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Post by Chuck the Mauler on Jul 27, 2021 16:25:22 GMT -8
Hey all. I haven't been on here much, but remember this being a great resource for intel. So here's what I was able to get. What do you think and would you make any changes? Is Day 3 too long? Is there better places to camp? Is this enough time without killing 3 old guys, lol?
We are entering at South Lake and have a permit to camp at: Bishop Lake Dusty Basin SEKI 42 Evolution Lake SEKI 34 McClure Meadow SEKI 33 Lamark Lake (Upper or Lower
Then exiting out of North Lake on day 6.
What say you Sierra experts? I've done the Rae Lakes loop twice via Onion Valley, so I'm familiar with the elevation and terrain.
Thanks, CTM
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 27, 2021 17:38:51 GMT -8
Day 3 is indeed a long one. Downhill from Dusy Basin, then up, up, up to Muir pass. Hike along Wanda lake et al for about 6 (?) miles before reaching Evolution. Dusy is well worth an extended exploration, so get there early in Day 2. what exactly is the plan for McClure meadow to Lamarck Lake? The meadow is out of your way, by a bunch unless you have some plan to climb back up to Darwin Canyon. I've done this loop twice, from N-S, stopping at Upper Lamarck Lake, then Darwin Canyon, Wanda Lake, Dusy Basin, and out. you are mostly doing it the other way, but similar. rebeccad has done this twice as well. Let's see what she thinks. BTW, I think that Dusy Basin to Evolution Lake will be tougher than that stretch of Tanner to Grandview. The trail is well worn, but the climb would take it out of me, so the last miles would be interminable. I'll look forward to the TR.
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Post by Chuck the Mauler on Jul 27, 2021 17:44:27 GMT -8
Zeke, would you recommend going further on day two to shorten day 3 (if I can alter the permit)? The trail from Tanner to Grandview was pretty smooth sailing, looking back at that. I just don't do well in the heat, plus some of that is for camera for Joey lol.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 28, 2021 3:22:41 GMT -8
Well, heat shouldn't be an issue, most of the time. If your lot is good for a 15 mile day, including the climb, then maybe you'll be fine with the planned route. Still unsure about where you are headed after the Meadow.
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Post by Chuck the Mauler on Jul 28, 2021 4:11:20 GMT -8
What i'm thinking is to stay at south lake and get an early start, day 1. Then forgo Bishop Lake and continue to Dusy Basin for (what would be) night 1. Then camp somewhere between there and Evolution day 2. This is if we can alter the permit, of course.
A 17 mile day wouldn't be terrible, just not ideal. Any other insight would be great.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 28, 2021 8:02:44 GMT -8
I don’t think I’d want to do Dusy to Evolution Lake. Stopping at Helen Lake, before going over the last hump of Muir Pass, would make more sense to me. Then instead of McClure Meadow, straight on over to Darwin Canyon. Evolution Lake is very pretty, but overused.
An early start from South Lake would make it doable to get to Dusy in one day, but it’s a grunt. I was a lot younger the last time I did that, and got some altitude sickness (of course, we’d been at sea level something like 36 hours earlier).
Have they started being that strict about camps? Used to be you just got a trailhead permit.
I also agree with Zeke—Dusy is really cool and worth some extra time exploring it.
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Post by Chuck the Mauler on Jul 28, 2021 9:55:19 GMT -8
The last 2 permits I pulled were from Bishop entering on the Inyo side (Onion Valley over Kearsarg Pass). They told us both times that we could camp anywhere (besides Bullfrog Lake) we wanted to. And like you said the permit was basically access from the TH. However, they did want an idea where you intend to camp, and these locations are listed on the permit.
I'll take a closer look at the map tonight. My buddy pulled the permit, so there’s that. If I remember right isn't there an off-trail shortcut along this route to lop off some miles? I'll have to check out Joey's (My Own Frontier) video on this similar trip. Anyway, we're wide open to any suggestions any of you may have. As I've gotten older 9 - 13 miles is my sweet spot in the mountains.
Thanks to both of you for the replies. It's much appreciated!
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 28, 2021 11:24:04 GMT -8
What was your exit plan for starters? Over Piute Pass? Lamarck Col? I like LC, myself. Never having approached it from Darwin's Canyon, I am not sure just how plainly visible it is, but there should be a track there of some sort. That is one shortcut from the PCT to Upper Lamarck lake. That route does avoid heading down to the Meadow, so you go up instead of down.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 28, 2021 11:33:36 GMT -8
What was your exit plan for starters? Over Piute Pass? Lamarck Col? I like LC, myself. Never having approached it from Darwin's Canyon, I am not sure just how plainly visible it is, but there should be a track there of some sort. That is one shortcut from the PCT to Upper Lamarck lake. That route does avoid heading down to the Meadow, so you go up instead of down. I think it would be pretty easy to find Lamarck Col from Darwin’s Canyon, as long as you make sure you’re on the right track. The last time I came over Lamarck (after you and I did it), we picked up a good boot track on the Darwin Bench, and it took us to the PCT just before the PCT makes the big drop to Evolution Valley. It’s not signed, but it’s pretty visible. Obviously easier to do it the other direction, but at least having come that way we were able to find it on our return. I admit I was assuming that was your intended exit. If you were planning to drop to Paiute Canyon and climb out through the Humphreys Basin and Paiute Pass, you were looking at a really, really long last day. Actually, that would also be true from McClure Mdw over Lamarck. ETA: since your last night was planned at Lamarck lakes, I assume you were intending this route. But I’m not sure about any other “off trail” route that would cut mileage. I can’t recommend Alpine Col.
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Post by Chuck the Mauler on Jul 29, 2021 16:22:25 GMT -8
Thank you both for the replies. I've had a chance to dig in a little deeper here (not my permit) and this is what makes sense to me. I've talked with the group about the route, and they don't like the idea off off-trail travel (damn it). So this is what I've come up with. Start at South Lake and hike over Bishop Pass and camp towards the south end of Dusy Basin. Day 2 over Muir Pass and head down to Wanda Lake to camp night 2. Day 3 Down Evolution Valley and camp near Evolution Meadow night 3. Day 4 Continue north on the JMT/PCT to the junction just past Muir Trail Ranch and turn off to the Piute Trail. Camp near Hutchinson Meadow and Pine Creek Pass for night 4. Day 5 Through Piute Canyon, through Humphreys Basin, over Piute Pass and camp at either Piute Lake or Loch Leven. Day 6 head out North Lake. Mileage wise, this evens things out a bit. What are your initial thoughts? A couple of logistic questions. Where specifically do you park/stage the vehicles? At North Lake is it Cardinal Village Resort, Sabrina CG or is there a trail head that's not showing up on my map, lol? Looks like there is only a footpath to North Lake off 168. At South Lake looks pretty straight forward. Here's a Caltopo map I'm working on. caltopo.com/m/B3LCThank again!!
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 30, 2021 4:18:42 GMT -8
North lake parking is just a 1/2 mile of road walk from the trailhead. You can see it in this snap. There is a toilet facility at the further lot. ![](https://i.ibb.co/jVL8NR4/Screen-Shot-2021-07-30-at-8-12-52-AM.png) ![](https://i.ibb.co/BqqsGFn/Screen-Shot-2021-07-30-at-8-24-37-AM.png) As for the route, it makes the most sense. It evens out the mileages better. I wouldn't be happy about your Day 1 or 2, knowing what I already know about Dusy Basin and the slog up to Muir Pass. Your lot seems to be in better climbing shape than I am. We'll see what rebeccad has to say about it, as she is a better hiker than me.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 30, 2021 4:36:55 GMT -8
Zooming in on your Caltopo map, here is the parking area. ![](https://i.ibb.co/9s4Hg2Z/Screen-Shot-2021-07-30-at-8-34-02-AM.png)
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 30, 2021 5:26:42 GMT -8
Zeke is correct—North Lake parking is where he indicates. You will come through the campground (6 sites, I think), and walk 1/2 mile or less down the gravel road. The pavements ends above Sabrina, but it is a road fully passable to all vehicles. I also agree that the plan evens the days out, though I wouldn’t be excited about the mileages/elevations on most of them ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) . You could shorten those each a bit, assuming you don’t have to hit the TH early—your current final camp is not that far from the N Lake TH. Easy enough to get there from the west side of Paiute Pass, so you could take advantage of good camping at many points in the Humphrey’s Basin. I think you could do something like night 1 in Dusy Basin (wherever you want), Night 2 at Lake Helen, 3 somewhere in the Evolution Valley or even at Evolution Lake (which despite what I said about it being overused is more my style than the valley, though many people do prefer the forests), 4 wherever you want to stop, 5 shortly before Paiute Pass—Muriel Lake has some lovely campsites. in 2015 we hiked from Muriel Lake out and were in Bishop for lunch, applying the final-day math of about twice the pace of every other day, especially when dangling burgers and shakes in front of Eldest Son 🤣
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 30, 2021 5:28:32 GMT -8
BTW, in 1993, I think, I hiked from South Lake over Bishop Pass into the upper part of Dusy Basin for the Summer Solstice. Add in the snow we postholed through, and even at 30 it darn near killed me.
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Post by Chuck the Mauler on Jul 30, 2021 12:19:03 GMT -8
That's great info! Thank you both. I will do my part and create a trip report here when we're done. I don't post TR's much anymore. But when you folks are kind enough to share your intel with me, it's the least I can do. When me meet, I'll buy you both a beer......or coffee. Whatever you like.
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