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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 22, 2016 10:25:26 GMT -8
Got it. By the way, that's Dusy Basin Damn, I must have looked at the map a hundred times and mentally added that "t" every time. Lol. Back in the day I had a Sierra Club poster for an Eliot Porter book, one of their exhibit format series on the side of my entrance hall, meaning I "saw" it multiple times a day for years. Always knew it had that great quote they used as a title: "In Wilderness is the Preservation of the World". Except, of course, that's not what was actually ON the poster or the book title. " Wildness". The brain is a stubborn creature once it "knows" something. Fwiw I've always liked going over to Desolation Lake for camping in the basin. For those that like stark, as I do, there's a lot of possibilities there.
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jdean383
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Post by jdean383 on Jun 9, 2017 12:55:46 GMT -8
Hi All! New to the forum and was looking for some input on the Evolution Valley Loop trail that we are doing in mid-September. We are starting from North Lake campground out of Bishop headed toward Paiute Pass, JMT & Evolution Lake area. All on the main trails at this point. I have come across a description of how to go off the main trail a mile or so before Evolution Lake through the Darwin Bench, Darwin Canyon, over Lamarck Col, catching up with the trail heading back to North Lake Campground. From reading some of the discussions sounds like there is a "use trail" that is reasonably easy to follow and no major scrambling on that route. Does all this sound right so far? I was looking at a possible alternative route, thus the reason for reaching out to any experts out there that would know the terrain better than I do. This is the route: - continue past Evolution Lake on the JMT, through Muir Pass, and just past Helen Lake
- from there go off trail navigating the most reasonable route to & over Clyde Spires (or nearby), past Echo Lake to Hungry Packer Lake
- there appears to be a trail from there that takes you on up past Lake Sabrina and to a road that connects you back to North Lake campground
Has anyone done this route or something close to it that might be better? Not interested in major scrambling. More like the Lamarck Col appears to be at Class 2.
Any thoughts, corrections or input on any of this greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jun 9, 2017 14:21:49 GMT -8
I have gone Down to Darwin's bench from Lamarck Col twice. Not sure I would enjoy going up it. Lots of loose sand and the footing would be ponderous at best. Nothing dangerous, just plodding. Once over the Col, headed towards N. Lake, the trail would be fairly easy to pick up, heading down to Upper Lamarck Lake.
If you choose this route, as you climb up out of Evolution Valley and get to the top of the switchbacks, head off slightly W of North and pick up the creek that drains out of the bench. That will lead you right to the first of 4 lakes on the bench.
As for which is easier, I'd personally go up by way of Upper Lamarck Lake and the Col, then return via Piute Pass, if your intent was to end up back at N. lake. I much prefer going from N. Lake to S. Lake via Dusy Basin and over Bishop Pass on the return. This might entail a shuttle or hitch-hiking back to the car if you only have one.map of Piute Pass to Bishop Pass
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Post by greg1062 on Jun 9, 2017 14:25:00 GMT -8
From the 4 times I have been over Muir Pass, I would say you would be in for some major scrambling trying to go cross-country to the Sabrina basin. Miles of talus, at best.
Personally I don't see the disdain for the decent (or ascent if going South to North) of Piute Creek. There is a lot of great scenery in the miles that taking the Lamarck Col route miss. My favorite being the cascades and falls of Evolution Creek as you climb up from the So. Fork San Joaquin, which has a nice number of cascades as well.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 9, 2017 16:57:17 GMT -8
If you choose this route, as you climb up out of Evolution Valley and get to the top of the switchbacks, head off slightly W of North and pick up the creek that drains out of the bench. That will lead you right to the first of 4 lakes on the bench. Actually, about the top of those switchbacks there is a very clear (but not marked) trail that leads up to the Darwin Bench. We totally did it the hard way in 2014, zeke . The only part of the Lamark Col route that is scrambly really is a couple of short bits around the lakes in Darwin Canyon. IIRC, there is a trail to return from South Lake to North Lake, though I'd actually suggest a shuttle if you can hire one, since it's not a short way.
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Post by greg1062 on Jun 9, 2017 17:48:28 GMT -8
IIRC, there is a trail to return from South Lake to North Lake, though I'd actually suggest a shuttle if you can hire one, since it's not a short way. There is a trail between the South Lake road and Sabrina Lake, via the Tyee Lakes. That would leave the road walk from Sabrina to North Lake. I don't know if it would require a second wilderness permit, tho (assuming an overnight stay between the trailheads).
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 9, 2017 19:18:06 GMT -8
That would leave the road walk from Sabrina to North Lake. That would be a drag. I'd find a shuttle. You should be able to get the whole trip on a single permit.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Jun 10, 2017 5:40:47 GMT -8
The Darwin Canyon - Lamarck Col route gets the most use and would be easier than something over Clyde Spires. It's not really a trail and hard to follow in spots, but if you have patience and a gps track, Lamarck Col is the way to go. You'll be climbing over boulders but not hanging off cliffs.
Piute Canyon is a freeway - you'll make good time if you go the long way around. And why skip Evolution Valley?
Next time I'm up there I want to find Packsaddle Pass.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 10, 2017 9:44:56 GMT -8
And why skip Evolution Valley? If going out via Lamarck Col I would detour to Evolution Lake, though camping there is pretty impacted. But you'll want to take a look, maybe enjoy lunch. BTW, in my post above it makes it look like you'd need a shuttle to complete the Paiute Pass/Lamarck Col loop. That was a brain fart, because they both are out of North Lake. You don't need the shuttle unless you go on to Dusy Basin and out over Bishop Pass.
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jdean383
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Post by jdean383 on Jun 12, 2017 4:33:54 GMT -8
Thanks to all for your assistance & input. This helps me make a decision.
greg1062, not sure I understand your comment regarding:
Personally I don't see the disdain for the decent (or ascent if going South to North) of Piute Creek. There is a lot of great scenery in the miles that taking the Lamarck Col route miss. My favorite being the cascades and falls of Evolution Creek as you climb up from the So. Fork San Joaquin, which has a nice number of cascades as well.
Are you saying that once you get to Lamark Col that you take the use trail up to Paiute Pass and then back to North Lake campground?
Thanks again all.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jun 12, 2017 4:49:00 GMT -8
Some of us don't use Piute Pass at all, skipping Evolution Valley completely. By doing so, crossing the Col on the way out and returning via some other route, we get straight to the "good stuff", above tree line granite. greg has shown his appreciation for the valley, with it's meadows, trees, and creek.
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Post by greg1062 on Jun 12, 2017 10:21:30 GMT -8
Are you saying that once you get to Lamark Col that you take the use trail up to Paiute Pass and then back to North Lake campground? I misread your post and thought you were entering at Lamarck Col and exiting South Lake (as many do). I've done the semi-loop 3 times. The first I was able to get back to North Lake via 3 hitches. The first was offered to me at the South Lake parking lot (to Four Jeffereys Campground), the 2nd I overheard the camper next to me talking about fishing at Sabrina the next day, so I asked him about a ride and the last was offered to me as I was walking up the North Lake road. I can't recommend the full trailed trip enough. You will not be alone, but the scenery is top notch (LeConte Canyon is one of my favorite places).
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 12, 2017 15:24:15 GMT -8
Some of us don't use Piute Pass at all, And at least one of us has gone in Lamarck Col and out over Alpine Col and Paiute Pass. That has some real appeal--except that I absolutely hated Alpine Col. It took me and my BiL hours to pick our way over the boulders, and made us both very grouchy. Other than that, it was a nice way to go out!
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