In fact on the trail coming up to Piute pass from the JMT, there was no water source near the trail for nearly 7mi because the stream beds are dry. There was a strong metal bridge just downstream, and it was fun to cross. The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. The rest were lazy snoozers. Just finished the loop from south lake to north lake. Over Piute pass has one patch of snow to cross and it was also a non-issue. I had a really good time and met several really nice people. This is one of my favorite trips of many in the eastern Sierra. The contradiction lies in the amount of water all around. 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. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. Day 2 Evolution Valley 17.18 2977 AEG Emptied our packs and hiked down to the Muir Trail Ranch to pick our resupply. We found the trailhead about 1/3 mile away and hiked a few miles to Loch Leven. I climbed upward for two miles without seeing a single decent campsite, either. Most of the fellas caught small California Golden trout in the lake. Day 1: The first day held an unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen Day. On most mornings, breakfast included instant oatmeal or granola, with protein powder and raisins. 5 trip report day 12-16: Muir Trail Ranch to Onion Valley Trailhead. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that may have been made. It tasted cold and fresh. Evolution Valley elevation: 9,500 feet The lake is 53 miles east of Prather. I recommend an early start because of the exposure in the first 3 miles of Piute Trail. One way for an adult is $15, round-trip $28; children 12 and under are $7 and $13. Jessie Wheeler. 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). Mostly True Stories of My Hiking Trips, a PhotoJournal. When we crossed the river it was only about knee deep and also like to mention NO mosquitoes so we were super lucky. 3 trip report day 5-8: Lyell Canyon/Tuolumne Meadows to Red's Meadow Resort. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ We hiked the whole way out the third day, back around the lake to the car. Monday, they crossed 11,500-foot Piute Pass. Ouch! Florence Lake Store and Ferry. It was a fine pace, but sometimes I just wanted the extra time to really settle into the vistas. I like bridges; what can I say? The hike isn't strenuous, and even the switchbacks didn't feel that bad. 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. By the time I was ready to hike I looked down at the tents below me on the shore of the lake and only one person had crawled out of their tent. 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 . 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & Yosemite National Park warm up. The trees were also providing good shade, except for a couple of bare places where avalanches had swept the forest away, leaving only chest-high chaparral. The views along the way make up for it. Did in 4.5 days south to north. The lowest lakes in Dusy and Evolution basin are mostly thawed. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. This loop begins and ends at the North Lake trailhead. The rain never lasted more than a few hours and did not prevent us from having a trip of our lifetimes. 1993 . One bite of the Evolution area is It was cloudy for much of the way, but it only rained briefly. Thunder some days. Those who use the SteriPen, or any other filter system, are wise to carry a backup such as Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets. The trail even flattened out to make my way easier. Lets take a short geography break so I can explain what a hanging valley is: A hanging valley is formed from a side valley, which has a floor at a higher elevation than the main valley floor into which it flows. When we finished our descent and arrived at the ranger station in the deep forest of Le Conte Canyon we also reached the junction on which the trail merges with the Pacific Crest Trail(PCT)/ John Muir Trail. The hike to Evolution Valley was exposed and hot at times. It was gorgeous! The mosquitos were relentless though. 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. 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. 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. Our goal was Sapphire lake, but there was still a ton of snow over the 4th and we didnt have proper snow gear to cross over the pass from Evolution lake to Sapphire lake. My two recommendations. I hung out by the creek for an hour and a half, until 3pm. Pingback: Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake. Evolution Lake was beautiful! Day 5: Cushy Day was followed by Payback Day. There were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the correct way to continue. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. Completed 14-17AUG. 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. We are slow hikers. Conditions are continuously changing and wilderness hikers need to plan for inclement weather. Parking: A large parking lot for overnight trips is situated close to the lake. the mouth of Evolution Valley. Mosquitoes were everywhere but easily controlled with DEET and an (optional) headnet. Or bag flattopped Mt. It is visible from the trail, but some hikers have walked past it without noticing it. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land meadows, granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful. From there we day packed to evolution lake the third day. 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. Started at North Lake Trailhead and ended at South Lake. Follow it 2.1 miles back to the trailhead. Slept like a drunken sailor. My mood was improving by the minute! There are possible campsites on Darwin Bench. We hiked this trail June 5th to the 7th. . Why cant I breathe? Campsites: Lake Georg, Long Lake, descent down from Dusy Basin, Helen Lake, McLure Meadow, Puite Canyon Trail, Summit Lake. Emerson and Peak 12691. I drank a lot of water. Day 1 South Lake over Bishop Pass to Upper Dusy Basin: 7.0 miles, 2700 'of gain, 1050 'of loss We shuttle from the SMC office to the trailhead at Bishop Pass and have a relatively easy day over Bishop Pass to our camp just over the west side of the pass above the uppermost lake in Dusy Basin. So prepare rain And wind covering if comfort is a must. 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. Didnt know you needed a reservation to drive through Yosemite, so consider going through Sonora Pass (unless you go through after 4pm). Hike up Muir Pass, down to Le Conte Ranger Station. What a sight! The map showed that it eventually merged into the South Fork San Joaquin River somewhere out of sight of the trail. Another 1.5 miles up the canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley. Well, yeah, maybe then. 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 highly recommend this one. best of luck and make sure you are prepared. At night, Id comb through maps by headlamp, creating my ultimate ticklist for the parks. And it felt like it. Evolution Basin. Moderate. Recommend to everybody. Some hikers like to stop for a soak at the public hot springs across the river, just beyond the Muir Trail Ranch. The metal bridge over Piute Creek marks the border between Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Wilderness. 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). The next morning, we went over Piute Pass and continued 10+ miles through beautiful Piute Canyon to Hutchinson Meadow. Light rain everyday around 3/4pm. The display of grand peaks, a broad, grassy meadow, and a gently meandering stream make the valley a popular destination. Bear canisters are required and can be rented at the ranger station for $5 per week. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the next 26.5 miles. Just needed a puffy jacket, could skip the fleece. Slept like a drunken sailor. Beyond Huntington, the road narrows and in places is steep and windy as it climbs over 9,184-foot Kaiser Pass and descends to Florence and Edison lakes. It is a hard one but worth it. 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. Starting at Lake Sabrina we could do a proper loop with just two 2 mile stretches on the road. 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. $3,395: Description Itinerary Resources The John Muir Trail is one of the finest hikes to be found anywhere in the world. But it helped me make up my mind. I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. 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. I came across Colby Meadow, and looked back at The Hermit standing tall to the south. My AllTrails recording showed 59.4 miles at the termination point (South Lake overnight parking lot) with over 10,000' elevation gain. Plenty of camp sites a long the way. Piute Pass: Begins at North Lake. After my work was done, Id jump in the nearest river, cook, then bear-proof my camp. Wonderful backpack but challenging for us 60-75 year old hikers. The climb up to Piute Pass was uneventful, passing a series of lakes on the way to the day's high point. The first day we stopped at the Florence lake bridge. I said a silent thank you before dropping over the top, then apologized to my knees for the steep, descending switch backs they were about to receive. This was the most difficult day as we ascended over 3200 with 30+ & 40+ lb packs. Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. It was uphill all the way, and there was occasional shade, as I had hoped, so I didnt get heat stroke or anything. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. straightforward trail. In the Spring of a snowy year it must be incredible. Piute Pass Trail - North Lake Beginning in lodgepole pine and quaking aspen, the trail follows the creek at the foot of Piute Crags and Mount Emerson. Starting at the North Lake TH, we will cross Piute Pass (11,423'). The McClure Meadow is one of the most beautiful meadows I have ever seen! A mother deer plus two babies. 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. . Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. It all worked out in the end, however. 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! Saw plenty of deer, and other hikers saw a few bears in the meadows. Overall a great hike in the High Sierras. Truthfully, I wasnt all that worried about a bear. 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! however, if you are an average backpacker like me, expect some brutal acents and decents. It is, of course, the perfect time for this 5 - 7 day hike. 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. You can learn more about her travels with her husband, Mitch, on CruisingSailors.com. We did encounter several groups of happy campers who had spent the previous night at some of these lakes. It was great to get back and do another hike in the High Sierra. This was an epic backpacking trip and I would do it all over again to see evolution basin, and everything in between. Pick up permit, eat at Burger Barn, head to, Day One Piute Pass trailhead over Piute Pass down through Humphreys Basin to, Day Two Hutchinson Meadow down Piute Creek to the JMT junction down along the San Joaquin River to the, Day Three Goddard Canyon Bridge Junction Up to Evolution Valley then into Evolution Basin and camp at, Day Four Sapphire Lake up to Wanda Lake then summit Muir Pass then down into Le Conte Canyon and camp at, Day Six Up over Bishop Pass and down to South Lake . But, conditions are still challenging. Roundtrip mileage to the McClure Meadow Ranger Station from the south end of Florence Lake is about 15.5 miles and 1500 feet of elevation gain. Great Trip! I plan to get back there this month with Golden trout present. This will bring you onto the PCT north of Evolution Valley, a distance of about 16 miles. Then we stayed there 1 night then hiked up to evolution valley. The best time ever, I mean. P. i. psammophilus is known from the Salinas Valley and may be a synonym of P. i. neglectus (Best 1993; Williams et al. A couple of mosquitos came out in the cooler air as the shadow of the mountain came into camp. Maybe I was oxygen-starved, but my companions said they were similarly affected. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. Fantastic hike! Rattlesnakes are always possible; but with the popularity of the trail, rattlesnakes are rarely seen. 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. That felt great! Only one water crossing (Evolution creek) that required getting your feet wet. Id see how I felt when I got to the the trail junction. GoPro video as I crossed the wooden bridge.