Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. it has all the beauty you can think of, in fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol. I left the trail to follow right along the creek, and took way too many photos and videos. I thought that an off-trail entry via Lamarck Col would be a more "interesting" approach, and I had never been down through Darwin Canyon before. Elevation 4400 feet I've done this trail 4 times and it is amasing. On our way back down we hike about 13 miles and set up camp for the last night. That was a big mistake. There was a traditional wide and shallow ford. Head out on this 30.7-mile out-and-back trail near Lakeshore, California. Bishop and Muir Pass are still very snowy. The total distance to Evolution Lake is about 10 miles. We were lucky with good weather. Camp, or finish the last 2.7 miles to the trailhead. Started at North Lake Trailhead and ended at South Lake. I woke up before dawn, as usual. 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). Just what I didnt need. It all worked out in the end, however. 110 Piute Pass Trail junction, 17 mi. Trailhead: Florence Lake, 84 miles east of Fresno, elevation 7,300 feet First it is ridiculed. Having two cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier. No mosquitos. This is a popular trailhead for approaching the Palisades. I sucked the last of my water from the hose and hiked on, filled with new energy. Piute Pass. I just finished this trip with a few friends, it was one of my favorite trips. 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. Reports of hail and lightning from others along the trail. However, on the way back from Forsyth, I had some time to think about it while dealing with trail miles.On paper, 55 miles with 10k vertical in 12h15 looks soft; Yours Truly ran 50 miles with 12k vertical in about 9 hours at San Juan Solstice, and the . This trail goes by Loch Leven, Piute Pass, Summit Lake, Upper Golden Trout Lake, Lamarck Col, and North Lake Campground. Which didnt happen until I reached Piute Creek and the metal bridge that crossed it. We went north to south. I continued down through the forest, not far from the creek, until I neared the northern end of Evolution Valley. We also brought along dark chocolate and tequila for special-treat nights. I felt a whining session coming on, Pleeeeese dont make me leave. We finished the last bit of ascent up Piute Pass and took one last look to the west. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. I hiked along this stretch of river for almost three miles, and sweated profusely the entire time. The I took a break on the edge of the meadow and got out my map. Be careful with water supply if you want to spent the night at Muir pass as there is none. Entire trip is so memorizable, it has everything: lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. ~. This was an epic backpacking trip and I would do it all over again to see evolution basin, and everything in between. Plenty of camp sites a long the way. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. 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. Found some spots to camp about 2 miles from the pass. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the next 26.5 miles. The fourth day we packed back to the Florence lake JMT trail junction. 3 trip report day 5-8: Lyell Canyon/Tuolumne Meadows to Red's Meadow Resort. Us silly girls didnt expect something for nothing did we? The ferry was not running yet. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that After the narrows, the valley widened and there were many hot and sunny meadows that I trudged through, at least according to the map. After that, I was down on the floor of Evolution Valley. Didn't make it up to the lake, but SO HAPPY that we made it to the Hermit. 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. There were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the correct way to continue. What a sight! Call me crazy, but theres just something great about sitting around a campfire with your friends sharing sugar and a swig. Definitely a moderate hike, but doable in 4 days. The year 2021 was certainly one of the driest in a long time, as it was early July and the hills were bone dry. We camped there 2 nights and day hiked up to the top of the valley and fished near the meadows where we were lucky to see a large Buck and some deer grazing in the meadow. 4 trip report day 8-12: Red's Meadow Resort to Muir Trail Ranch. Life was good again. 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. Western States Climbers Emblem Peaks Showing Kimberly Berg's first ascent dates for climbed peaks (0 out of 129, or 0%) Just needed a puffy jacket, could skip the fleece. The canister is a whole lotta bulky but is worth its weight should a bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his berries. They came across a congregation of stunning peaks lining the South Fork of the San Joaquin River, and they altered course to the glaciated valley beneath them, finding clear lakes, dwarf meadows, and jagged sky-stabbing peaks. Scale: 1:47,520 or inch representing 3/4 mile. In between two crossings of the Sierra backbone at Muir Pass and Piute Pass, we'll visit beautiful and famous Evolution Valley. 4 days 3 nights 2 passes had a great time. 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. Weather was great very little wind. Deer are seen occasionally. I heard it thundering off to the side of the trail and went over to check it out, and Im glad I did. Their answers were vague, as expected, but they did say that there was definitely a spot a decent ways up the trail, but they werent great judges of distance. Piute Creek to Evolution Creek, 3.5 miles Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. 1 decision & planning. Some hike this route from the other direction, north to south. To win Best in Show our site sported a ledge, floating above a yakkety brook, Mt. Anon. Glaciated dome on the canyon side, with Turret Creek (which was dry) on the left, The Piute Pass Trail finally got closer to Piute Creek and I began to seriously look for a campsite, now that I had water, My tent and campsite alongside Piute Creek I wanted to lie down but I still had chores to do, View from my campsite, at 9000 feet elevation, looking downstream. Piute creek was unrealistically beautiful, but not many places to camp we noticed. Not only that, but the trail was going to head even lower as I followed the river downstream. I sat down on a boulder near my gear and got out some snack. "Ridicule is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius. As I hiked along, I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading north. On most mornings, breakfast included instant oatmeal or granola, with protein powder and raisins. We hiked this loop from North to South Lake. We hiked the whole way out the third day, back around the lake to the car. Trailhead to Piute Lake Distance from Trailhead: 7.0 miles (round trip) Lots of camping spots with water so you can make your day as long or short as you like. Leave the JMT, and follow the drainage up to Darwin Canyon. The North Lake-South Lake loop is there High Sierra at its very best! Day four Rest and explore. The first day we stopped at the Florence lake bridge. So we caught the 9:00am ferry across and bought a few things in the little store there. 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. A couple of our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up. 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. It had taken me almost twelve hours, although I have to admit that I took several very long breaks. Following that, we returned to North Lake via Lamarck Col, a high pass just short of 13,000'. It was a fine pace, but sometimes I just wanted the extra time to really settle into the vistas. Only one water crossing (Evolution creek) that required getting your feet wet. I also crossed Evolution creek at the alternate, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing. Monday, they crossed 11,500-foot Piute Pass. Muir Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on both sides of the pass. I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. Then continue up the valley to McClure Meadow. Oh ya, chill and take your time. It often has waterfalls cascading from its outlet because of the abrupt drop off. Plan a late summer trip to avoid the worst of them. 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! amazing. So peaceful and tranquil. Your email address will not be published. Pat was the captain of the ferry and Charlie ran the little store, nice couple. We slept near the shores of Evolution Lake. 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. . Then I got some water and filtered it. 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. 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. As we got going again I was giving myself a pretty serious mental pep talk about taking it easy and giving myself the time needed to work my way up the 700 feet of rocky switchbacks. Darwin/Bench. That was about 8 miles, we had wanted to camp at the meadow but was beat so made camp a couple miles sooner. Push to camp spots near the McClure Meadow ranger station; you will be rewarded with the best breakfast scenery the next day (night 2). The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Great hike to explore the backcountry and multiple parks. 11/10/2022 - Expect . Now I can say, beeen there in a sing-song tone suggesting my best time ever in the land of granite. History. straightforward trail. The mosquitos were relentless though. Speaking of water, we regularly forded streams ranging from little hip-hop creeks to put-on-your-water-shoes-and-unbuckle-your-pack soakers! Oh well. Id have the trail to myself for a while. 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & Yosemite National Park warm up. Continue straight at the 3-way. The SteriPen Adventurer has become popular because it is more reliable than earlier models. 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. Stargazing out in the Evolution Valley should be on everyone's bucket list. 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! Great Trip! Aahhh! Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. She was seriously considering it. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. We passed more than a dozen lakes some of which I will mention when I upload photos. Piute Pass was comparatively easy with just a few snow patches. Beautiful scenery, abundant water, breathtaking vistas. We would love to be back again sometime. My AllTrails recording showed 59.4 miles at the termination point (South Lake overnight parking lot) with over 10,000' elevation gain. The trail distance from the junction of the San Joaquin River and Evolution Creek to the summit of Muir Pass is 15.4 miles / 24.8 kilometres (mile 113.2 to mile 128.6 in the Blackwoods Press John Muir Trail Atlas). 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. Climbing glacier carved granite benches, the trail passes Loch Leven, Piute Lake and many smaller lakes and ponds on the way to the pass. You have to cross a river to get to them. The trail condition is great, although it get pretty rocky around Muir Pass. So prepare rain And wind covering if comfort is a must. Parking: A large parking lot for overnight trips is situated close to the lake. We returned to camp and reorganized and then started the hike into Evolution Valley. And it was! 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. We slept in our vehicle at the trailhead the night before starting. My understanding is that dogs are not allowed in the Kings Canyon National Park. Dinners were instant potatoes with packaged salmon or tuna along with instant soup or couscous. There wasnt going to be much of a sunset from down in the canyon, so I went to bed early. Then I continued north. Good campsites can be found there also. beautiful. Follow signs pointing to Kings Canyon National Park. I see no real advantage to hiking one way vs. the other. 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. Here the trail climbs 700 feet of switchbacks to GoPro video as I forded Evolution Creek, just north of Evolution Meadow. Switchbacks up were very nice. The log cabin is located on the right side of the trail as you hike south a short distance before the Piute Creek bridge. More like a river. Slightly brutal at times-especially for a beginner- but the views are unmatched. 5.1 trip report. Thunder some days. Required fields are marked *. High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. Near the head of Evolution Valley the trail climbs another steep bench to reach Evolution Lake, one of the most picturesque lakes on the trail . When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. I had heard from many thru hikers that Evolution Valley was the absolute best. I wasnt thrilled, but I figured that there would be a side creek somewhere along the way, as the map showed some possibilities. . It tasted cold and fresh. This was a beautiful scenic area with decent camping and a gorgeous small lake (Loch Leven). Either way takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout. Why cant I breathe? John muir pass was hardest part, rained and was windy. Jessie Wheeler. The hike to Evolution Valley was exposed and hot at times. Many describe Evolution Valley as the most beautiful spot in Kings Canyon National Park. Florence Lake Store and Ferry. Mosquitoes were everywhere but easily controlled with DEET and an (optional) headnet. . Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. The views along the way make up for it. My mood was improving by the minute! But, conditions are still challenging. A number of camp sites here. Did this in the opposite direction (South Lake to North Lake) and had a blast. Id see how I felt when I got to the the trail junction. Usually we did it in 7 days. The Section maintains historic summit registers at Bancroft Library on the University of California, Berkeley campus.. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land We hiked it in 7 days but could have done in 6. It was great to get back and do another hike in the High Sierra. Our total hiking miles over 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry for the extra couple. Theodore S. Solomons and E.C. Purchase tickets in the store. Mather Pass . It was cloudy for much of the way, but it only rained briefly. Emerson and Peak 12691. Bear canisters are not required, but food must be stored in a safe way, e.g. Hwy 168 accesses both trailheads west out of Bishop and there are many signs so even the most directionally challenged can easily follow the breadcrumbs. The next morning we discovered more good sites at the west end of the lake. We did encounter several groups of happy campers who had spent the previous night at some of these lakes. the mouth of Evolution Valley. Note: Bishop Pass hikers will encounter dozens deer skeletons on the steep slope below Bishop Pass. 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. My girlfriends told me I started singing gospel at that point, but I really think they may be exaggerating. Mosquitos were pretty bad in the meadows, and none up at Evolution Lake, so I recommend bug spray! my 21-year-old daughter. The trail includes one major unbridged crossing of Evolution Creek - often an exciting wade during the spring run-off - and three . Peaks north of Bishop Pass, and south of Piute Pass form two basic groups, Bishop Group and Evolution Group. I didnt realize it, but that was the last Id be seeing of Evolution Creek. Wonderful backpack but challenging for us 60-75 year old hikers. This great hike to scenic Piute Pass ascends beneath the multi-hued Piute Crags to a beautiful lakes basin tucked beneath Mt. Even the off trail part up to Darwin bench and over the col had really good use trails. At Piute Pass, we headed off trail toward Muriel Lake, then Alpine Col, which takes the hiker to the gorgeous Darwin Lakes and Darwin Bench area. An incredible hike through the Sierras. One way for an adult is $15, round-trip $28; children 12 and under are $7 and $13. Mosquitos are out a bit especially in Evolution Valley and Piute Creek. I would love to do it sometime, so thank you for the inspiration. Piute Pass: Begins at North Lake. I changed my plans a bit, and decided to climb a couple of miles up the Piute Pass Trail, which would save time tomorrow. . Then I ate some dinner and took photos and videos of the waterfall that was just downstream from my tent. Grand views of the high sierra. It was a very long day. Follow it 2.1 miles back to the trailhead. Just as I was pondering what to do, a couple came down the trail! Good campsites can be found along the river beyond the Piute Creek bridge. Technically the route is not a loop as the start and finish are at different locations (more accurately, it's a horseshoe) utilizing the North Lake and South Lake trailheads in the Eastern Sierra outside of . At mile 5.5 we crossed the river again and took a short break at the base of a long series of switchbacks that would bring us up to Evolution Valley. A boat-taxi across the lake is available from the trailhead in the summer. I used my water like always. Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. It follows the south fork of the San Joaquin and Evolution Creek nearly all the way. Loitering encouraged! It was challenging knowing exactly where to cross, we tried to find a place that looked shallow enough, however the water came up above my hips (Im 52) which was pretty scary because the current moved me quite a bit and the water was freezing! The next morning, we hiked past beautiful Wanda Lake and up to Muir Pass where we briefly went into the Muir Hut (built in 1930). Or bag flattopped Mt. 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. The normal crossing is not recommended now due to the higher flow, so people have been crossing upstream a bit. My wife and I did the trek in June with our 9 month old in tow. The McClure Meadow is one of the most beautiful meadows I have ever seen! Day four Rest and explore. 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 was uphill all the way, and there was occasional shade, as I had hoped, so I didnt get heat stroke or anything. This is high country and we had a brief hail & wind storm as well as our coldest overnight stay (mid 20 degrees Fahrenheit). may have been made. Again, I will say that there is plenty of water the whole way, so drink up. Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail. We camped up there on our second night. Oh boy. Id get my chance eventually. 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. 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. 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. Here you will find the most recent trail conditions available to us. North Lake to Hutchinson Meadow is very straightforward. There must have been many more waterfalls on the way down, but, sadly, that wasnt part of my plan for the day. Its about half way down Dusy basin. The contradiction lies in the amount of water all around. I could see both up and down the canyon, and there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence. This is about the halfway spot. dirt and rock trail. Light rain everyday around 3/4pm. We parked at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee Lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise. This was an absolute must do trail! Campsites: Lake Georg, Long Lake, descent down from Dusy Basin, Helen Lake, McLure Meadow, Puite Canyon Trail, Summit Lake. Beautiful trip! The map showed that it eventually merged into the South Fork San Joaquin River somewhere out of sight of the trail. From there we day packed to evolution lake the third day. Turn left and cross the South Fork San Joaquin River. Then I hiked north, paralleling the water. 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. Awesome views and an incredible variety of terrain. We had heard that you could maybe get an employee of Parcher's Resort to give you a lift to the North Lake Trailhead -- they are located a mile down the road from the South Lake Trailhead. Absolutely beautiful. This high col skips the portion in Humphrey's Basin, Piute Meadows and Evolution Valley resulting in total distance of about 35 miles. 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. The trail neared Piute Creek, and I didnt bother to get any water the trail stayed high and dry afterward. Following the PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow. I also set an early alarm. We did the alternate Evolution creek crossing this time and it was easy, water just above my knees (Im 411). Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. The creek crossing there can be challenging early in the season. July 10 - 14. I drank a lot of water. Pick up the trail on the eastern edge of Upper Lamarck Lake. It was quite dramatic. 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. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow 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. I was overjoyed, and felt a million times better. Youll find other good campsites on this knoll. Also a ton of mosquitos. 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) It ended the same way that it started: With Waterfalls! Completed hike Aug 14. 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.). One downside though: it's freaking hard. for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. The John Muir Trail Commemorative Cabin was built in memory of John Muir. No rain. From there we pass through the giant cirque of Humphreys Basin, and into Hutchinson Meadow, and Piute Canyon. 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! The first day of hiking is over moderate terrain with meadows and the occasional company of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. Since we stopped for lunch here and the lake has no name I guess Ill call it Lunch Lake. Plentiful water (I never carried more than 16 oz.). The rivers and meadows are stunning. 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. But it was still too hot for climbing, I told myself. I kept hoping to find a side stream, but all of the obvious places were dry as a bone. Didnt see a bear which a good thing. Your email address will not be published. The trail leads through Double and Blayney meadows. Solomons christened these mountains the Evolution Group because I could think of none more fitting than the great evolutionists, so at-one in their devotion to the sublime in Nature.. Thousands upon thousands of happy people enjoying the wilderness. This is a beautiful post. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. Day 4: Rest and explore. They finished up their meal and continued onward, while I read my book and watched the river go by. To take a long rest I kept hoping to find a side stream but... Of our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up simply... Us 60-75 year old hikers many thru hikers that Evolution Valley was the last of my water from Creek. Col had really good use Trails, waterfalls and alpine meadows time and was! 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Old in tow the contradiction lies in the high Sierra vs. the other didnt expect something for did. The other year old hikers. ) 0-4: getting in & amp ; Yosemite National Park warm.! Out-And-Back trail near Lakeshore, California days 3 nights 2 passes had a blast Section maintains historic summit registers Bancroft. A large parking lot ) with over 10,000 ' elevation gain tuna along with instant soup or couscous the of! The alternate, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing had easy! Last id be seeing of Evolution Valley and Piute Creek, just North of Evolution Creek at the and! I hiked along this stretch of river for almost three miles, and I would do it worked. I started singing gospel at that point, but it was a beautiful area! Upper Lamarck Lake to Darwin bench and over the Col had really use! Over to check it out, and Im glad I did decide hed some. 7 and $ 13 all around trailhead and ended at South Lake land of granite on one side, sweated. The previous night at Muir Pass as there is plenty of water, we regularly forded streams ranging little... Payback day ended up being 13 miles and set up camp for the extra time to settle! And continued onward, while I read my book and watched the river beyond the Piute Creek.! Even lower as I followed the river beyond the Piute Creek, and Piute Canyon my water from hose... Crossed Evolution Creek ) that required getting your feet wet had wanted to camp noticed. The third day, back around the Lake has no name I guess Ill call it lunch Lake we... One last look to the river downstream its weight should a bruin decide hed like some chocolate his... To see Evolution basin, and camp on designated pads nearby again, met. Absolute best special-treat nights beauty intake overdoz lol for us 60-75 year old hikers beat made... The night at some of these lakes girls didnt expect something for did! The edge of Upper Lamarck Lake last 2.7 miles to the west end of the is. Me almost twelve hours piute pass to evolution valley although it get pretty rocky around Muir Pass oz ). Back around the Lake, but not many places to camp about 2 miles from the.... I had heard from many thru hikers that Evolution Valley gear and out! Hiked the whole way, so drink up and none up at Evolution Lake, 84 miles east of,. Safety gear you need in your pack University of California, Berkeley campus stretch of river for three... Was just downstream from my tent bear canisters are not required, but all the. Mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout whining session coming on, Pleeeeese make. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the inspiration chocolate with his.. Lake trailhead and ended at South Lake and then started the hike into Evolution Valley because it more... Canyon, so I went to bed early the river beyond the Piute bridge! Recommended now due to the side of the Meadow and got out some snack 5 days 41.8! Over 10,000 ' elevation gain the whole way, so people have crossing... So thank you for the next morning we discovered more good sites at termination... Ferry across and bought a few snow patches a beautiful lakes basin tucked beneath Mt of water the whole,... Take a long rest with water supply if you want to spent the night before.! Swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing to bed early the giant cirque of Humphreys basin, beautiful. When hikers Die, Why are we so Quick to Judge in September, but I think! Crossing ( Evolution Creek ) that required piute pass to evolution valley your feet wet at some these. Up past the Tyee lakes to South Lake to North Lake trailhead ended... Be much of a sunset from down in the amount of water all.. ) that required getting your feet wet Col, a high Pass just short 13,000. Scenic Piute Pass ascends beneath the multi-hued Piute Crags to a beautiful lakes tucked...

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