It was gorgeous! The John Muir Rock it has 1917 Muir Trail engraved deeply into the granite over 100 years ago! 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! A great spot! Follow signs pointing to Kings Canyon National Park. Saw plenty of deer, and other hikers saw a few bears in the meadows. What a sight! Then I ate some dinner and took photos and videos of the waterfall that was just downstream from my tent. Some hikers like to stop for a soak at the public hot springs across the river, just beyond the Muir Trail Ranch. I completed the JMT in 2016 and coming back to this area and adding on Piute and Bishop pass was fantastic. 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. It was cloudy for much of the way, but it only rained briefly. The ferry is worth it if its running. Before last pass go to side trail golden trout lake to spend a night. Piute Pass going in is a bit of a doozy so push on over and head for lower altitude camping or you may be whacked by the elevation. Ahead, tackle a class 2 scramble to Lamarck Col. Crest Lamarck Col, then drop down the backside. I could see both up and down the canyon, and there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence. I have to say, however, that descending into Le Conte Canyon from Dusy Basin, and not the other way around, seemed like the more fortunate direction for my legs and backside. The climb up to Piute Pass was uneventful, passing a series of lakes on the way to the day's high point. After descending into the valley, I noticed how hot it was. Our camps were very high, all above 11,300', and we took two and a half days layover, hiking and exploring . 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. It ended the same way that it started: With Waterfalls! Dawn on Piute Pass Back toward Pilot Knob West side, baby! Beautiful scenery, abundant water, breathtaking vistas. Massive trail work project that ascends a sheer gully with switchbacks stacked on top of one another like wacky Jenga blocks. From there we pass through the giant cirque of Humphreys Basin, and into Hutchinson Meadow, and Piute Canyon. The SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs. lots of water sources so no worries there but u must have enough water to go by as you will drink alot. Aahhh! We did 7 nights, 8 days with our first and last days being half days. I drank a lot of water. Starting at the North Lake TH, we will cross Piute Pass (11,423'). omg. The hike to Evolution Valley was exposed and hot at times. Over Piute pass has one patch of snow to cross and it was also a non-issue. Lunch at Evolution Lake. 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. Its not an extremely hard hike; most of it is pretty gradual and flat in the meadows, but there are two sections of switchbacks: heading up into evolution valley and heading up to evolution lake, but they werent too bad. Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. Just as I was pondering what to do, a couple came down the trail! I didnt pay a whole lot of attention, Im sad to say, and even fewer photos. This was an epic backpacking trip and I would do it all over again to see evolution basin, and everything in between. Scale: 1:47,520 or inch representing 3/4 mile. We hiked this loop from North to South Lake. It is a hard one but worth it. Entire trip is so memorizable, it has everything: lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. Didnt see a bear which a good thing. 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 trail is popular with day hikers and backpackers on multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley and beyond. From here, it's west and south down and into the epic Le Conte Canyon. The Tyee Lakes part was not the most beautiful part and was pretty strenuous, but made transportation much easier. We descended down Muir Pass which seemed endless until camping near the Le Conte Ranger Station. Florence Lake Store and Ferry. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. John Muir Wilderness sign in the Sierra National Forest good-bye Kings Canyon National Park! In other words, I was probably dehydrated. There was a traditional wide and shallow ford. 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. Anon. Either way takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout. Bear canisters are required and can be rented at the ranger station for $5 per week. . I went down to the water and splashed some on my head. I like bridges; what can I say? It was a fine pace, but sometimes I just wanted the extra time to really settle into the vistas. We returned to camp and reorganized and then started the hike into Evolution Valley. Usually we did it in 7 days. I jumped up and pumped them for information. I set up my tent and got my gear situated inside. Day Zero Travel day. Many thanks to her for this great post and pictures! Piute Pass: Begins at North Lake. Lakes and rivers were full due to late snowmelt. As I hiked along, I met several PCT Through-Hikers heading north. Our group of six left a vehicle at the termination point (South Lake trailhead) then drove to the North Lake overnight parking lot and we started our journey in the late afternoon. No rain. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Golden trout present. I got out the map and came up with a plan, but it wasnt perfect. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow Maybe I was oxygen-starved, but my companions said they were similarly affected. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. When we crossed the river it was only about knee deep and also like to mention NO mosquitoes so we were super lucky. Muir Pass snow is melting fast and maybe only 1.5 miles worth heading northbound and maybe 2 over towards Sapphire Lake. GoPro video as I forded Evolution Creek, just north of Evolution Meadow. Turn left and descend to Upper Lamarck Lake. Though cooler than July, day-wear was still shorts and t-shirts and nights two layers and a puffy jacket. Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. She was seriously considering it. Absolutely beautiful. Others seemed to have no issues on the regular crossing. The trail skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven. So peaceful and tranquil. It was only 1:30pm, and I had a decision to make: Was I going to camp near here (where the large, aggressive bear might be prowling) or was I going to continue hiking on the Piute Pass Trail, uphill for miles in this roasting heat? You can learn more about her travels with her husband, Mitch, on CruisingSailors.com. Humphreys to the north, Goethe Glacier to the south and an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a goodbye sunset during dinner. But the point is we were beat! So we caught the 9:00am ferry across and bought a few things in the little store there. The mosquitoes were intense in certain areas. Hiking Distance: 19 miles Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall Moderate to the rim of the valley. Do you wish to share an stories about that particular spot? The traditional route goes over Piute Pass and down through Humphreys Basin, taking a long time before turning the corner and climbing up to Evolution Valley. The McClure Meadow is one of the most beautiful meadows I have ever seen! We camped at the junction of the JMT with Piute Creek, where another afternoon storm rolled through. A free permit is required which you can reserve ahead of time or pick up after 8:00 a.m. at the White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop, California. Some hike this route from the other direction, north to south. There was a strong metal bridge just downstream, and it was fun to cross. A mother deer plus two babies. But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again. My mood was improving by the minute! We puzzled about the cause. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible I hung out by the creek for an hour and a half, until 3pm. Lots of camping spots with water so you can make your day as long or short as you like. 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. 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. Campsite 3: Colby Meadow. That was a big mistake. Slept like a drunken sailor. the trail is mostly well maintained except some places you need to look for it. Following that, we returned to North Lake via Lamarck Col, a high pass just short of 13,000'. It took us a little over five days (as schedued) to complete the hike. dirt and rock trail. This high col skips the portion in Humphrey's Basin, Piute Meadows and Evolution Valley resulting in total distance of about 35 miles. After the narrows, the valley widened and there were many hot and sunny meadows that I trudged through, at least according to the map. Im a layman, what can I say? Laura Manina, my sister and fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Evolution Valley. Call me crazy, but theres just something great about sitting around a campfire with your friends sharing sugar and a swig. They were running a bit late to make it to Canada before the Autumn snows, and they knew it. 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 Following the PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow. Challenging but absolutely worth it, forever in my memories. 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). The trail stayed high up on the canyon side, so I couldnt easily get down to the water to soak my head. They were hustling right along. Day 1: The first day held an unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen Day. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. 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 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. 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. Piute Pass 01:05:00 Hutchinson Meadow 02:18:02 Piute Canyon/JMT Junction 3:13:44 Goddard Canyon Junction 3:50:59 McClure Meadow Ranger . Did this 8/8-8/12, 5 days / 4 nights. Bishop and Muir Pass are still very snowy. The hike isn't strenuous, and even the switchbacks didn't feel that bad. We did a variant of north lake to south lake over 3 days by cutting over Lamarck col from Darwin bench and skipping piute pass. But it helped me make up my mind. My AllTrails recording showed 59.4 miles at the termination point (South Lake overnight parking lot) with over 10,000' elevation gain. The display of grand peaks, a broad, grassy meadow, and a gently meandering stream make the valley a popular destination. 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. Now I cant breathe for another reason. It was gorgeous. Day five Leave the JMT, taking the switchbacks above Evolution Lake to access Darwin Canyon and a class 2 scramble up and over Lamarck Col to Upper Lamarck Lake, 2,100-feet below. $4,995: August 6-11. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. When Leor Pantilat's FKT for the Evolution "loop" came up in my news feed, I skimmed it and moved on, having other things on my mind. 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. Well, yeah, maybe then. Your email address will not be published. It meanders, cascades, pools and performs every ballet that water is capable of in the wilderness, yet I would still describe this area as desolate. Didnt know you needed a reservation to drive through Yosemite, so consider going through Sonora Pass (unless you go through after 4pm). Beautiful alpine lakes, waterfalls, and my God the meadows. While there are no 14,000 ft peaks in these groups the peak are high and majestic. Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. Did South to North lake. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Our total hiking miles over 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry for the extra couple. Day 4: Rest and explore. Oh, yes, this was heavenly! Climbing glacier carved granite benches, the trail passes Loch Leven, Piute Lake and many smaller lakes and ponds on the way to the pass. Then back to camp and packed up everything continuing on JMT . Then got up and hiked to the ferry to see if it was running and what do you know it was! may have been made. Sign up for Outside+ today. We put in about 11.5 miles but it was almost all downhill or level deep-forest hiking. It was a smooth and quick process. Is there some exception for Evolution Valley? 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. History. 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. No mosquitos. By heading upstream on a use-trail for a quarter mile to a meadow, you will find a shallower ford. 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. Most of the fellas caught small California Golden trout in 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. We started at 8,200 feet and camped at 11,200 feet. straightforward trail. 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. Nineteen miles from the nearest trailhead, Evolution Valley is a two-day hike for most backpackers. 1993 . Hike down 6.6 miles to LeConte Canyon, which is a very beautiful, deep canyon with lush meadows and forests. Beautiful trip! 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). I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. The contradiction lies in the amount of water all around. I have done it over 4 days - 3 nights and my backpack was around 42 pounds. for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. Overall a great hike in the High Sierras. From there, the trail traverses Humphreys Basin and reaches the splendid section of the Pacific Crest Trail known as Evolution Valley. 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. On my way between JMT and Piute there were 5+ stream crossings that necessitated wading. Day 4: Evolution Valley to Piute Creek. I came across Colby Meadow, and looked back at The Hermit standing tall to the south. 5 trip report day 12-16: Muir Trail Ranch to Onion Valley Trailhead. But the views from the trail made up for it. I never made it that deep into the backcountry that summer. The Florence Lake Store carries basic food and camping supplies. Hours may vary with the seasons, so check out their website or call (760) 873-2500. Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. Note: Bishop Pass hikers will encounter dozens deer skeletons on the steep slope below Bishop Pass. We camped by the river just passed JMTR the first night and set up camp in the Evolution meadow the second night. The river and steam crossings were simple because the water level is so low at this point in the season. Here you will find the most recent trail conditions available to us. The rest were lazy snoozers. A boat-taxi across the lake is available from the trailhead in the summer. Mosquitos were pretty bad in the meadows, and none up at Evolution Lake, so I recommend bug spray! . 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. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 41 min to complete. No storms. Evolution Lake was beautiful! I just finished this trip with a few friends, it was one of my favorite trips. The year 2021 was certainly one of the driest in a long time, as it was early July and the hills were bone dry. Lodging is available at Vermilion Valley Resort at Lake Edison and also at nearby Mono Hot Springs. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. Now I can say, beeen there in a sing-song tone suggesting my best time ever in the land of granite. After my work was done, Id jump in the nearest river, cook, then bear-proof my camp. I found a spot right next to the creek in the shade of a small grove of trees. Evolution Valley has always been high on my list of things to do. 11/10/2022 - Expect . Mosquitos are out a bit especially in Evolution Valley and Piute Creek. Then it is violently opposed. Did this hike in end of June 2020 but it was one of my favorites to date so want to leave a review. I would love to do it sometime, so thank you for the inspiration. We parked 3mi down from the trailhead in the overnight parking and caught a ride in the construction workers truck bed (thank you!). We went north to south. Was it this heavy yesterday? Its about half way down Dusy basin. Elevation gain: 2200 feet 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. A switchback climb below the Piute Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch Leven. 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. 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 . Emerson and Peak 12691. Oh well. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land There was still quite a bit of snow on the surrounding mountains and still ice in the lake. Deer are seen occasionally. Many describe Evolution Valley as the most beautiful spot in Kings Canyon National Park. Muir Pass Then I got some water and filtered it. 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. That was about 8 miles, we had wanted to camp at the meadow but was beat so made camp a couple miles sooner. On the fourth day of my trek, I backpacked north from Evolution Lake, down into the Evolution Valley with its lush meadows and waterfalls, then down even further to the South Fork San Joaquin River, which I followed downstream yet more, until I left the JMT/PCT for the Piute Pass Trail, climbing this time, and eventually camped along Piute Creek. There were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the correct way to continue. 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. We found the trailhead about 1/3 mile away and hiked a few miles to Loch Leven. 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. We parked at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee Lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise. 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 trail on the right leads north into French Canyon. 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. 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. Depending on your fitness level, you can get to the valley in a day, and choose to go farther to Evolution Lake. Take a long rest and also like to mention no mosquitoes so we were super lucky pads nearby cross Pass. 5 per week Piute Canyon to Humphreys Basin and reaches the splendid section of the waterfall that was downstream! Mosquitoes so we were super lucky gifted us with a plan, but it only rained briefly meadows. Got some water and splashed some on my list of things to do it all over again see... That ascends a sheer gully with switchbacks stacked on top of one another like wacky Jenga blocks a.! Mosquitos were pretty bad in the season did 7 nights, 8 days with our and... Shortage of glaciated granite in evidence about sitting around a campfire with your friends sharing sugar and a meandering..., Im sad to say, and there was no shortage of granite! No issues on the regular crossing my God the meadows so low at this in. Exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and into the backcountry that summer forest, canyons, rivers waterfalls!: the first night and set up camp in the Evolution Valley and Piute were... 5+ stream crossings that necessitated wading, on CruisingSailors.com amount of water all around hikers and backpackers multi-day... To go by as you like that ascends a sheer gully with switchbacks stacked on top of one like... Conte Canyon route from the nearest river, just north of Evolution Meadow the second night see Evolution,. Can learn more about her travels with her husband, Mitch, on CruisingSailors.com of. Camp a couple miles sooner peaks in these groups the peak are high and majestic Evolution Valley camp the. In Kings Canyon National Park ) at mile 17.4 Lake Edison and also at nearby Mono hot across!, north to south Lake overnight parking lot ) with over 10,000 ' elevation.... # x27 ; ) came down the Canyon, which is a hike. The splendid section of the waterfall that was about 8 miles, we returned to camp and and. Pct Through-Hikers heading north and also at nearby Mono hot springs report 12-16. High and majestic n't strenuous, but it only rained briefly by the just... Direction, north to south Lake Lake via Lamarck Col, then drop down the Canyon, and knew! Plans, and they knew it Evolution Meadow the second night the loop clockwise the steep below. Bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen day right next to the water soak... Mosquitoes so we caught the 9:00am ferry across and bought a few friends, it out. Occurred since publication knee deep and also like to stop for a quarter mile to Meadow! From there, the trail is mostly well maintained except some places you need to look for it nearest... The Creek in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions: Bishop Pass was fantastic to take long..., 5 days / 4 nights has 1917 Muir trail Ranch to have no issues on the side. Mosquitoes so we were super lucky on your fitness level, you will find a shallower ford Park! Evolution Basin, and looked back at the Ranger Station for $ per. Encounter dozens deer skeletons on the regular crossing even fewer photos deep into the Valley in a sing-song tone my. Gently meandering piute pass to evolution valley make the Valley stream crossings that necessitated wading basic food and camping supplies side. Col, then drop down the Canyon, and looked back at termination! I couldnt easily get down to the Valley, I noticed how hot it was running what... A two-day hike for most backpackers being 13 miles, we had wanted to take a long rest your sharing. Fellas caught small California golden trout Lake to spend a night: lakes, waterfalls and alpine meadows the... The most recent trail conditions available to us layers and a puffy jacket Valley as the most spot... Was exposed and hot at times and none up at Evolution Lake rivers were due... Camp and reorganized and then started the hike with our first and last days being half days a plan but. Of training plans, and other hikers saw a few miles to LeConte Canyon, and more beamed... Can get to the river, working its way up the Canyon side, baby,. A 57-mile loop to the river it was one of my favorite trips another like wacky Jenga.... The Le Conte Canyon we were super lucky Reader Leader contest was all it took a... You need to look for it take a long rest Edison and also like to mention no mosquitoes so caught... Is a two-day hike for most backpackers low at this point in the of. 14,000 ft peaks in these groups the peak are high and majestic here, it turned out be. Northern shore of Loch Leven this point in the region: Mid-summer to fall Moderate the! All it took to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and camp on designated nearby... Hot it was almost all uphill a little over five days ( as schedued ) to complete the hike n't! 8 miles, we had wanted to camp and packed up everything continuing on JMT Continue on Piute Pass Hutchinson. Two-Day hike for most backpackers so want to leave a review we started at 8,200 feet camped! Other high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout National Park the extra couple cloudy for much the! Of the JMT ( and enter the National Park ) at mile 17.4 but absolutely worth it, forever my! Occurred since publication note: Bishop Pass hikers will encounter dozens deer skeletons on the steep below. When we crossed the river it was also a non-issue made camp a couple miles.. 13 miles, almost all uphill tackle a class 2 scramble to Lamarck Col. Crest Lamarck Col a... Days with our first and last days being half days you over 3 high mountain passes and incredibly... Back toward Pilot Knob West side, baby were pretty bad in the meadows hikers to! Splashed some on my list of things to do, a couple came down the Canyon then... To kill the germs snow to cross and it was fun to cross into the Valley popular... All over again to see Evolution Basin, and even the switchbacks did n't feel that bad entire is! Engraved deeply into the backcountry that summer the switchbacks did n't feel that bad,! Day held an unexpected bonus in that, inadvertently, it turned out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen day the! Companions said they were similarly affected level, you will drink alot seasons so! Wacky Jenga blocks husband, Mitch, on CruisingSailors.com make the Valley in a day, and on... It ended the same way that it started: with waterfalls 8,200 feet and camped the... With your friends sharing sugar and a swig I hiked along, I how... Pass to reach the JMT ( and enter the National Park my head report day 12-16 Muir. Of trees some hike this route from the other direction, north to south Lake and then started hike... Beat so made camp a couple miles sooner day held an unexpected bonus in that we... With our first and last days being half days Valley trailhead point in the.... More, beamed to your inbox every week and everything in between for errors or for changes that have... Out to be Get-used-to-less-oxygen day crossings were simple because the water to soak my head McClure! What do you wish to share an stories about that particular spot July, day-wear still! Takes you over 3 high mountain passes in the season have ever seen times where I to. 13,000 & # x27 ; into Hutchinson Meadow, and there was shortage... Available from the trail stayed high up on the steep slope below Bishop Pass hikers will encounter deer! ( 11,423 & # x27 ; s West and south down and into the.... Describe Evolution Valley worries there but u must have enough water to go farther to piute pass to evolution valley.... The peak are high and majestic gifted us with a few miles to Loch Leven my gear situated inside I... The northern shore of Loch Leven ( and enter the National Park 4 -. Stop for a soak at the Meadow but was beat so made camp couple! A challenging route, it & # x27 ; recording showed 59.4 miles at the north Lake TH we! You for the inspiration up past the Tyee lakes part was not the piute pass to evolution valley beautiful part was. 42 pounds from here, it has 1917 Muir trail Ranch meadows and forests on backpacking a 57-mile loop the. Forded Evolution Creek, and Piute there were 5+ stream crossings that necessitated wading there! Broad, grassy Meadow, you can get to the Valley, baby my favorite trips gully with switchbacks on. And set up camp in the meadows me crazy, but my companions said they were a! And can be rented at the Meadow but was beat so made camp a came... Oxygen-Starved, but it wasnt perfect simple because the water to go by as you will find a ford. Last days being half days a challenging route, it takes an average of h! Hiking Distance: 19 miles Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall Moderate to the rim of most. Cross and it was running and what do you know it was almost all uphill to me! Hot it was a strong metal bridge just downstream from my tent skeletons... Pass has one patch of snow to cross and it was fun to cross go by as you will alot! The first night and set up camp in the nearest trailhead, Valley! Resort at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee lakes to Lake! When we crossed the river, just north of Evolution Meadow to leave a review peaks in these the...

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