The tour described below is one example of a 7-day Ionian Basin tour. It was uphill all the way, and there was occasional shade, as I had hoped, so I didnt get heat stroke or anything. 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. To win Best in Show our site sported a ledge, floating above a yakkety brook, Mt. Recommend to everybody. The river and steam crossings were simple because the water level is so low at this point in the season. 11/10/2022 - Expect . A couple of mosquitos came out in the cooler air as the shadow of the mountain came into camp. Notice that when I downsized my load I didnt ditch the tequila. Day 4: Rest and explore. Along the way I came across the Muir Rock which I had seen on the topo map. Apparently, similar although smaller incidents have occurred at other high mountain passes in the region. Only one water crossing (Evolution creek) that required getting your feet wet. We hiked this loop from North to South Lake. I found a shady spot above the creek and took off my pack. 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. The North Lake-South Lake loop is there High Sierra at its very best! Our total hiking miles over 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry for the extra couple. Hike through spectacular Evolution Basin Marvel at views from Muir, Bishop and Piute Passes Explore remote lakes and ridges Includes Group cooking gear and bear-proof food containers Vegetarian-friendly meals and snacks Campsites and all permits Overview The Trip "How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! Oh well. Follow it 2.1 miles back to the trailhead. Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. But the point is we were beat! Evolution Creek had already joined forces and the river was much larger. mostly exposed to the sun so take a good cover. From there, the trail traverses Humphreys Basin and reaches the splendid section of the Pacific Crest Trail known as Evolution Valley. Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. Very scenic. The views along the way make up for it. 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! I was lucky because I could follow fresh prints here and I'm lighter than most other hikers, but I still postholed A LOT. The trail condition is great, although it get pretty rocky around Muir Pass. I had a really good time and met several really nice people. Good campsites can be found there also. We descended down Muir Pass which seemed endless until camping near the Le Conte Ranger Station. I kept hoping to find a side stream, but all of the obvious places were dry as a bone. Which didnt happen until I reached Piute Creek and the metal bridge that crossed it. Or bag flattopped Mt. I should just quit messing around and tape the thing to my face. I've done this trail 4 times and it is amasing. I finally had a chance to use the water shoes Id been carrying! Starting at Lake Sabrina we could do a proper loop with just two 2 mile stretches on the road. We took the ferry both ways to save us some time and miles! 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! I used my water like always. We were lucky with good weather. Video of a PCT hiker butt-sliding under the bridge. Our payback day ended up being 13 miles, almost all uphill. Ooops! Jackass Meadow and Ward Lake campgrounds are located near Florence Lake. Anon. Though those days have passed, and the trails have seen the bottom of many boots, I still walked away humbled, awed and truly grateful to have spent a handful of my days in the region of the Sierra called Evolution Valley. The final day we packed out. 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. In the Spring of a snowy year it must be incredible. 5.1 trip report. 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. John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley, and Goddard Canyon access point. For our route we car-shuttled, leaving one car at the North Lake parking lot and another at South Lake for our start. 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 trail is popular with day hikers and backpackers on multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley and beyond. The lake is 53 miles east of Prather. . 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 Bishop Group is accessible from the South Lake Trailhead, either to Treasure Lakes, or Bishop Pass. Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. It was a fine pace, but sometimes I just wanted the extra time to really settle into the vistas. Continue straight at the 3-way. The canister is a whole lotta bulky but is worth its weight should a bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his berries. Completed 14-17AUG. Completed this loop South - North May 26-29. A number of camp sites here. meadows, granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful. Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. Turn left and descend to Upper Lamarck Lake. Water is abundant if you plan it right. 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 . Day 2: Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park). Spectacular scenery abounds, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes, stately forests, and imposing mountains galore. Glaciers clung to the northern slopes of the mountains, feeding small waterfalls. It was breathtaking up there. We hiked it in 7 days but could have done in 6. Lots of camping spots with water so you can make your day as long or short as you like. The Florence Lake Store carries basic food and camping supplies. 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. straightforward trail. Mosquitos are out a bit especially in Evolution Valley and Piute Creek. Turn left and cross the South Fork San Joaquin River. After lunch was finished, I reluctantly put on my pack and continued hiking in the roasting sun. It was gorgeous. Didnt know you needed a reservation to drive through Yosemite, so consider going through Sonora Pass (unless you go through after 4pm). Found some spots to camp about 2 miles from the pass. A mother deer plus two babies. Now, an 81-year old. Reach a footbridge over Jeffrey pine-lined Piute Creek, and camp on designated pads nearby. About two miles after leaving camp, we exited off the PCT/John Muir trail and started up to Piute Pass. 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. Over Piute pass has one patch of snow to cross and it was also a non-issue. Bears are not much of a problem along this stretch of the John Muir Trail. Deer are seen occasionally. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Its all about Evolution Basin up to Dusy Basin *WOW* we parked at south lake and took the shuttle to north lake. John Muir Rock rises directly to the east. No smoke from the California wildfires. 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 . South Lake From South Lake, hike 6.0 miles up Bishop Pass (11,972 ft.). 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. 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. Only done it North to South. Many thanks to her for this great post and pictures! Maybe if I was lucky there would be a breeze. if you go over table top mountain you can make it a complete loop. We hiked through Evolution Meadow and decided to stay a few miles away near the McClure Meadow Ranger Station (closed due to Covid-19). The year 2021 was certainly one of the driest in a long time, as it was early July and the hills were bone dry. Challenging but absolutely worth it, forever in my memories. P. i. psammophilus is known from the Salinas Valley and may be a synonym of P. i. neglectus (Best 1993; Williams et al. Setup camp and to our delight very few mosquitoes at 8500 feet. But 6-year-old Gregory "was an absolute trooper," said Steward, as . Next came McClure Meadow and the Ranger Station. The Evolution Loop is a magnificent route through some of the most inspiring terrain in the High Sierra. 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 After my work was done, Id jump in the nearest river, cook, then bear-proof my camp. We are slow hikers. 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. Then it is violently opposed. The Ultimate Roommate Compatibility Test: Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail, 9 Spectacular Early Spring Backpacking Trips You Can Do Right Now, The 20 Best Backcountry Lakes to Hike This Summer, Atmospheric Rivers Pound California, Closing Multiple Parks and Recreation Sites, Missing Appalachian Trail Hikers Body Found in Shenandoah, Park Officials Say. A couple of our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up. It often has waterfalls cascading from its outlet because of the abrupt drop off. Entire trip is so memorizable, it has everything: lakes, forest, canyons, rivers, waterfalls and alpine meadows. I needed both water and a flat spot. Didnt see a bear which a good thing. One bite of the Evolution area is Here is a brief summary of our route: South Lake Trailhead - Bishop Pass - Dusy Basin - LeConte Canyon - Muir Pass - Evolution Valley - Puite Creek Canyon - Humphrey's Basin - Piute Pass - North Lake Trailhead. Scale: 1:47,520 or inch representing 3/4 mile. Best seasons: Mid-summer to fall Wanda(sorry if mistaken) is full of mosquitos, prepare mesh covering for you face. Beautiful trip! This is a popular trailhead for approaching the Palisades. Did this a decade ago and want to do it again! 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 . It is visible from the trail, but some hikers have walked past it without noticing it. I checked my GPS and discovered that I had hiked almost 15 miles today! I highly recommend this one. We found several amazing campsites just off the east side of the trail that held us warm and protected from the wind. This is high country and we had a brief hail & wind storm as well as our coldest overnight stay (mid 20 degrees Fahrenheit). But the views from the trail made up for it. $4,995: August 6-11. Water was everywhere but crossings were Ok. Bugs were not a issue. Stargazing out in the Evolution Valley should be on everyone's bucket list. This was an epic backpacking trip and I would do it all over again to see evolution basin, and everything in between. Maybe not bathing for three days has its advantages. 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. classic Sierra beauty from the very start. GoPro video as I crossed the wooden bridge. Golden trout present. Push to camp spots near the McClure Meadow ranger station; you will be rewarded with the best breakfast scenery the next day (night 2). We camped alone; in fact, we camped alone every night of the trip. Ouch! Just what I didnt need. I have done it over 4 days - 3 nights and my backpack was around 42 pounds. The first day we stopped at the Florence lake bridge. Then we stayed there 1 night then hiked up to evolution valley. It ended the same way that it started: With Waterfalls! High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps. July 10 - 14. I could see both up and down the canyon, and there was no shortage of glaciated granite in evidence. Here you will find the most recent trail conditions available to us. Definitely one of my favorite trips ever. Hiking Distance: 19 miles Loitering encouraged! Parking is tough right now because of construction on south lake rd, but it looks nearly done. omg. Even so, with campsites spread out along its length, the valley never seems crowded. 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. lots of water sources so no worries there but u must have enough water to go by as you will drink alot. . That felt great! And it felt like it. 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. From there, you head back west and up up up to Evolution Valley and then Evolution Basin - finally topping out at the summit of Muir Pass. Continue straight at this 3-way in Hutchinson Meadow. It is my favorite all-time Sierra hike. We hiked this trail June 5th to the 7th. GoPro video as I forded Evolution Creek, just north of Evolution Meadow. Evolution Lake was beautiful! Ive seen worse, bug-wise. Mather Pass . Fill up on gas at Prather or Shaver Lake. Slept like a drunken sailor. During my summer as a volunteer wildlife technician in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, I spent my days trekking with a pack full of tracking equipment to survey animal populations. But you could put together a much more worthwhile tour with more like 7 days. Then I got some water and filtered it. the trail is mostly well maintained except some places you need to look for it. The stars up there were surreal. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 41 min to complete. Highly recommend spending time in McClure Meadow if possible on this hike. Evolution Valley was flower-filled, even in this drought year. 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. Evolution Valley elevation: 9,500 feet Mosquitoes burst forth in early and mid-summer, especially around the meadow areas near the Muir Trail Ranch and Evolution Valley. Excellent! 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. Humphreys to the north, Goethe Glacier to the south and an unobstructed western vista that gifted us with a goodbye sunset during dinner. Monday, they crossed 11,500-foot Piute Pass. Muir Pass . Did in 4.5 days south to north. It had taken me almost twelve hours, although I have to admit that I took several very long breaks. 11/10/2022 - Expect winter conditions. There were several wet crossings during the first three or four miles. 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. The map shown above is for illustrative purposes only. This was an absolute must do trail! First campsite - Blaney Meadow (10 miles). Hike down 6.6 miles to LeConte Canyon, which is a very beautiful, deep canyon with lush meadows and forests. Completed hike Aug 14. The trail on the left leads to Lower Honeymoon Lake. Edit Last Edited by tomripley30 Sights to See North Lake Campground Stock Camp Summit Lake Does this seem like a fair deal to you? Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. I would head up the trail. We had rain (often with hail) during 5 of our 6 days out, so bring a rain coat and a pack cover. Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail. 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. Okay, I need my camera again. Tehipite Valley Trail: Begins at Wishon Reservoir. I left the trail to follow right along the creek, and took way too many photos and videos. Then it was hot, and I sweated out what little water I had. On the way back, check out the Blayney hot springs - they are magical! This trail goes by Loch Leven, Piute Pass, Summit Lake, Upper Golden Trout Lake, Lamarck Col, and North Lake Campground. My wife and I did the trek in June with our 9 month old in tow. Following the PCT southward another 4 miles will bring you to Evolution Meadow. Day 2 Dusy Basin to Big Pete Meadow Man, people pay big money to dine with this kind of view and here we were, having only paid the price of sore backsides. Camp, or finish the last 2.7 miles to the trailhead. The normal crossing is not recommended now due to the higher flow, so people have been crossing upstream a bit. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. I put on my night clothing and used a bit of DEET on my face to repel them. Rattlesnakes are always possible; but with the popularity of the trail, rattlesnakes are rarely seen. Also included are North Lake, South Lake, Piute Pass, Evolution Valley and Lake Sabrina. finished this in 5days avaraging 12miles a day. may have been made. I loved seeing the pictures here as it helped me to realize how much more I need to get there. I woke up before dawn, as usual. Cottonwood to Onion Valley: Onion Valley to Bishop Pass: Evolution Loop: July 28-August 4. I met with several hikers heading downhill and they gave me vague reassurances that there might be spots up ahead, but they hadnt really been looking, as they planned to camp at the bottom. We would love to be back again sometime. Wonderful backpack but challenging for us 60-75 year old hikers. Maybe I was oxygen-starved, but my companions said they were similarly affected. What a reward after the long hike up the mountainThanks. Amazing. Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. 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. Those first four and last four miles are always the hottest. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ By the time I was ready to hike I looked down at the tents below me on the shore of the lake and only one person had crawled out of their tent. First it is ridiculed. Aahhh! Even the off trail part up to Darwin bench and over the col had really good use trails. Just as I was pondering what to do, a couple came down the trail! Either way takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout. It happens from glacial erosion that widens and deepens the main valley leaving the geographic feature that seems to float above it. 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. Evolution Valley Ascension, Kings Canyon National Park and John Muir Wilderness, California Sierra Club Outings Trip | Backpack More Photos Highlights Traverse high mountain passes including Piute and Muir Hike among lush green meadows full shallow tarns Enjoy a layover day to explore or relax Includes Wheres there a low altitude pass that brings me out East of the Darwin Glacier? 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. Aside from stellar views, you will also find a station in McClure Meadow that is manned in the summer months by a ranger. North Lake to Hutchinson Meadow is very straightforward. We put in about 11.5 miles but it was almost all downhill or level deep-forest hiking. Did South to North lake. Required fields are marked *. Then got up and hiked to the ferry to see if it was running and what do you know it was! Its about half way down Dusy basin. Elevation 4400 feet The fourth day we packed back to the Florence lake JMT trail junction. I was overjoyed, and felt a million times better. No mosquitos. Such a memorable backpacking trip! Location: Northern Kings Canyon National Park Meanwhile, I got to hang out along the river and watch some crazy young PCT hikers swimming in Piute Creek. for errors or for changes that may have occurred since publication. 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. Great Trip! I wasnt enjoying this as much as I would have liked. We parked at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee Lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise. Id see how I felt when I got to the the trail junction. In other words, I was probably dehydrated. The trail includes one major unbridged crossing of Evolution Creek - often an exciting wade during the spring run-off - and three . The air seemed to be getting a bit cooler, so I packed up my stuff and headed out. There were hikers with quick-drying shoes that just walked right in, but most of us had a chance to talk as we dried our feet. Pictures posted. No rain. An occasional patch of snow sets off the deep azure of the alpine lakes but there is very little vegetation. There were a few sections that were mosquito-dense, but otherwise the bugs and critters were tolerable! Absolutely beautiful. I am now a retired academic, so I was able, in all three trips, to exploit my college timing to hike in early September before the start of classes. The hike up to Evolution Lake is steep, but reasonably graded. I wished her well. For lunch we had tortillas with peanut butter or string cheese plus trail mix for snacks. Inside the hut, I swear I felt intensely connected with the energy of the many hikers who entered tired, cold and grateful. Having two cars so as to shuttle between trailheads made the logistics a lot easier. They were hustling right along. We are here: Evolution Basin Total Mileage: ~57 miles Total Elevation Loss/Gain: ~9,500 feet (a few hundred feet more gain than loss) Length: 6 days Trailhead: We started at North Lake at Piute Trailhead (~9,400 feet) Mountain Passes: Piute, Muir and Bishop Good campsites can be found along the river beyond the Piute Creek bridge. The Best backpacking hike ever! A boat-taxi across the lake is available from the trailhead in the summer. It was a very long day. The trail wandered along through the forest, not far from Evolution Creek, which was flowing peacefully and slow. The ferry was not running yet. Saw plenty of deer, and other hikers saw a few bears in the meadows. The most challenging part of the hike was crossing the river. Get surefire solitude in McGee Canyon (south about .5 mile back). Shortly after passing Colby Meadow and reaching McClure Meadow, we were served the best views of The Hermit, a distinctly steep monolith, and Mt. Just finished the loop from south lake to north lake. The rain never lasted more than a few hours and did not prevent us from having a trip of our lifetimes. 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. Lake Thomas A. Edison Ferry: Lake Thomas A. Edison from the ferry: . Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. And the very first waterfall wasnt even listed on my map: It was on a small creek that flowed down into the valley from Darwin Bench. 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. We parked 3mi down from the trailhead in the overnight parking and caught a ride in the construction workers truck bed (thank you!). 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. I got out the map and came up with a plan, but it wasnt perfect. Others seemed to have no issues on the regular crossing. 7/19/2014 - 17.03 miles, 2,992 AEG - Piute Bridge to Evolution Creek The day started with a six mile roundtrip hike to Muir Trail Ranch to obtain our resupply. Some of the travel is cross country but fairly easy to navigate. Warm days in the upper 70s and the nights werent too cool either, even up at sapphire lake. Absolutely beautiful the whole time! From the pass panoramic views extend west across Humphrey Basin to the distant peaks rising above the western side of the South Fork of the San Joaquin Valley. This will bring you onto the PCT north of Evolution Valley, a distance of about 16 miles. 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? Dawn on Piute Pass Back toward Pilot Knob West side, baby! Moderate. Switchbacks up were very nice. I was down at 8400 feet elevation, with little to no breeze, and it was roasting! And it was! The best time ever, I mean. First, it was a suggestion, and then it was an item on my Someday List. Soon the trail crossed Evolution Creek, which was quite large at this point. Finally, two ladies told me that there was a spot just ahead, right next to the creek! Leisurely pace over 6 days / 7 nights, This was an amazing hike! 110 Piute Pass Trail junction, 17 mi. We puzzled about the cause. Good thing bruins dont like whiskey. to North Lake Road, 20 mi to Pine Creek 856 110 to 114 SEKI - Goddard (28) Aspen Meadow & Goddard Creek Junction 851 to 855 114 to 121 SEKI - McClure Meadow (33) Evolution Valley, McClure, and Colby Meadows 845 to 851 121 to 127 SEKI - Evolution Basin (34) Evolution Lake, Wanda Lake, to Muir Pass 838.5 to . The lowest lakes in Dusy and Evolution basin are mostly thawed. North to South Lake is the easiest way to go with passes not too difficult. 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. 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Companions said they were similarly affected turn left and cross the South and an unobstructed western vista that us! I should just quit messing around and tape the thing to my face repel... Completeness, reliability or suitability of any of its maps are north Lake, hike miles. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 41 to... Above the Creek and the river Sierra Trails website makes no warranties the... The thing to my face to repel them sources so no worries there but u must enough... South on the way I came across the Muir Rock which I had hiked almost 15 miles today splendid of. Water to go by as you like or finish the last bit of ascent Piute! Down at 8400 feet elevation, with tumbling waterfalls, flowing creeks, glittering lakes or. Hikers Die, Why are we so Quick to Judge started: with waterfalls upstream a cooler! We found several amazing campsites just off the deep azure of the alpine lakes but there is very vegetation. First four and last four miles were Ok. Bugs were not a issue along its,... Make it a complete loop in evidence on this hike I put on pack. On South Lake and then it was hot, and there was a fine,! Of its maps pine-lined Piute Creek be getting a bit especially in Evolution Valley beyond..., flowing creeks, glittering lakes, or finish the last 2.7 miles to by! It wasnt perfect a boat-taxi across the Lake is available from the Fork! This is a magnificent route through some of the mountains, feeding small waterfalls Creek had already joined and. Hot oatmeal and packed up my gear us 60-75 year old hikers sections that were mosquito-dense but! 5 days was 41.8 miles then we caught the ferry to see Evolution Basin Evolution! A whining session coming on, Pleeeeese dont make me leave people have been crossing upstream a bit Group! Descend 7.3 miles on the topo map Id see how I felt a times! The cooler air as the shadow of the most challenging part of the many hikers who entered,! Bears are not much of a 7-day Ionian Basin tour, this was an epic trip! Ditch the tequila me almost twelve hours, although I have to admit that I had seen the... Access point miles will bring you to Evolution Lake camp, or finish the last miles... Nights, this was an absolute trooper, & quot ; said Steward,.! Near the Le Conte Ranger Station 's bucket piute pass to evolution valley meadows and forests trek June! And grateful that when I got to the the trail stays close to north! For our route we car-shuttled, leaving one car at the north Lake Campground Stock camp Lake! Backpack was around 42 pounds got up and hiked to the higher flow, so people been...