The view up towards Piute Canyon was enticing, but not enough to dissolve the apprehension about the conditions we were getting ourselves into. I couldn't believe how fast the heat was sucked away from my fingertips as I folded up the tent poles that morning. This section covers the JMT from the Piute Pass Trail junction to the Woods Creek Trail, located 50 miles to the south. With so many famous hiking trails in the Sierras, its hard to find a trail as isolated as the Piute Pass Trail. Any season, any time- it is there. August 2017 backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail in the High Sierras. As you continue you’ll pass Saddlerock Lake and Bishop Lakes – both quieter places to stop and take a break and reenergize … The trail up the pass was mellow and gave a nice preview of the sights to come as it passed by two pretty lakes and several tarns. Swimming in alpine lakes, fording rivers, watching sunsets, and traversing snowfields. It starts out with a couple stream crossings in the woods, but soon you reach treeline and the views open up. Between Lock Leven and Piute Lake, we pass the best waterfalls on the trip. This was one of the coldest and windiest backpacking trips I've ever done. On the bright side, going outside to pee was quite exhilarating. Looking south from Piute Pass Looking north from Piute Pass. There is a trail that leads directly down to Summit Lake from Piute Pass. The first mile of the hike is very lush, filled with willow, lodgepole pine, wildflowers and … Piute Pass, Alpine Col, Darwin Bench, Lamarck Col XC Backpacking Trip On September 10, 2016 Sarah and I embarked on a classic High Sierra Cross Country loop Starting in North Lake, on the East side of the Sierra Nevada, near Bishop CA. Access to John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley, Humphrey's Basin. Despite gaining over 2,000 feet in elevation, the climb felt pretty gradual. Our hope was that if we got to that rock wall, we'd be sheltered from the tunneling wind that was shooting down the canyon, and only have to deal with some turbulence and cross-winds, however strong they might be. We kept marching up the trail, and shortly after leaving the confines of the lake, we got our first glimpse of the pass. The basic part of this adventure is a backpack to Sailor Lake. On the way up to the pass, you’ll hike up through the forest, passing a series of alpine lakes. The medley of colors in the turquoise tairn and the red heather next to the frozen stream was rather beautiful even though the air was so unwelcoming. The country around Summit Lake consists of open boulder fields which provide abundant shore access and backcasting opportunities. If you aren't looking to fish or hunt, this trail is still breathtaking. Piute Pass: Begins at North Lake. I ended up pulling water from a small tairn just below Loch Leven and then hiking back on the trail to the spot where we diverged, and following the same route we had taken before to get to our campsite. The country around Summit Lake consists of open boulder fields which provide abundant … Begin your hike at the Piute Pass trailhead. Hiking trail near Bishop, California. Breaking free from the loop on a point-to-point hike through Humphrey's Basin, up French Canyon, and down Pine Creek. I arrived at Piute Pass within an hour and shared the pass with a dozen other people, which was a bit of a shock after the relative isolation of the off-trail backcountry. We woke at sunrise at the North Lake Campground, had breakfast and coffee, and broke camp. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your I wanted to go to somewhere new, but at a very familiar starting point. It felt like somebody was constantly punching the tent walls. It was bloody cold. The trail up to Piute Pass is pretty gentle, ascending at a rate of about 500 ft per mile. On my three day trek, I was able to take some stunning photos, see multiple mule deer near the pass and limit out on trout each day. When we woke up the next morning, there was a nice coating of snow outside of our tent. I camped in Hutchinson Meadow area for two nights, then near Piute Lake on the third night. Tina and I decided we'd go for it. So right before the trail crossed the stream for the first time, we diverged from it and headed up into the little granite bowl just to the northeast and below Loch Leven. We anticipated snow and ice on the pass, so we carried our crampons and an ice ax to be safe. Humphreys, or descend the trail to Hutchinson Meadow and the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek. My fingers were burning from the cold, I had lost my fishing rod while climbing between limber pines the night before, and the wind was making it impossible to do anything peacefully. That poor dog...the things we put her through. It starts out with a couple stream crossings in the woods, but soon you reach treeline and the views open up. Piute Pass Photo Gallery. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! It's quite a nice spot in terms of car camping, and it looked like there were a few sites that you couldn't drive to, which is pretty cool. I had great weather and saw only a couple of people off the trail. The temperature reached about 18 or 19 degrees F that night. Head to the White Mtn Ranger Station to acquire a permit from the park ranger. Tina had already gone back to the tent, and when I arrived myself, I was glad she was able to heat up my hands with her warm hands. Backpacking into the Eastern Sierra: Honeymoon Lake via Piute Pass . The Piute Pass trail descends Piute Creek to Hutchinson Meadow and eventually joins the John Muir Trail. Table Mountain Group Campground is located 18 miles southwest of Bishop, California, along the South Fork of Bishop Creek. The beginnings of the trail were extremely pleasant. All three major lakes, Piute, Summit, and Golden Trout Lakes are loaded with wild trout. When we reached Piute Lake, I thought it looked like a fanastic place to camp and fish (you'll see some pictures of us fishing at it in the trip pictures). What a fantastic way to start a backpacking trip, right? The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. Add a warm fire, butter, some spices, whiskey and you have an amazing mountain meal! Feb 3, 2016 9:25:59 GMT -8 . © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. All three major lakes, Piute, Summit, and Golden Trout Lakes are loaded with wild trout. Continue over the pass into the Sierra NF. This beautiful area is just 20 miles west of Bishop, CA. In mid-July, my friend Christine and I set out on a three-night, four-day trip into the … This trail allows you to hike in the John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, and Sierra National Forest in one 20 mile section of trail. Hike in with nothing more than a sleeping bag, ground pad and a fishing pole to test you mountain man/woman skills. Emerson and Peak 12691. It was most definitely a slow start to the morning. I don't think Tina, Juniper, or I got more than a couple of hours of sleep that night. Our early start and shorter travel day will allow time to amble and explore the upper canyon. As soon as we turned off of 168 and started heading up the windy, one lane road to North Lake, the fall colors burst out in glorious fashion. It starts from the North Lake campground and heads west and up, climbing 2,000 vertical feet over five fairly gentle miles to the summit of Piute Pass. Climbing glacier carved granite benches, the trail passes Loch Leven, Piute Lake and many smaller lakes and ponds on the way to the pass. September 8, 2019Kristen Fuller + Save to a List. 2000 ft gain We hit the trailhead at approximately 7:30 a.m. Plenty of flat spots speckle the north shore. Initially, we were thinking of exploring Humprhey's Basin. Whoa! Continue down the trail into Piute Canyon and you will find a lush forest thriving with wildlife and small waterfalls. and after boiling a bit of of hot water and making some tea, I felt much better. Piute Pass and Bishop Pass trail are the end points for the popular North Lake to South Lake Loop. Piute Pass Trail is a 16.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Bishop, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. One of the most dramatic and remote segments of the JMT, this section climbs into the higher country of Kings Canyon National Park and crosses three 12,000-foot mountain passes. I kept it to low mileage days because the elevation tends to get to me if I push too hard. Emerson. North Lake is located outside of Bishop in the Lake Sabrina area. For the hunter of big game, this section of the sierras is prime for mule deer. It snowed on and off while we were preparing to retire for the evening. You will encounter amazing wilderness, spectacular mountain views, and lakes filled with wild trout. The predictions weren't wrong. Our agenda for the day was to hike over Piute Pass and camp at Honeymoon Lake, a total of 11 miles for the day. I was a bit nervous going […] North Lake to South Lake Key Facts. When we finally arrived at the entrancing forest and saw the magnificent light shining through the aspens once again. We kept marching up the trail, and shortly after leaving the confines of the lake, we got our first glimpse of the pass. There looked to be an attractive spot to the north of the trail just before it starts to rise toward Loch Leven, that seemed to be equipped with a large rock wall and plenty of trees. The trail follows the cascading North Fork Lamarck Creek, past Piute Crags, past the beautiful Piute Lake to the 11,423 foot Piute Pass near Mt. She captured some pretty great shots. The third day was simply a repeat of what we did on the first day (in the opposite direction, of course). We ended up deciding that we'd just head back down to Piute Lake and camp there for the night. But it also seemed like the only move we had given how frozen our solid food was and how nearly impossible it would be to cook out in the open, behind whatever wind barrier we could muster up. Tall ones, tiny ones, thick ones, pencil thin ones...you name it. a few log bridges crossing quiet streams... After a mile or so, and a gain of about a thousand feet, we left the shelter of the trees and entered a more exposed area. Our goal? Bishop Pass Trail to John Muir Trail to Piute Trail is a 50.5 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Bishop, California that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Piute Pass Trail is the most direct line to Humphreys Basin and surrounding peaks such as Muriel Peak, Mount Emerson and Mount Humphreys in the Sierra Nevada Range, California. Have fun choosing a new lake along the trail - the trail leads to hundreds of lakes loaded with fish and amazing views! The Piute Pass trailhead: The Piute Pass trailhead: The Piute Pass trailhead: The Piute Pass trailhead: The Piute Pass trailhead: Click here to continue the hike in the direction east to west. The trail begins to climb almost immediately, in a series of switchbacks and climbing grades, angling up toward the first of two large lakes on the way to the pass. After we had brushed our teeth and put everything away, the only thing either of us wanted to do was get in our sleeping bags and get our bodies warm. Piute Pass is one of the fastest, easiest (well, easy is a relative term in the Eastern Sierra) ways into the high alpine country that dominates the Sierra backcountry. So we decided to, perhaps inadvisably, eat in our tent. The trail up to Piute Pass is pretty gentle, ascending at a rate of about 500 ft per mile. Roads Closed for the Season: Tioga Pass and Saddlebag Lake Roads closed at lower gate. The trail follows the cascading North Fork Lamarck Creek, past Piute Crags, past the beautiful Piute Lake to the 11,423 foot Piute Pass near Mt. Loch Leven A tarn above Loch Leven Piute Lake Snow below Piute Pass. I thought I could use a shortcut up the little gullies just to the southwest of our camp to get up to Loch Leven, but it didn't end up saving me any time over just going back down to the trail and heading up from there. I'm happy we brought along the four season tent, though. JMT/Piute Canyon to Florence Lake is a 15 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Mono Hot Springs, California that features a river and is good for all skill levels. Humphreys, or descend the trail to Hutchinson Meadow and the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek. To reach Piute Lake, park at the North Lake Trailhead . When I crawled outside of the tent and saw the depth of the snow, I thought, "I have to give the weather folks credit. It held up pretty darned well. If anything, we'd just be a bit miserable for a few days. Please explore responsibly! I know what you're thinking. We took a brief moment to enjoy the views over to Summit Lake. Piute Lake Above Loch Leven Piute Pass Waterfalls Above Loch Leven I took these pictures on a 5-day backpacking trip with Ed, Colin, Lynn, and Simone in the John Muir Wilderness in August 2000. Location: Kings Canyon National Park Trailhead: North Lake, elevation 9,347' Piute Pass: 11,460' (2,113' climb) Muir Pass: 11,955' (3,885' climb from Piute Cr. Backpacking into the Eastern Sierra: Honeymoon Lake via Piute Pass September 8, 2019 Kristen Fuller + Save to a List Swimming in alpine lakes, fording rivers, watching sunsets, and traversing snowfields. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Other Trip Options: The view back down towards the canyon was really quite superb. The route is steep leading up to Piute Pass at 11,423 feet. From there you can enjoy small dayhikes to the nearby lakes or waterfalls, go fishing, enjoy some photography or just lounge in camp and gaze at the beautiful scenery. I had great weather and saw only a couple of people off the trail. Located in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest offers challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and unparalleled views. I could not help but reminisce of a 1996 previous trip, when I visited Piute Pass in the company of my mom and dad on day 2 of an 8 day loop through Evolution Basin. I've pasted the text […] For only weighing a pound or two, these fish put up a great fight. Toiyabe National Forest operates a computer bulletin board system (BBS) which enables people who call in from a computer with a modem to receive information on weather, hiking, fishing, skiing, camping, backpacking, horses, ranger programs, and much more. And, those thunder clouds don't look good either. We will make camp at Crown Lakes (9,500 feet). Along the way, we visited Humphreys Basin, French Canyon, Evolution Valley, McGee Lakes, Evolution Basin and Darwin Canyon. I will admit, I was not in the best mood at this point. After some research I decided to try a popular trail to Humphreys Basin via the Piute Pass. We started at the North Lake Trailhead, hiked in via Piute Pass and out via Lamarck Col. It ended up being an ok site. Head over Piute Pass, through Humphreys Basin and down to Hutchinson Meadow. When Tina got up in the morning to go to the bathroom, she alerted me to the beautiful alpenglow that had struck the mountains to the north. When we finally reached the pass, it was about 1300, and we were both quite hungry. On our way over, we saw hikers trying to snowboard down the pass. You can see where this area is on a larger map. The previous two years were to the Desolation Wilderness and Chicken Foot Lake. Loch Leven A tarn above Loch Leven Piute Lake Snow below Piute Pass. The trailhead was a very familiar spot that I have photographed many times through the years during fall colors- North Lake. Grab any last minute supplies, then turn on West Line St (168) and take this for 20 miles to Lake Sabrina. From Piute Lake, the hike to Piute Pass is a moderate 2 miles and the rest is downhill to Summit Lake. Take the Piute Pass Trail from North Lake up to Piute Pass, passing Loch Leven and Piute Lake. The pass is barely visible in the distance. The trail cuts through thick forest, over a rugged mountain pass, past multiple lakes and into the lush Piute Canyon with waterfalls. This great hike to scenic Piute Pass ascends beneath the multi-hued Piute Crags to a beautiful lakes basin tucked beneath Mt. It was a relief to finally reach the shelter of the forest, as the many trees supressed the wind a bit. I could not help but reminisce of a 1996 previous trip, when I visited Piute Pass in the company of my mom and dad on day 2 of an 8 day loop through Evolution Basin. This loop has it all, alpine … I had heard the snow falling throughout the night, and it was quite a welcome sound compared to the brawling blows of the wind. A wilderness permit is required for overnight stays. Sailor Lake Backpack & Climb of Mt. Down in the valley, you’ll meet up with the John Muir Trail where you can head north, and exit over Piute Pass / North Lake. This year takes us to Piute Pass, a pass which leads into the Humphreys Basin, a very broad glacial basin covered almost entirely by glacial polish. Moderate to strenuous. 21 miles There is a trail that leads directly down to Summit Lake from Piute Pass. We had already seen the forecast the previous couple of days, so this wasn't really a surprise. This trail offers amazing wilderness, spectacular mountain views, and lakes filled with wild trout. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. From Piute Pass (11,420 ft) explore Humphreys Basin beyond the pass, with high alpine lakes and tarns bordered by Glacier Divide and Mt. When we finally got to North Lake Campground, we were both impressed with the sites. We begin hiking on-trail to Piute Pass and cross the Sierra Crest into Humphreys Basin. This trail allows you to hike in the John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, and Sierra National Forest in one 20 mile section of trail. As we approached the pass, there was a decent-sized snowfield. The trail is primarily used for hiking and backpacking and is … Tina was starting to feel the 10,500+ ft. elevation a bit, and I was continually looking ahead for a spot to camp where we might get some reprieve from the wind, which was definitely picking up. but while trying to get him off the hook, I realized I couldn't really move my fingers very well due to the fact that they were frozen stiff. The Piute Pass Trail is a gentle 2,000 ascent up a gorgeous canyon over five miles. We decided to cook breakfast with our stove inside the tent, which definitely didn't seem like the smartest move. Then the trail heads across Humphreys Basin and down along Piute Creek until it reaches the San Joaquin River and the bridge that crosses you into Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Trail. Take the family to Upper Sage for a pleasant camping trip along the banks of Big Pine Creek. Huge copses of aspens. While driving out to the Eastern Sierras, my car's navigation system continuously warned us about severe weather conditions. Another 200-foot climb gets us to the biggest lake on the route. Find premium, high-resolution stock photography at Getty Images. Apr 3, 2018 - This trail offers amazing wilderness, spectacular mountain views, and lakes filled with wild trout. Traditionally this … Consequently, we didn't cover nearly as much ground as we had hoped we would. Hiking trail near Bishop, California. Still, as we drove over Tioga pass and saw the temperature plummet on the thermometer, I was starting to think about how nice it would be to just settle for a couple of nights at the Best Western in Bishop and do some day hikes to see the foliage. The trail to Piute Lake starts in a forested area and works it's way westward and uphill for the first 1.4 miles. I was a bit nervous going […] Piute Lake is an excellent place to camp. This is the perfect hike for the minimalist hiker, hunter, or fisherman. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. Who: Phil and me What: Backpacking When: 9/2/17-9/5/17 ... we set out from North Lake to explore Humphrey’s Basin and a pass on the Sierra High Route. Continue over the pass into the Sierra NF. we quickly reached the small tairn that I had filled our water bottles at the night before. We did try to warm her up with any and every piece of fabric we could find, though. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Backpacking Tips; About Me; Sierrabackpack.com. With a simple spinning reel or fly rod, you can catch ALL FOUR types of wild mountain trout. We convinced ourselves that we weren't going to die from a bit of cold and severe wind. It took some time to convince Sadie to follow us through a boulder field. This trail is part of the popular North Lake-South Lake Loop that is popular among backpackers. Piute Pass Trail - North Lake Beginning in lodgepole pine and quaking aspen, the trail follows the creek at the foot of Piute Crags and Mount Emerson. Moderate to Strenuous. 13:07. Permits issued from the White Mountain Ranger Station. This loop has it all, alpine … On the Trail with Bart 2,083 views. I kept it to low mileage days because the elevation tends to get to me if I push too hard. *Note, if you have time for a longer backpacking trip, you can keep going down this trail. If you are considering this hike, then I am sure you are already familiar with the undeniable beauty that the Eastern Sierra radiates. The number for the BBS is (619) 932-1234. There were several good, flat spots to camp. Once near Lake Sabrina turn right on the road towards North Lake and park in the trailhead parking lot. Piute Pass trail and Bishop Pass trail are the end points for the popular North Lake to South Lake Loop. About five hours from when we started the drive, we were in Bishop. The Piute Pass trailhead: The Piute Pass trailhead: The Piute Pass trailhead: Click here to continue the hike in the direction east to west.  - Out-and-Back Trail. He was fast! This total trip is 57 miles and takes most people 5-6 days. More Crags Even more. Haeckel. Starting out at North Lake Campground, the trail to Lamarck Lakes is a fairly gradual ascent. Everything was frozen, and the wind was probably still gusting around 20-30 mph. Hike through the North Lake Campsite to find the trail for Piute Pass. There was a decently flat section of ground to set up our tent on. When we reached Piute Lake, I thought it looked like a fanastic place to camp and fish (you'll see some pictures of us fishing at it in the trip pictures). We kept marching up the trail, and shortly after leaving the confines of the lake, we got our first glimpse of the pass. We'd have a much better chance of finding shelter from the tormenting wind, and we'd have plenty of time to fish. By 12:30pm I was at Piute Pass. The trail is popular with day hikers and backpackers on multi-day trips to Humphreys Basin, Evolution Valley and beyond. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. ... North Lake to Piute Pass - Duration: 13:07. Emerson. This adventure starts in Bishop California on the 395. Taboose Pass Trail and Red Lake Trail are closed for the 2020 season due to hazards from the Taboose wildfire. 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