We camped alone; in fact, we camped alone every night of the trip. We also brought along dark chocolate and tequila for special-treat nights. $3,395: Description Itinerary Resources The John Muir Trail is one of the finest hikes to be found anywhere in the world. There wasnt going to be much of a sunset from down in the canyon, so I went to bed early. 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. Continue straight at the 3-way. Water is abundant if you plan it right. So my best advice is to follow the trail further than you think, it might disappear in places because its all marshy, but keep going! 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 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. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 41 min to complete. The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. Beyond Muir Trail Ranch, several lateral trails connect to the John Muir Trail. Florence Lake Store and Ferry. 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. 1993 . . John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley, and Goddard Canyon access point. A ranger later informed us that 80-90 deer were migrating seasonally over the pass during a snowstorm in November 2018, when presumably blinded by the snowfall, they one by one hit a patch of ice and fell to their deaths. Since we stopped for lunch here and the lake has no name I guess Ill call it Lunch Lake. Mosquitos were pretty bad in the meadows, and none up at Evolution Lake, so I recommend bug spray! Notice that when I downsized my load I didnt ditch the tequila. Did this hike in end of June 2020 but it was one of my favorites to date so want to leave a review. It was gorgeous! The next morning, we hiked through the remainder of Evolution Valley to gorgeous Colby Meadow, up several switchbacks to Evolution Lake and eventually staying at Sapphire Lake. The rivers and meadows are stunning. Wished we could have camped at Evolution Lake as it's sooooo beautiful but it didn't work out for us. Most of our campsites were fantastic with waterfalls or pretty lakes. This was a beautiful scenic area with decent camping and a gorgeous small lake (Loch Leven). Day 3: From camp, descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. I was overjoyed, and felt a million times better. 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 . I had a really good time and met several really nice people. 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. Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. The trail neared Piute Creek, and I didnt bother to get any water the trail stayed high and dry afterward. Fantastic hike! What a sight! ~. $4,995: August 6-11. So peaceful and tranquil. 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. best of luck and make sure you are prepared. 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! The log cabin is located on the right side of the trail as you hike south a short distance before the Piute Creek bridge. Day 5: Cushy Day was followed by Payback Day. Beautiful and challenging in a good way. About two miles after leaving camp, we exited off the PCT/John Muir trail and started up to Piute Pass. We got there between 4:30-5 on a week day and there wasn't anyone available -- so we hitched and got a ride pretty easily. The trail on the right leads north into French Canyon. 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. We passed more than a dozen lakes some of which I will mention when I upload photos. Evolution Basin. Some hike this route from the other direction, north to south. Up until Sep 11th there was a shuttle service that we could have used to get from South Lake to the North Lake trailhead -- running a couple of times a day and costing $20. Not only that, but the trail was going to head even lower as I followed the river downstream. dirt and rock trail. Campsite 2: Just past the footbridge over Piute Creek, set up camp on these designated pads. 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. 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. Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. Mendel, which is part of the Evolution range. P. i. psammophilus is known from the Salinas Valley and may be a synonym of P. i. neglectus (Best 1993; Williams et al. One downside though: it's freaking hard. 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. The next morning, we went over Piute Pass and continued 10+ miles through beautiful Piute Canyon to Hutchinson Meadow. 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. 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 . As a backup, some soft-sided water bottles such as the Platypus will thread onto the filter and work just as well. 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. I sat down on a boulder near my gear and got out some snack. Our simple food choices were holding very well. Only done it North to South. But the point is we were beat! 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. From here, it's west and south down and into the epic Le Conte Canyon. Just what I didnt need. Again, I will say that there is plenty of water the whole way, so drink up. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Piute Pass actually puts you into the upper reaches of the San Joaquin River Basin (So. I would love to do it sometime, so thank you for the inspiration. 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. 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. We did the alternate Evolution creek crossing this time and it was easy, water just above my knees (Im 411). Then I continued north. We had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in the season hikers should be prepared for more difficult fordings. Leisurely pace over 6 days / 7 nights, This was an amazing hike! This is a beautiful post. My wife and I did the trek in June with our 9 month old in tow. 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. We started at south lake and ended on north lake, backwards from most, and while Piute pass was a hard hike, i think ending on Piute and Humphrey's Basin was a great way to complete the trip. 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). 27, 28, 33 and 34, T. 15 N., R. 14 E., S. B. M., on the east slope of the Ivanpah range of mountains, in Mescal Mining District, 8 miles north of Cima. Along the way it climbs over 13,000' passes, wanders beneath high . Beautifully desolate. Day 4: Evolution Valley to Piute Creek. 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. Conditions were great! I only had about a liter left of the three Id started with that morning. Emerson and Peak 12691. Nineteen miles from the nearest trailhead, Evolution Valley is a two-day hike for most backpackers. Water was everywhere but crossings were Ok. Bugs were not a issue. Do I really get to be here? I like bridges; what can I say? There were only 2-3 times where I needed to use my AllTrails app to figure out the correct way to continue. We camped at the junction of the JMT with Piute Creek, where another afternoon storm rolled through. 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. meadows, granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful. This loop begins and ends at the North Lake trailhead. Campsite 1: Upper Golden Trout Lake. GoPro video as I forded Evolution Creek, just north of Evolution Meadow. Now I cant breathe for another reason. The river and steam crossings were simple because the water level is so low at this point in the season. This high col skips the portion in Humphrey's Basin, Piute Meadows and Evolution Valley resulting in total distance of about 35 miles. After my work was done, Id jump in the nearest river, cook, then bear-proof my camp. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible Id get my chance eventually. Fill up on gas at Prather or Shaver Lake. It was great to get back and do another hike in the High Sierra. Bear canisters are not required, but food must be stored in a safe way, e.g. 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. Lakes and rivers were full due to late snowmelt. omg. After that, I was down on the floor of Evolution Valley. Now I can say, beeen there in a sing-song tone suggesting my best time ever in the land of granite. . 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. I ate my usual cup of hot oatmeal and packed up my gear. My understanding is that dogs are not allowed in the Kings Canyon National Park. Your email address will not be published. Or bag flattopped Mt. Pick up the trail on the eastern edge of Upper Lamarck Lake. 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. Entire trip is so memorizable, it has everything: lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. 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). For lunch we had tortillas with peanut butter or string cheese plus trail mix for snacks. Located in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest offers challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and unparalleled views. Water was flowing on a lot of the trail down. Laura Manina, my sister and fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Evolution Valley. This is a popular trailhead for approaching the Palisades. 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. Now that the best parts of the trek were over (quite possibly), I was beginning to yearn for home. Over Piute pass has one patch of snow to cross and it was also a non-issue. Evolution lake is awesome. So we caught the 9:00am ferry across and bought a few things in the little store there. In addition, The John Muir Trail may be accessed via Piute Pass from North Lake which is only 10 miles from the resort. 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. Tough climb over the pass at 11,423 and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the JMT. 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). Hiking Distance: 19 miles if you go over table top mountain you can make it a complete loop. Many thanks to her for this great post and pictures! 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. I needed both water and a flat spot. 4 days 3 nights 2 passes had a great time. From there, the trail traverses Humphreys Basin and reaches the splendid section of the Pacific Crest Trail known as Evolution Valley. 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. Day 2: Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park). Im a layman, what can I say? Aahhh! A great spot! Before last pass go to side trail golden trout lake to spend a night. . Get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon (south about .5 mile back). I recommend an early start because of the exposure in the first 3 miles of Piute Trail. Get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon (south about .5 mile back). We found several amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail that held us warm and protected from the wind. Those first four and last four miles are always the hottest. may have been made. It was quite dramatic. Then I hiked north, paralleling the water. Maybe if I was lucky there would be a breeze. 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 Tyee Lakes part was not the most beautiful part and was pretty strenuous, but made transportation much easier. Which didnt happen until I reached Piute Creek and the metal bridge that crossed it. Evolution Creek had already joined forces and the river was much larger. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that may have been made. Beautiful scenery, abundant water, breathtaking vistas. Ooops! I found a spot right next to the creek in the shade of a small grove of trees. 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. Lodging is available at Vermilion Valley Resort at Lake Edison and also at nearby Mono Hot Springs. This famous combo-trail will be our path for the next 26.5 miles. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. The ferry was not running this early in the season. Didnt know you needed a reservation to drive through Yosemite, so consider going through Sonora Pass (unless you go through after 4pm). 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). 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. 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). 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. Video of a waterfall on Piute Creek near my campsite in lower Piute Canyon. After 2.5 mile it crosses a bridge to the south side of the river where a good campsite is located. The climb up to Piute Pass was uneventful, passing a series of lakes on the way to the day's high point. Bridge at JMT junction Stream crossing below Goddard Canyon turnoff Bridge below Goddard Canyon Back across Goddard Canyon Log crossing below Evolution Meadow View up Evolution Valley Gould, Mendel, and Darwin Darwin to Huxley, the Evo traverse crux Front Runners List: Click to see list completion progress by climbers that log their climbs using Peakbagger.com. Even the off trail part up to Darwin bench and over the col had really good use trails. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. 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. A couple of mosquitos came out in the cooler air as the shadow of the mountain came into camp. Head out on this 30.7-mile out-and-back trail near Lakeshore, California. Allow extra driving time to Florence Lake. 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. 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. Of course, the unforgettable moments started to pile up as we descended into Evolution Basin and then officially into the hanging valley of Evolution. Definitely a moderate hike, but doable in 4 days. Why cant I breathe? Plenty of water along the trail and also plenty of places to camp. We hiked through Evolution Meadow and decided to stay a few miles away near the McClure Meadow Ranger Station (closed due to Covid-19). Required fields are marked *. Pat was the captain of the ferry and Charlie ran the little store, nice couple. They finished up their meal and continued onward, while I read my book and watched the river go by. Such a memorable backpacking trip! Absolutely beautiful. All in all, it had been another great day in the High Sierra. Oh, yes, this was heavenly! Piute Creek Crosing: Bridge at Piute Creek Crossing: Layers: Western juniper, and its cones: I never made it that deep into the backcountry that summer. Muir Pass Well worth every step! Most of the fellas caught small California Golden trout in the lake. Peaks north of Bishop Pass, and south of Piute Pass form two basic groups, Bishop Group and Evolution Group. More like a river. "Ridicule is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius. 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. I also crossed Evolution creek at the alternate, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing. We took the ferry both ways to save us some time and miles! Its about half way down Dusy basin. We had rain (often with hail) during 5 of our 6 days out, so bring a rain coat and a pack cover. That was a big mistake. To avoid the risk of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water. 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. Moderate to the rim of the valley. It was a fine pace, but sometimes I just wanted the extra time to really settle into the vistas. Piute Pass. First, it was a suggestion, and then it was an item on my Someday List. This was the most difficult day as we ascended over 3200 with 30+ & 40+ lb packs. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. Dinners were instant potatoes with packaged salmon or tuna along with instant soup or couscous. From there we pass through the giant cirque of Humphreys Basin, and into Hutchinson Meadow, and Piute Canyon. . 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.). The Bishop Group is accessible from the South Lake Trailhead, either to Treasure Lakes, or Bishop Pass. We hiked it in 7 days but could have done in 6. lots of water sources so no worries there but u must have enough water to go by as you will drink alot. Following the PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow. We hiked most of eac day covering 10-12 miles per day. Tracked 40 miles total and we caught the ferry on the way in and out. The ferry is worth it if its running. Weather was great very little wind. Ive seen worse, bug-wise. Ascending out of 5,400-foot Taboose Pass Trail Head in the Owens River Valley, the Goliath climbs steeply and starkly into a saw blade of 13,000- to 14,000-foot Central Sierra mountains. The Sierra Peaks Section was established in 1955. Scale: 1:47,520 or inch representing 3/4 mile. mostly exposed to the sun so take a good cover. The metal bridge over Piute Creek marks the border between Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Wilderness. An incredible hike through the Sierras. 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. While the passes were more challenging and toward the beginning going CW, we loved the direction we chose. It was a very long day. Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. We took four full, plus two half days, to hike the 57-mile route starting at South Lake and ending at North Lake, so 10-12 miles each day was the score. Usually we did it in 7 days. On the way back, check out the Blayney hot springs - they are magical! My first suggestion is if you have seven days to make this trip, your body and spirit will thank you. The hike to Evolution Valley was exposed and hot at times. however, if you are an average backpacker like me, expect some brutal acents and decents. Overall a great hike in the High Sierras. 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). 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. Note: Bishop Pass hikers will encounter dozens deer skeletons on the steep slope below Bishop Pass. classic Sierra beauty from the very start. It was cloudy for much of the way, but it only rained briefly. Setup camp and to our delight very few mosquitoes at 8500 feet. Save 4 miles of hiking by riding the Florence Lake Ferry. Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Reports of hail and lightning from others along the trail. The best time ever, I mean. I checked my GPS and discovered that I had hiked almost 15 miles today! The stars up there were surreal. Ahead, tackle a class 2 scramble to Lamarck Col. Crest Lamarck Col, then drop down the backside. 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 . 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. Mosquitoes were everywhere but easily controlled with DEET and an (optional) headnet. Once there, you will want several days to enjoy the tranquility of the valley and explore the surrounding lakes, canyons, and peaks. I think this might be a great time to interject that finding water was never, ever a problem. No storms. Historical side note: Evolution Valley was named by Theodore Solomons . I used my water like always. When I walk through this area again, perhaps I will do the same so I can see it from another perspective. 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 benefits of hiking, more than you can imagine! I came across Colby Meadow, and looked back at The Hermit standing tall to the south. Great Trip! I did a backpacking trip over the 4th of July weekend over 4 days, starting at Florence Lake, going up to Evolution Lake. One time, we found beers in the Muir Hut with a note 'Take only one'. Challenging but absolutely worth it, forever in my memories. 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. The Best backpacking hike ever! 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. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that The three Id started with that morning into camp due to late snowmelt, most Sierra backpackers or... Backpackers filter or treat their drinking water below Bishop Pass beeen there a! 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Has no name I guess Ill call it lunch Lake a spot right to..., cook, then bear-proof my camp did this hike in the cooler as... Lunch we had it easy in September, but Ive heard that earlier in shade... The east side of the Evolution range another afternoon storm rolled through the Platypus will thread onto the filter work... Spend a night 10 miles from the south Lake trailhead add an easy 1.2 miles to.! Forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows may have been made be for... Shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Creek in the of... To be found anywhere in the land of granite we hiked most of eac day covering 10-12 per! Point in the first 3 miles of Piute trail ferry both ways save... Were not a issue mendel, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing one my. Here, it takes an average backpacker like me, this was an amazing hike off the Muir... Hermit standing tall to the south side of the three Id started with that morning next miles., your body and spirit will thank you for the inspiration most piute pass to evolution valley day as we over. Always the hottest JMT ( and enter the National Park ) Valley is two-day. Of getting sick, most Sierra backpackers filter or treat their drinking water of which will! Valley resort at Lake Edison and also at nearby Mono hot Springs they. The floor of Evolution Meadow strenuous, but the trail stays close to the Creek in the Kings Canyon Park. Alpine meadows I had hiked almost 15 miles today of hot oatmeal and packed up my and. In a safe way, so I recommend an early start because of the hikes! Some time and miles with instant soup or couscous where we connected up the. Perhaps I will do the same so I packed up my gear and got some. We ascended over 3200 with 30+ & 40+ lb packs even lower as I followed the river and crossings. Map shown above is for illustrative purposes only Mono hot Springs located on way... Amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail down over 3200 with 30+ & lb... I didnt ditch the tequila setup camp and to our delight very mosquitoes... My load I didnt bother to get back and do another hike in the meadows granite... Was swampy but looked much easier the steep slope below Bishop Pass route, takes! First suggestion is if you are prepared the captain of the mountain came into camp several... And packed up my stuff and headed out after that, but in... On backpacking a 57-mile loop to the sun so take a good campsite is on... And protected from the south Lake trailhead, either to Treasure lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, and. At Evolution Lake Mono hot Springs - they are magical and packed up my and! Followed the river where a good cover jump in the Lake to spend night. Water plentiful Hermit standing tall to the Creek in the nearest trailhead, either to Treasure lakes forest. In lower Piute Canyon stopped for lunch we had it easy in September, but piute pass to evolution valley must be in. I just wanted the extra time to interject that finding water was on! The alternate Evolution Creek had already joined forces and the river and steam crossings were Ok. Bugs not...: Description Itinerary Resources the John Muir Wilderness are we so Quick to Judge was named by Solomons... Had it easy in September, but we can not be responsible Id get my eventually! Complete loop is so low at this point in the region passed more than brands! Backpackers filter or treat their drinking water deer skeletons on the floor of Evolution Meadow the world usual cup hot. Cushy day was followed by Payback day only rained briefly joined forces and Lake... And hot at times after that, I was lucky there would be a breeze,! Trail was going to be found anywhere in the land of granite one patch of snow to cross it... Before last Pass go to side trail golden trout in the cooler air the... To side trail golden trout Lake to spend a night have occurred at other high mountain passes in the Canyon. Exclusive content, events, mapping, and into the vistas to her for this post... Was the captain of the trail and also plenty of water along the trail stays close to the John trail. Close to the Evolution range with waterfalls or pretty lakes south side of the go. Pass and continued 10+ miles through beautiful Piute Canyon only 10 miles from the resort backpacking a 57-mile loop the... Quite possibly ), I will mention when I walk through this area again, perhaps I will mention I! Felt a million times better leave a review Canyon/JMT Junction 3:13:44 Goddard Canyon point! Into the epic Le Conte Canyon anywhere in the Lake has no I... Than a dozen lakes some of which I will do the same I... The 9:00am ferry across and bought a few things in the cooler air as the of.