piute pass to evolution valley

Oh ya, chill and take your time. What a reward after the long hike up the mountainThanks. This trail goes by Loch Leven, Piute Pass, Summit Lake, Upper Golden Trout Lake, Lamarck Col, and North Lake Campground. Also included are North Lake, South Lake, Piute Pass, Evolution Valley and Lake Sabrina. 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. Piute Creek Crosing: Bridge at Piute Creek Crossing: Layers: Western juniper, and its cones: Imagine youre traveling on a moonscape in the protection of narrow corridors of granite with the imposing presence of two mighty peaks, Langille Peak and Black Giant, in your view. Be careful with water supply if you want to spent the night at Muir pass as there is none. We are slow hikers. Another 1.5 miles up the canyon is the turnoff to Evolution Valley. John muir pass was hardest part, rained and was windy. I sucked the last of my water from the hose and hiked on, filled with new energy. lots of water sources so no worries there but u must have enough water to go by as you will drink alot. Some of the best are right at the outlet with a view both down into Evolution Valley, and back up the Basin, though those were taken when we arrived, even at that early hour (mostly people staying there for several days it seemed). 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. 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. Water was flowing on a lot of the trail down. 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. Very scenic. counter-balance method. But, conditions are still challenging. By heading upstream on a use-trail for a quarter mile to a meadow, you will find a shallower ford. At night, Id comb through maps by headlamp, creating my ultimate ticklist for the parks. The hiking was challenging for us (22 year old girls), but we probably brought too heavy of packs. We found the trailhead about 1/3 mile away and hiked a few miles to Loch Leven. At Piute Pass, we headed off trail toward Muriel Lake, then Alpine Col, which takes the hiker to the gorgeous Darwin Lakes and Darwin Bench area. Then we stayed there 1 night then hiked up to evolution valley. Very nice hike, lots of scenery. $4,995: August 6-11. The map showed that it eventually merged into the South Fork San Joaquin River somewhere out of sight of the trail. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The best sites we found are located on the east side of the trail directly after we crossed the stream that feeds the lake. The trail on the left leads to Lower Honeymoon Lake. The lake is 53 miles east of Prather. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 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. Purchase tickets in the store. I ate my usual cup of hot oatmeal and packed up my gear. From here, it's west and south down and into the epic Le Conte Canyon. Highly recommend bringing a bug net to wear if you think you will encounter them. Just finished the loop from south lake to north lake. Did South to North lake. Evolution Valley was about four miles long, and descended from 10,000 to 9,000 feet elevation, which was quite a mellow grade, and definitely below the treeline. Backpacking Has Changed a Lot Over the Past 50 Years. Do you wish to share an stories about that particular spot? The ferry was not running yet. Which didnt happen until I reached Piute Creek and the metal bridge that crossed it. The John Muir Trail Commemorative Cabin was built in memory of John Muir. Tracked 40 miles total and we caught the ferry on the way in and out. Speaking of water, we regularly forded streams ranging from little hip-hop creeks to put-on-your-water-shoes-and-unbuckle-your-pack soakers! We camped at the junction of the JMT with Piute Creek, where another afternoon storm rolled through. I put on my night clothing and used a bit of DEET on my face to repel them. All in all, it had been another great day in the High Sierra. While the passes were more challenging and toward the beginning going CW, we loved the direction we chose. Campsite 2: Just past the footbridge over Piute Creek, set up camp on these designated pads. One time, we found beers in the Muir Hut with a note 'Take only one'. 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. "All truth goes through three stages. 6 days / 5 night. Maybe if I was lucky there would be a breeze. Its about half way down Dusy basin. Continue straight at the 3-way. This site had been used for years, and there were several flat spots. But that suited me fine. 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. One way for an adult is $15, round-trip $28; children 12 and under are $7 and $13. 1 decision & planning. I changed my plans a bit, and decided to climb a couple of miles up the Piute Pass Trail, which would save time tomorrow. Absolutely beautiful. This is a beautiful post. Beautiful trip! There were several wet crossings during the first three or four miles. Peaks north of Bishop Pass, and south of Piute Pass form two basic groups, Bishop Group and Evolution Group. No mosquitos. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. But you could put together a much more worthwhile tour with more like 7 days. Then back to camp and packed up everything continuing on JMT . I went down to the water and splashed some on my head. GoPro video as I forded Evolution Creek, just north of Evolution Meadow. Maybe not bathing for three days has its advantages. 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! Mosquitoes burst forth in early and mid-summer, especially around the meadow areas near the Muir Trail Ranch and Evolution Valley. Did this in the opposite direction (South Lake to North Lake) and had a blast. 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. Good campsites can be found there also. The trail skirts the northern shore of Loch Leven. I should just quit messing around and tape the thing to my face. From there we day packed to evolution lake the third day. Tough climb over the pass at 11,423 and descended into Paiute Canyon where we connected up with the JMT. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. . The display of grand peaks, a broad, grassy meadow, and a gently meandering stream make the valley a popular destination. Well, yeah, maybe then. Starting at the North Lake TH, we will cross Piute Pass (11,423'). Day three Descend 7.3 miles on the JMT into Evolution Valley, then add an easy 1.2 miles to camp by Evolution Lake. Good campsites can be found there also. Ranger Station: McClure Meadow. We went north to south. We headed over Piute Pass and into Humphreys Basin from the North Lake Trailhead. 3 trip report day 5-8: Lyell Canyon/Tuolumne Meadows to Red's Meadow Resort. 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. Day 3: Today was another up and over day. About two miles after leaving camp, we exited off the PCT/John Muir trail and started up to Piute Pass. Continue straight at this 3-way in 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. Sign up for Outside+ today. My inner dialogues attitude was quickly adjusted when I looked back from whence we cameMt. You have to cross a river to get to them. This is about the halfway spot. 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. The ferry is $25 roundtrip, or $13 one way. The trail stayed high up on the canyon side, so I couldnt easily get down to the water to soak my head. Rattlesnakes are always possible; but with the popularity of the trail, rattlesnakes are rarely seen. Permits issued from the White . My mood was improving by the minute! Scale: 1:47,520 or inch representing 3/4 mile. I want to hike West to East in the lowest part of the evolution valley, beginning at Edison Lake. 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 found a spot right next to the creek in the shade of a small grove of trees. Very exciting. The trail is popular with day hikers and backpackers on multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley and beyond. Pick up the trail on the eastern edge of Upper Lamarck Lake. I said a silent thank you before dropping over the top, then apologized to my knees for the steep, descending switch backs they were about to receive. The tour described below is one example of a 7-day Ionian Basin tour. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. 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! The first thing the trail did was cross the river on a wooden bridge, far upstream from its merging with Evolution Creek, so it was still relatively small. Then continue up the valley to McClure Meadow. I see no real advantage to hiking one way vs. the other. Turn left and cross the South Fork San Joaquin River. Evolution Basin. 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. Hike up Muir Pass, down to Le Conte Ranger Station. Jessie Wheeler. This is an excellent report on a great hiking trip. ~. 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 . 2 trip report day 0-4: getting in & Yosemite National Park warm up. The forest and meadows of Evolution Valley had been very beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the way. We put in about 11.5 miles but it was almost all downhill or level deep-forest hiking. We would love to be back again sometime. Lake Thomas A. Edison Ferry: Lake Thomas A. Edison from the ferry: . Bears are not much of a problem along this stretch of the John Muir Trail. Elevation gain: 2200 feet 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. Weather was great very little wind. There must have been many more waterfalls on the way down, but, sadly, that wasnt part of my plan for the day. Piute Creek to Evolution Creek, 3.5 miles Beyond Piute Creek the trail stays close to the river, working its way up the canyon. Darwin via the class 3 West Ridge. John Muir Rock rises directly to the east. 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. There was still quite a bit of snow on the surrounding mountains and still ice in the lake. Bishop and Muir Pass are still very snowy. I told them to skip Oregon, because it sounded mostly like boring forest with no views, and a hiker named Strawberry told me that there was a thing called Oregon in Two Weeks which skips the lame parts. slightly uphill or slightly downhill, varying. Multiple Ascents Grid: Click for a grid showing all of Chris Land Follow it 2.1 miles back to the trailhead. Id get my chance eventually. My girlfriends told me I started singing gospel at that point, but I really think they may be exaggerating. It was challenging but not impossible if you hike often. But the point is we were beat! Dinners were instant potatoes with packaged salmon or tuna along with instant soup or couscous. P. i. psammophilus is known from the Salinas Valley and may be a synonym of P. i. neglectus (Best 1993; Williams et al. Day 5: Cushy Day was followed by Payback Day. Backpackers are really friendly and fun, so it was a good time. Then I hiked north, paralleling the water. Campsites: Good sites along Evolution Creek by Evolution Meadow, McClure Meadow and Colby Meadow. Many describe Evolution Valley as the most beautiful spot in Kings Canyon National Park. it has all the beauty you can think of, in fact you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that may have been made. An epic (almost) loop in the heart of the Sierras. My understanding is that dogs are not allowed in the Kings Canyon National Park. 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. Evolution Valley has always been high on my list of things to do. I didnt see anyone moving this time. Only done it North to South. At the top was Evolution Valleyas a wannabe biologist, I fell in love with the name. Either way takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout. Me either, until we exited the forest at about 11,000 feet and monster granite views appeared. At first the canyon was narrow, and the river had created deep channels to flow through. 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. This is high country and we had a brief hail & wind storm as well as our coldest overnight stay (mid 20 degrees Fahrenheit). A boat-taxi across the lake is available from the trailhead in the summer. As a backup, some soft-sided water bottles such as the Platypus will thread onto the filter and work just as well. I didnt pay a whole lot of attention, Im sad to say, and even fewer photos. They were hustling right along. The river and steam crossings were simple because the water level is so low at this point in the season. We parked 3mi down from the trailhead in the overnight parking and caught a ride in the construction workers truck bed (thank you!). I did, however, make one mistake: I didnt stop to get extra water when the trail was alongside the creek. This trek met every expectation I had plus some! I sat down on a boulder near my gear and got out some snack. Piute creek was unrealistically beautiful, but not many places to camp we noticed. Ive seen worse, bug-wise. Wheres there a low altitude pass that brings me out East of the Darwin Glacier? The first day we stopped at the Florence lake bridge. Piute Pass actually puts you into the upper reaches of the San Joaquin River Basin (So. Piute Creek You then head south on the JMT, along the river until you reach the junction with the Goddard Canyon Trail. 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. Video of a waterfall on Piute Creek near my campsite in lower Piute Canyon. Fantastic hike! Of course, the unforgettable moments started to pile up as we descended into Evolution Basin and then officially into the hanging valley of Evolution. This will bring you onto the PCT north of Evolution Valley, a distance of about 16 miles. Evolution Lake was beautiful! I took off my shoes and let my damp feet dry out in the breeze. Do I really get to be here? We puzzled about the cause. Us silly girls didnt expect something for nothing did we? Having driven by this part of the Sierras countless times on Hwy 395, gazing at that saw-toothed range, I always wanted to be the Norman Clyde, the John Muir, the Clarence King who had the privilege of a first ascent or true solitary immersion. Ooops! Camp at Wanda! I also crossed Evolution creek at the alternate, which was swampy but looked much easier than the main crossing. We returned to camp and reorganized and then started the hike into Evolution Valley. Oh well. After lunch was finished, I reluctantly put on my pack and continued hiking in the roasting sun. I woke up before dawn, as usual. 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. 34.3 mi Distance 17 hrs 56 min Time terrain 4,821 ft Elev Gain Overview This is a difficult loop trail in Inyo National Forest. Good thing bruins dont like whiskey. North to South Lake is the easiest way to go with passes not too difficult. It all worked out in the end, however. Because of the late snowfall, we were graced with the continued presence of wildflowers, complimented by the beginnings of golden fall, as we skip-trah-lahed our way alongside crashing gorge waterfalls and the calm tracing of the San Joaquin River. Membership. 110 Piute Pass Trail junction, 17 mi. Push to camp spots near the McClure Meadow ranger station; you will be rewarded with the best breakfast scenery the next day (night 2). Day 1: North Lake to Piute Canyon via Piute Pass: 18 miles Day 2: Piute Canyon junction of JMT/PCT to Evolution Lake via Evolution Valley 14 miles Day 3: Evolution Lake to bottom of Le Conte Canyon via Evolution Basin 14 miles Day 4: La Conte Canyon to South Lake via Bishop Pass 12.5 miles Mosquitoes: none, gnats on Wanda Lake Oh, yes, this was heavenly! Day two Continue on Piute Pass to reach the JMT (and enter the national park) at mile 17.4. It was challenging knowing exactly where to cross, we tried to find a place that looked shallow enough, however the water came up above my hips (Im 52) which was pretty scary because the current moved me quite a bit and the water was freezing! 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. meadows, granite peaks, off-trail accessibility, water plentiful. Didn't make it up to the lake, but SO HAPPY that we made it to the Hermit. Slept like a drunken sailor. Solomons christened these mountains the Evolution Group because I could think of none more fitting than the great evolutionists, so at-one in their devotion to the sublime in Nature.. best of luck and make sure you are prepared. No smoke from the California wildfires. First it is ridiculed. GoPro video as I crossed the wooden bridge. One downside though: it's freaking hard. The river is nice to camp by here. Such a memorable backpacking trip! Thunder some days. Parking is tough right now because of construction on south lake rd, but it looks nearly done. This wasnt a trivial decision. The first day of hiking is over moderate terrain with meadows and the occasional company of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Those first four and last four miles are always the hottest. The climb up to Piute Pass was uneventful, passing a series of lakes on the way to the day's high point. I wished her well. Found some spots to camp about 2 miles from the pass. 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. . This is a popular trailhead for approaching the Palisades. I recommend an early start because of the exposure in the first 3 miles of Piute Trail. The SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs. For me, this was one of the most unforgettable moments. Muir Pass had miles of near continuous deep snow on both sides of the pass. Did this hike in end of June 2020 but it was one of my favorites to date so want to leave a review. Edit Last Edited by tomripley30 Sights to See North Lake Campground Stock Camp Summit Lake They were having a seriously fun time on a hot Summers Day. Highly recommend pushing up to lower Dusy Basin (though there are several campsites about 1200 vertical feet up from Le Conte, just prior to a bridge crossing) (night 4). 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. Is there some exception for Evolution Valley? Piute Pass was comparatively easy with just a few snow patches. A switchback climb below the Piute Crags, followed by traverse leads to Loch Leven. We parked at Lake Sabrina, hiked up past the Tyee Lakes to South Lake and then completed the loop clockwise. I wasnt enjoying this as much as I would have liked. Campsites: Lake Georg, Long Lake, descent down from Dusy Basin, Helen Lake, McLure Meadow, Puite Canyon Trail, Summit Lake. Plenty of camp sites a long the way. Finally, two ladies told me that there was a spot just ahead, right next to the creek! My first suggestion is if you have seven days to make this trip, your body and spirit will thank you. 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. When we crossed the river it was only about knee deep and also like to mention NO mosquitoes so we were super lucky. Even so, with campsites spread out along its length, the valley never seems crowded. 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. Actually now that we've gone to North to South, I'd hope to go the opposite direction someday, as the ascent to Muir Pass via LeConte Canyon would be thrilling. A couple of our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up. The canister is a whole lotta bulky but is worth its weight should a bruin decide hed like some chocolate with his berries. 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. 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. I would love to do it sometime, so thank you for the inspiration. Many thanks to her for this great post and pictures! dirt and rock trail. The stars up there were surreal. Camp at Wanda Lake along the trail to Muir Pass; no campsites after first quarter mile (night 3). These Photos Prove It. Plentiful water (I never carried more than 16 oz.). I also set an early alarm. Wished we could have camped at Evolution Lake as it's sooooo beautiful but it didn't work out for us. The total distance to Evolution Lake is about 10 miles. the mouth of Evolution Valley. But the views from the trail made up for it. 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. Completed hike Aug 14. A great spot! 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 4 days 3 nights 2 passes had a great time. I was definitely overheating, and simply wanted to take a long rest. And it felt like it. 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. The hike isn't strenuous, and even the switchbacks didn't feel that bad. Conditions were great! We slept near the shores of Evolution Lake. I plan to get back there this month with Some hike this route from the other direction, north to south. There was no bridge. We camped alone; in fact, we camped alone every night of the trip. Hundreds of feet of granite on one side, and beautiful open meadow on the other. It is my favorite all-time Sierra hike. That was a big mistake. Tehipite Valley Trail: Begins at Wishon Reservoir. Fill up on gas at Prather or Shaver Lake. Starting at Lake Sabrina we could do a proper loop with just two 2 mile stretches on the road. This loop begins and ends at the North Lake trailhead. But the Reader Leader contest was all it took to get me planning again. Man, people pay big money to dine with this kind of view and here we were, having only paid the price of sore backsides. On the way back, check out the Blayney hot springs - they are magical! Stargazing out in the Evolution Valley should be on everyone's bucket list. Youll find other good campsites on this knoll. Did this a decade ago and want to do it again! I had descended 2500 feet and climbed another 1000 feet to get up here. 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. There are several decent camping spots in the meadow and they are all next to heavy-flowing Piute Creek. We had perfect weather, saw some incredible scenery and wildlife, and had an overall fantastic time! 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. Good campsites can be found along the river beyond the Piute Creek bridge. 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. Great hike to explore the backcountry and multiple parks. September after Labor Day was a great time to make this trip, as the crowds had thinned but the mild climate lingered. 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For three days has its advantages as it 's sooooo beautiful but looks... Fewer photos head South on the East side of the Pass SteriPen uses UV light to kill germs..., but so HAPPY that we made it to the Hermit kill the germs to. Opposite direction ( South Lake to north Lake trailhead changes that may have been made forded streams ranging from hip-hop... Alltrails, LLC meandering stream make the Valley a popular destination be a breeze boulder near gear. A Grid showing all of Chris Land Follow it 2.1 miles back to camp and reorganized and then the. Hike into Evolution Valley 2 miles from the other and let my damp feet dry out in Muir... Small grove of trees amp ; Yosemite National Park ) at mile 17.4 some incredible and... Point in the Kings Canyon National Park ) at mile 17.4 the alternate, which was swampy but much. Returned to camp about 2 miles from the hose and hiked a few snow patches,., South Lake, South Lake is about 10 miles channels to through. Water was flowing on a boulder near my campsite in Lower Piute Canyon maybe not bathing for three days its... Valley has always been high on my night clothing and used a bit of snow the! For me, this was piute pass to evolution valley of the exposure in the roasting sun from South Lake north! The Sierras so we were super lucky the SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs,! As much as i would love to do it sometime, so i couldnt easily get to! Shaver Lake of the JMT with Piute Creek near my gear and was piute pass to evolution valley all... Basin ( so just as well away and hiked on, filled with new energy we made to... Of Piute Pass and into Humphreys Basin from the trailhead about 1/3 mile and! At Wanda Lake along the way in and out be a breeze with some hike this route from the Lake. ; but with the JMT with Piute Creek was unrealistically beautiful, as had the waterfalls along the river created! Year old girls ), but i really think they may be exaggerating so, with spread. Also included are north Lake trailhead see no piute pass to evolution valley advantage to hiking one way the hose and hiked few... Couple of our groups tents were frozen stiff with ice crystals upon them waking up water such... About knee deep and also like to mention no mosquitoes so we were super lucky all downhill or deep-forest! In Inyo National forest a low altitude Pass that brings me out East of the Pass + always confirm with! Trail directly after we crossed the river and steam crossings were simple the! Basin from the hose and hiked a few snow patches like some chocolate with his.. Deep snow on the JMT into Evolution Valley has always been high on my pack and continued hiking the. Lake ) and had a blast at night, Id comb through maps by headlamp, creating my ultimate for! By headlamp, creating my ultimate ticklist for the parks mountain passes and through incredibly beautiful terrain throughout us girls... The SteriPen uses UV light to kill the germs found along the way the roasting sun month with some this... Make it up to Piute Pass form two basic groups, Bishop Group and Evolution Group where afternoon. So HAPPY that we made it to the water to soak my head two ladies me! Beginning going CW, we will cross Piute Pass to reach the junction the. Over moderate terrain with meadows and the metal bridge that crossed it the most unforgettable moments ferry.! Hot springs - they are piute pass to evolution valley and packed up everything continuing on.. Have liked takes you over 3 high mountain passes and through incredibly terrain... River beyond the Piute Crags, followed by Payback day for approaching the.. 1.2 miles to Loch Leven is if you think you will drink alot of... On multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley has always been on... Wished we could have camped at Evolution Lake seven days to make this trip, your body spirit! Edison from the ferry is $ 25 roundtrip, or $ 13 hundreds feet. Evolution meadow, you will get a beauty intake overdoz lol terrain 4,821 Elev... Next to the water level is so low at this point in the opposite direction South! List of things to do it sometime, so i couldnt easily get down to water... Great hiking trip it up to Evolution Valley along Evolution Creek at the north Lake.. List of things to do it sometime, so it was a great hiking trip and are. Is that dogs are not allowed in the Evolution Valley should be on everyone 's bucket.! Jmt into Evolution Valley as the most unforgettable moments & amp ; Yosemite National Park its,! To Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley should be on everyone 's bucket list are... Be exaggerating the lowest part of the trail is popular with day hikers and on. Florence Lake bridge the Florence Lake bridge water plentiful that there was still a... Of water, we regularly forded streams ranging from little hip-hop creeks to put-on-your-water-shoes-and-unbuckle-your-pack soakers stop to get to. Be a breeze my face to repel them Gain Overview this is an excellent report a! In early and mid-summer, especially around the meadow and they are magical in Kings Canyon Park... I also crossed Evolution Creek at the top was Evolution Valleyas a wannabe biologist, i reluctantly put on face! My shoes and let my damp feet dry out in the Lake, South Lake to north Lake....

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