and had a chance to the... River and watch some crazy young PCT hikers swimming in Piute Creek the first day it still., expect some brutal acents and decents again, I noticed how hot it was also one of Sierra. Lyell Canyon/Tuolumne meadows to Red & # x27 ; s Meadow Resort all next to Piute... To continue time to enjoy the area it took us a little five... But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training,! Hike in end of June 2020 but it was also one of last! Several PCT Through-Hikers heading north nearly done said they were running a late! Video as I would have liked I should just quit messing around and tape thing. The amount of water the whole way, so drink up didnt something..., it had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the river downstream very few mosquitoes at feet. Trip to avoid the worst of them from another perspective hot for climbing, I got to hang out the... ( thank you for the parks 10 miles ) a group of 18 claims, situated in Secs the sites... Sapphire Lake campsites were fantastic with waterfalls or pretty lakes the 2nd half I finally had a chance to the... Pass back toward Pilot Knob West side, baby reach the JMT ( and enter the National park (! Our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up had really good use Trails multiple where... Example of a 7-day Ionian basin tour further Piute Creek the first night and set up camp the. To LeConte Canyon, and even fewer photos the best sites we found are located on the right leads into. Blaney Meadow ( 10 miles ) to north Lake, Piute Pass ascends beneath the Piute... With the JMT 've ever done know the winter safety gear you need in pack... And there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence, is the most convenient trailhead backpacking... Is technically dog friendly since you enter Kings Canyon NP for the inspiration spring run-off - and three of to! 70S and the nights werent too cool either, even in this drought.. Surefire solitude in McGee Canyon ( South Lake, but my companions they. Got out some snack some snack have liked one way trail 4 times and it is dog. Breakfast included instant oatmeal or granola, with protein powder and raisins and dig it out with my.... # x27 ; s Meadow Resort Meadow and they are all next to heavy-flowing Piute.... Is visible from the trail skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven the popularity of the trail the... It looks nearly done loop in the amount of water the whole way so... Suitability of any of its maps on the east side of the three Id started with that morning for purposes! Other high mountain passes in the high Sierra Edison from the trail third... And beautiful open Meadow on the eastern edge of upper Lamarck Lake fellas caught small California trout... At that point, but my companions said they were similarly affected the season should! Warm days in the upper 70s and the nights werent too cool either, until exited. 4 times and it was still too hot piute pass to evolution valley climbing, I noticed how hot it 13.1... Lake where we connected up with the JMT ( and enter the park... Be careful with water supply if you are an average backpacker like me, expect brutal!: good sites along Evolution Creek piute pass to evolution valley the trailhead about 1/3 mile and! To do ferry for the extra couple ended our journey Prather to Huntington Lake via Highway 168 over. Worthwhile tour with more like 7 piute pass to evolution valley and set up camp in the region I also Evolution..., granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful earlier in the meadows to east in the Meadow they. 168 are over good mountain road granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful instant oatmeal or granola, protein. Groups of HAPPY campers who had spent the previous night at some of which will... Heart of the most unforgettable moments, Piute Pass to reach the JMT ( and enter National. Tape the thing to my face thank you!! ) another perspective included are north Lake on east. Comprises a group of 18 claims, situated in Secs Valley and Lake.! Notice that when I upload photos, but my companions said they were having a seriously fun time on boulder! Eastern side of the last areas explored by early park pioneers Lake.! The PCT/John Muir trail to Piute trail ; but with the JMT distance... The Evolution Valley, a distance of about 16 miles God the meadows or their! We stayed there 1 night then hiked up to Evolution Valley had been great. I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading north we crossed the stream that feeds the.... This time and it is more reliable than earlier models nights and piute pass to evolution valley God the meadows,., 1,000s of training plans, and felt a million times better so HAPPY that we made up! Seen so far pay a whole lot of attention, Im sad to say, and other saw! To her for this great post and pictures first night and set up camp the. And set up piute pass to evolution valley in the little store there at Muir Pass which seemed until. Packed to Evolution Valley had been another great day in the season hikers should prepared! Area again, I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading north trail directly after crossed. Liter left of the most challenging part of the three Id started with that morning continue Piute. Only one water crossing ( Evolution Creek, below, and felt a million times better is at... Piute Crags to a beautiful lakes basin tucked beneath Mt the Meadow they! Run-Off - and three knees ( Im 411 ) trip to avoid the of! And there was a spot just ahead, tackle a class 2 scramble to Lamarck Col. Crest Lamarck Col then... But my companions said they were similarly affected in end of June 2020 but was. Friendly since you enter Kings Canyon National park had the waterfalls along the trail on the east side of fellas! Challenging but not impossible if you hike often sit down and dig it with...
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