piute pass to evolution valley

Reports of hail and lightning from others along the trail. Muir Pass We slept near the shores of Evolution Lake. The best sites we found are located on the east side of the trail directly after we crossed the stream that feeds the lake. So prepare rain And wind covering if comfort is a must. Having two cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier. Man, people pay big money to dine with this kind of view and here we were, having only paid the price of sore backsides. John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley, and Goddard Canyon access point. The Section maintains historic summit registers at Bancroft Library on the University of California, Berkeley campus.. Didn't make it up to the lake, but SO HAPPY that we made it to the Hermit. North to South Lake is the easiest way to go with passes not too difficult. Very nice hike, lots of scenery. The year 2021 was certainly one of the driest in a long time, as it was early July and the hills were bone dry. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Along the way I came across the Muir Rock which I had seen on the topo map. Plenty of water along the trail and also plenty of places to camp. It was gorgeous. I would love to do it sometime, so thank you for the inspiration. I was down at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, and it was roasting! finished this in 5days avaraging 12miles a day. Tracked 40 miles total and we caught the ferry on the way in and out. What a sight! Piute Pass was comparatively easy with just a few snow patches. We would love to be back again sometime. This is about the halfway spot. The benefits of hiking, more than you can imagine! I had descended 2500 feet and climbed another 1000 feet to get up here. I drank a lot of water. I highly recommend this one. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible Evolution Lake has lots of excellent campsites. 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. We went north to south. Those first four and last four miles are always the hottest. First it is ridiculed. Warm days in the upper 70s and the nights werent too cool either, even up at sapphire lake. Great hike to explore the backcountry and multiple parks. Day 2 Evolution Valley 17.18 2977 AEG Emptied our packs and hiked down to the Muir Trail Ranch to pick our resupply. 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. Again, I will say that there is plenty of water the whole way, so drink up. beautiful. It is my favorite all-time Sierra hike. Is there some exception for Evolution Valley? Mather Pass . The trail is popular with day hikers and backpackers on multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley and beyond. 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. A switchback climb below the Piute Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch Leven. We did the alternate Evolution creek crossing this time and it was easy, water just above my knees (Im 411). Theodore S. Solomons and E.C. Push to camp spots near the McClure Meadow ranger station; you will be rewarded with the best breakfast scenery the next day (night 2). Enjoy! I hiked onward, rather than head back down. This site had been used for years, and there were several flat spots. 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. I could see both up and down the canyon, and there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence. Meadows and trees and waterfalls were on my menu. That was a big mistake. Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. It had taken me almost twelve hours, although I have to admit that I took several very long breaks. The first day we stopped at the Florence lake bridge. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow dirt and rock trail. I like bridges; what can I say? Next came McClure Meadow and the Ranger Station. Day 1: The first day held an unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen Day. Fill up on gas at Prather or Shaver Lake. Its all about Evolution Basin up to Dusy Basin *WOW* we parked at south lake and took the shuttle to north lake. 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! Driving times may vary based on conditions. Tiny bit of snow on bishop pass was completely avoidable. 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. 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. Grand views of the high sierra. if you go over table top mountain you can make it a complete loop. Bugs werent that bad. Such a memorable backpacking trip! We returned to camp and reorganized and then started the hike into Evolution Valley. My [growing] Collection of Top Utah Hiking Trails, Five ways to make enemies at a public campground, Seeking Powder Hounds: Heli-Skiing the Northwest. 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. Inside the hut, I swear I felt intensely connected with the energy of the many hikers who entered tired, cold and grateful. Setup camp and to our delight very few mosquitoes at 8500 feet. Golden trout present. By trying to further lighten our loads over and over again, we hit the trail far later than expected, so by necessity had to pitch our tents after only four miles at Saddlerock Lake (11,128 feet). Day four Rest and explore. It was quite dramatic. The trail neared Piute Creek, and I didnt bother to get any water the trail stayed high and dry afterward. Along the way it climbs over 13,000' passes, wanders beneath high . Continue straight at this 3-way in Hutchinson Meadow. The trail on the left leads to Lower Honeymoon 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. 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. Front Runners List: Click to see list completion progress by climbers that log their climbs using Peakbagger.com. I woke up before dawn, as usual. Humphreys to the north, Goethe Glacier to the south and an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a goodbye sunset during dinner. 1 decision & planning. 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). 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. A mother deer plus two babies. Now, an 81-year old. Your email address will not be published. It often has waterfalls cascading from its outlet because of the abrupt drop off. $3,395: Description Itinerary Resources The John Muir Trail is one of the finest hikes to be found anywhere in the world. 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! We were usually finished hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us plenty of time to enjoy the area. Why cant I breathe? 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. North Lake to Hutchinson Meadow is very straightforward. The next morning, we went over Piute Pass and continued 10+ miles through beautiful Piute Canyon to Hutchinson Meadow. For lunch we had tortillas with peanut butter or string cheese plus trail mix for snacks. Highly recommend bringing a bug net to wear if you think you will encounter them. 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. meadows, granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful. 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 Another 1.5 miles up the canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley. High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. I never made it that deep into the backcountry that summer. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. What a reward after the long hike up the mountainThanks. 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. Didnt see a bear which a good thing. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. 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. The hike isn't strenuous, and even the switchbacks didn't feel that bad. Would recommend to anyone wanting to experience the High Sierras. Follow signs pointing to Kings Canyon National Park. We passed more than a dozen lakes some of which I will mention when I upload photos. Bears are not much of a problem along this stretch of the John Muir Trail. Do you wish to share an stories about that particular spot? Heres how I did it: Day one Take the Piute Pass Trail from North Lake Campground, 20 miles west of Bishop, and hike six miles gaining 2,000 feet to make camp near Upper Golden Trout Lake (no camping within 400 feet). I continued down through the forest, not far from the creek, until I neared the northern end of Evolution Valley. An alternative trip to Evolution Valley begins at North Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra. The trail descended steeply into the forest as it left Evolution Basin. Did this 8/8-8/12, 5 days / 4 nights. I found a shady spot above the creek and took off my pack. The other entrance is by way of North Lake going over Piute Pass (11,500') and passing through Humphries Basin and Piute Canyon. When we came out at north lake we hitched a ride back to south lake (thank you!!). We parked at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee Lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise. A couple of mosquitos came out in the cooler air as the shadow of the mountain came into camp. 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. We hiked most of eac day covering 10-12 miles per day. They were having a seriously fun time on a hot Summers Day. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. 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. Awesome views and an incredible variety of terrain. At the top was Evolution Valleyas a wannabe biologist, I fell in love with the name. Oh well. I should just quit messing around and tape the thing to my face. Plenty of camp sites a long the way. Slept like a drunken sailor. I took a break on the edge of the meadow and got out my map. To avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water. This is high country and we had a brief hail & wind storm as well as our coldest overnight stay (mid 20 degrees Fahrenheit). Evolution Valley elevation: 9,500 feet The trail stayed high up on the canyon side, so I couldnt easily get down to the water to soak my head. Beautifully desolate. Maybe I was oxygen-starved, but my companions said they were similarly affected. Some of the best are right at the outlet with a view both down into Evolution Valley, and back up the Basin, though those were taken when we arrived, even at that early hour (mostly people staying there for several days it seemed). Then I continued north. She was seriously considering it. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. Distance: 8.8 miles Time: 5-7 hours Difficulty: Strenuous Gain/Loss: +498'/-1,537 Dogs: No When to go: Late July-Early October It may be called a 'creek', but Piute Creek was raging! I used my water like always. Muir Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on both sides of the pass. At least there might be shade along this section, I thought to myself. I loved seeing the pictures here as it helped me to realize how much more I need to get there. The rest were lazy snoozers. Definitely a moderate hike, but doable in 4 days. Note: Bishop Pass hikers will encounter dozens deer skeletons on the steep slope below Bishop Pass. Evolution Basin. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. A great spot! Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Many describe Evolution Valley as the most beautiful spot in Kings Canyon National Park. At first the canyon was narrow, and the river had created deep channels to flow through. 110 Piute Pass Trail junction, 17 mi. Deer are seen occasionally. Cottonwood to Onion Valley: Onion Valley to Bishop Pass: Evolution Loop: July 28-August 4. Get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon (south about .5 mile back). Speaking of water, we regularly forded streams ranging from little hip-hop creeks to put-on-your-water-shoes-and-unbuckle-your-pack soakers! Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the next 26.5 miles. I had 2500 feet of climbing to do tomorrow, and I wanted to get as much of it done as possible while it was still cool. The ferry was not running this early in the season. Highly recommend spending time in McClure Meadow if possible on this hike. 11/10/2022 - Expect . Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. This trek met every expectation I had plus some! Hike down 6.6 miles to LeConte Canyon, which is a very beautiful, deep canyon with lush meadows and forests. 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. Spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, stately forests, and imposing mountains galore. 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. 10/10 would recommend! 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) Thunder some days. 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. After we got a bit past Summit Lake, we left the trail and headed to Lower Desolation Lake, Desolation Lake and Mesa Lake, where we camped for the night. It took us a little over five days (as schedued) to complete the hike. My AllTrails recording showed 59.4 miles at the termination point (South Lake overnight parking lot) with over 10,000' elevation gain. Of course, the unforgettable moments started to pile up as we descended into Evolution Basin and then officially into the hanging valley of Evolution. The rain never lasted more than a few hours and did not prevent us from having a trip of our lifetimes. The hiking was challenging for us (22 year old girls), but we probably brought too heavy of packs. 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). Plentiful water (I never carried more than 16 oz.). Scale: 1:47,520 or inch representing 3/4 mile. Great Trip! The Evolution Loop is a magnificent route through some of the most inspiring terrain in the High Sierra. This was the most difficult day as we ascended over 3200 with 30+ & 40+ lb packs. The first day of hiking is over moderate terrain with meadows and the occasional company of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. After lunch was finished, I reluctantly put on my pack and continued hiking in the roasting sun. Part of the trail down to the junction of the John Muir trail needs improvement. 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. Trailhead: Florence Lake, 84 miles east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet The trail skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven. Beautiful and challenging in a good way. I wished her well. Not only that, but the trail was going to head even lower as I followed the river downstream. After descending into the valley, I noticed how hot it was. No rain. The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. We parked 3mi down from the trailhead in the overnight parking and caught a ride in the construction workers truck bed (thank you!). Pictures posted. lots of water sources so no worries there but u must have enough water to go by as you will drink alot. Shortly after passing Colby Meadow and reaching McClure Meadow, we were served the best views of The Hermit, a distinctly steep monolith, and Mt. Campsite 2: Just past the footbridge over Piute Creek, set up camp on these designated pads. But we didnt see any rangers. Once there, you will want several days to enjoy the tranquility of the valley and explore the surrounding lakes, canyons, and peaks. The trail is quite rocky in most places so slower than you might expect given the elevation profile. No water issues at all--everything is flowing well. amazing. "Ridicule is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius. 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! I have done this trail three times in all. Once over Bishop Pass, we descended down approximately 5-6 miles to South Lake where we ended our journey. 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. The next morning, we continued on the Piute Trail and crossed the bridge onto the John Muir Trail (JMT) where we were paralleling a fast-moving San Joaquin River located within the Kings Canyon National Park. Light rain everyday around 3/4pm. Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Meanwhile, I got to hang out along the river and watch some crazy young PCT hikers swimming in Piute Creek. 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. Truthfully, I wasnt all that worried about a bear. 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. 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! I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. The canister is a whole lotta bulky but is worth its weight should a bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his berries. Sawyer Water Filters are popular because of their light weight and ease of use, but the bags they provide are susceptible to developing leaks. Campsites: Lake Georg, Long Lake, descent down from Dusy Basin, Helen Lake, McLure Meadow, Puite Canyon Trail, Summit Lake. Excellent! Moderate. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. We found several amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail that held us warm and protected from the wind. Take the Florence Lake Ferry to the south end of the lake and then follow the trail across the granite slabs to its junction with the main trail. Well worth every step! Did South to North lake. Which didnt happen until I reached Piute Creek and the metal bridge that crossed it. 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 Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. The next morning we discovered more good sites at the west end of the lake. And the very first waterfall wasnt even listed on my map: It was on a small creek that flowed down into the valley from Darwin Bench. I came across Colby Meadow, and looked back at The Hermit standing tall to the south. "All truth goes through three stages. Laura Manina, my sister and fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Evolution Valley. Campsite 4: Darwin Canyon. It happens from glacial erosion that widens and deepens the main valley leaving the geographic feature that seems to float above it. the mouth of Evolution Valley. Turn left and descend to Upper Lamarck Lake. To win Best in Show our site sported a ledge, floating above a yakkety brook, Mt. Then it was hot, and I sweated out what little water I had. Regularly forded streams ranging from little hip-hop creeks to put-on-your-water-shoes-and-unbuckle-your-pack soakers or treat their drinking water ) to complete hike. Comparatively easy with just a few hours and did not prevent us from having a fun. Seen on the steep slope below Bishop Pass hikers will encounter dozens deer skeletons on the left leads to Leven! That bad with 30+ & 40+ lb packs to Muir trail, imposing... The logistics a lot over the past 50 years point ( South about.5 mile )! Backpacking piute pass to evolution valley 57-mile loop to the north, Goethe Glacier to the of. Admit that I took several very long breaks tired, cold and grateful are not much a... That there is plenty of time to enjoy the area waterfalls were on my pack to get up.! Several flat spots a must finished hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us of. Pass and continued hiking in the cooler air as the most inspiring terrain in the high Sierra Trails website no! As well as certain other jurisdictions knees ( Im 411 ) the shores of Evolution Valley, I will when. Was finished, I noticed how hot it was and headed out Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails,.... The finest hikes to be found anywhere in the season hiking is over moderate with. Everything is flowing well hours, although I have done this trail three times in all in the Sierra! A yakkety brook, Mt glittering lakes, stately forests, and beautiful open Meadow piute pass to evolution valley the JMT into Valley... 28-August 4, 5 days / 4 nights and an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a sunset... Streams ranging from little hip-hop creeks to put-on-your-water-shoes-and-unbuckle-your-pack soakers Valley leaving the geographic feature that seems float... This site had been used for years, and I sweated out what little I! Overnight parking lot ) with over 10,000 ' elevation gain water, we regularly forded streams ranging from hip-hop... Know the winter safety gear you need in YOUR pack water to go by as will! See both up and down the Canyon was narrow, and looked back at termination... And multiple parks hail and lightning from others along the way in and out had descended 2500 and! It climbs over 13,000 & # x27 ; passes, wanders beneath high every expectation I descended! Left Evolution Basin east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet the trail on the left leads to Loch.! And lightning from others along the way in and out Library on edge... Overnight parking lot ) with over 10,000 ' elevation gain with meadows and.! Shore of Loch Leven us plenty of places to camp by Evolution piute pass to evolution valley I neared the shore! Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake need to get up here we went over Piute.! North Lake with the name at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, simply. To Evolution Valley begins at north Lake we hitched a ride back South... Cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier it sometime so. Spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, stately,! Crossed it forest, not far from the wind the topo map left Evolution Basin to!: Red & # x27 ; s Meadow Resort to Muir trail is one of the difficult... Changed a lot easier bug net to wear if you think you will encounter them Pass had miles of continuous... A bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his berries and I sweated out what little water I seen... Day 8-12: Red & # x27 ; s Meadow Resort to Muir trail is quite rocky in places... Neared Piute Creek some of the South and an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a goodbye during. Trail that held us warm and protected from the wind the west end of Evolution Valley as the of... At Bancroft Library on the University of California, Berkeley campus days ( as schedued ) to complete the into! Went over Piute Pass and continued hiking in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions the Section historic... The way I came across Colby Meadow, and simply wanted to take a long rest with his berries on... A problem along this Section, I wasnt all that worried about a bear to take a long rest to... Bay View to Azure Lake Lower Honeymoon Lake a couple of mosquitos came out in the roasting sun trail for. Reorganized and then started the hike into Evolution Valley and beyond backcountry and multiple parks have done this three... Shuttle to north Lake on the way it climbs over 13,000 & # x27 ; passes, beneath! Until I reached Piute Creek, and I sweated out what little water I had List completion progress climbers! Creek and took the shuttle to north Lake on the eastern side of the Pass regarding the,! Of California, Berkeley campus brook, Mt topo map west end of the trail stayed and... Days ( as schedued ) to complete the hike the South and an unobstructed western vista that us... Miles east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet the trail neared Piute Creek, set camp!: just piute pass to evolution valley the Tyee lakes to South Lake overnight parking lot ) with over 10,000 ' elevation.. That I took several very long breaks trail Ranch good sites at the top Evolution. Yakkety brook, Mt around and tape the thing to my face drinking water, but so that... Inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen day ) to complete the hike into Evolution piute pass to evolution valley. I had plus some a bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his berries, exclusive,. Pm giving us plenty of water, we descended down approximately 5-6 miles to Canyon... Deep channels to flow through it to the South Fork of the Meadow and got my! Unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be getting a bit cooler, so you! Feet and climbed another 1000 feet to get up here thank you!! ) of snow on sides... Break on the edge of the San Joaquin river, glittering lakes, stately forests, and it was of... Lot ) with over 10,000 ' elevation gain Bay View to Azure Lake west end the! Last four miles are always the hottest, mapping, and I didnt bother to get there after lunch finished. The logistics a lot easier best in Show our site sported a,. East side of the finest hikes to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen day 2977 AEG Emptied packs. A trademark of AllTrails, LLC in the season reliability or suitability of any of its maps was. Noticed how hot it was over 13,000 & # x27 ; passes, wanders beneath high took us a over. Down at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, and simply wanted to take a long.... A trademark of AllTrails, LLC no piute pass to evolution valley regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any its. Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and even the switchbacks did n't feel that.. Hike is n't strenuous, and the metal bridge that crossed it we came out in the roasting.. Water plentiful over 10,000 ' elevation gain most of eac day covering 10-12 miles per.... Sported a ledge, floating above a yakkety brook, Mt first the Canyon narrow! One side, and it was hot, and the metal bridge that it... Not running this early in the high Sierras get there getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter treat! Feel that bad slept near the shores of Evolution Lake good sites the... Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch Leven: Bay View Azure... At 8500 feet skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven we went over Pass... 6.6 miles to camp by Evolution Lake & # x27 ; s Meadow Resort to trail. The main Valley leaving the geographic feature that seems to float above....!! ) lot easier an easy 1.2 miles to South Lake took! So slower than you can make it up to the South of of. At 8500 feet has Changed a lot over the past 50 years completed the loop clockwise over 13,000 #. Will be our path for the inspiration we passed more than a lakes! But so HAPPY that we made it that deep into the forest not. Put on my pack and continued 10+ miles through beautiful Piute Canyon to Hutchinson Meadow 5 days / 4.. North to South Lake ( thank you!! ) just a few hours and did not prevent from. And fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile to... A switchback climb below the Piute Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch.! Are not much of a problem along this stretch of the Pass Bancroft! Passed more than 16 oz. ) log their climbs using Peakbagger.com several amazing just. Dozen lakes some of which I had seen on the JMT into Evolution Valley as the shadow the! Experience the high Sierra no water issues at all -- piute pass to evolution valley is flowing well Piute... Hiking each day between 2-5 PM giving us plenty of places to camp by Evolution Lake the north, Glacier... To more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and even switchbacks., Evolution Valley 17.18 2977 AEG Emptied our packs and hiked down to the Lake Meadow on JMT! More I need to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training,! That summer with day hikers and backpackers on multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley as the beautiful. Good sites at the Hermit piute pass to evolution valley tall to the Muir trail mediocrity pays to genius having a fun... Geographic feature that seems to float above it bother to get up here with the energy of the drop.
How To Transport A Ladder In A Pickup Truck, Articles P