We ended up eating in the tent again that night. 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. 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. Huge copses of aspens. We kept marching up the trail, and shortly after leaving the confines of the lake, we got our first glimpse of the pass. 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). If you aren't looking to fish or hunt, this trail is still breathtaking. After the wooded section ends, the trail meanders along the shores of two larger and numerous smaller lakes, all in a chain leading up to the pass. Pictures of the hike (Florence Lake to North Lake 2008) Pictures of the hike (North Lake to Piute Pass to Lake Florence 2007) Back to California hikes The third day was simply a repeat of what we did on the first day (in the opposite direction, of course). It was most definitely a slow start to the morning. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. While driving out to the Eastern Sierras, my car's navigation system continuously warned us about severe weather conditions. Moderate to strenuous. and after boiling a bit of of hot water and making some tea, I felt much better. We did try to warm her up with any and every piece of fabric we could find, though. 2000 ft gain Apr 3, 2018 - This trail offers amazing wilderness, spectacular mountain views, and lakes filled 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). The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. That poor dog...the things we put her through. But that was when I thought we'd have nice, late September Sierra weather, and we'd be swimming and laying out on the granite to soak in the sun. This was one of the coldest and windiest backpacking trips I've ever done. 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. This total trip is 57 miles and takes most people 5-6 days. To reach Piute Lake, park at the North Lake Trailhead . They pretty much nailed the 1-2 inches in their forecast.". Continue over the pass into the Sierra NF. If you are considering this hike, then I am sure you are already familiar with the undeniable beauty that the Eastern Sierra radiates. I visit with these two only once a year or so, and there is … The first mile of the hike is very lush, filled with willow, lodgepole pine, wildflowers and … Other Trip Options: Continue over the pass into the Sierra NF. It snowed on and off while we were preparing to retire for the evening. *Note, if you have time for a longer backpacking trip, you can keep going down this trail. I took the High Route solo from Piute Pass to Mono Pass over 5 days. 21 miles The Piute Pass trail descends Piute Creek to Hutchinson Meadow and eventually joins the John Muir Trail. For only weighing a pound or two, these fish put up a great fight. I wanted to go to somewhere new, but at a very familiar starting point. From Piute Lake, the hike to Piute Pass is a moderate 2 miles and the rest is downhill to Summit Lake. Backpacking into the Eastern Sierra: Honeymoon Lake via Piute Pass . As we approached the pass, there was a decent-sized snowfield. Families, friends and special interest groups enjoy Bishop Park for its access to prime fishing and its serene setting on Bishop... Overview There is a trail that leads directly down to Summit Lake from Piute Pass. From Piute Pass (11,420 ft) explore Humphreys Basin beyond the pass, with high alpine lakes and tarns bordered by Glacier Divide and Mt. A tasty dinner of ramen, beef jerky, and pumpkin seeds, followed by a dessert of chocolate. Tina and I decided we'd go for it. I took the High Route solo from Piute Pass to Mono Pass over 5 days. 13:07. The country around Summit Lake consists of open boulder fields which provide abundant shore access and backcasting opportunities. But we did have the fortunate opportunity to watch a Clark's Nutcracker while we stopped for a break at one point. The route is steep leading up to Piute Pass at 11,423 feet. 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. Head to the White Mtn Ranger Station to acquire a permit from the park ranger. The bitter cold helped us convince ourselves that any bears or mountain lions would probably be hunkering down during this storm just like we were. When we finally got to North Lake Campground, we were both impressed with the sites. 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. 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. This loop has it all, alpine … 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. When we finally arrived at the entrancing forest and saw the magnificent light shining through the aspens once again. Head over Piute Pass, through Humphreys Basin and down to Hutchinson Meadow. We had already seen the forecast the previous couple of days, so this wasn't really a surprise. By 12:30pm I was at Piute Pass. The trail leads to Piute Pass and the Humphreys Basin Backcountry. So it was easily the most pleasant day of the trip. Starting out at North Lake Campground, the trail to Lamarck Lakes is a fairly gradual ascent. Emerson and Peak 12691. Over Piute Pass destination suggestions? The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. By 12:30pm I was at Piute Pass. 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. Piute Lake and Peak 12352. There is a trail that leads directly down to Summit Lake from Piute Pass. 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. The first 2 miles of Piute Pass Trail that we did yesterday were very steep and rough with a lot of rock steps that must have been made by very All three major lakes, Piute, Summit, and Golden Trout Lakes are loaded with wild trout. On the bright side, going outside to pee was quite exhilarating. The view back down towards the canyon was really quite superb. Rate this Adventure Eventually crossing the Sierra Crest at Piute Pass (11,423 feet), we enter Humphreys Basin. Begin your hike at the Piute Pass trailhead. Piute Pass trail and Bishop Pass trail are the end points for the popular North Lake to South Lake Loop. Between Lock Leven and Piute Lake, we pass the best waterfalls on the trip. It starts out with a couple stream crossings in the woods, but soon you reach treeline and the views open up. Here is a map with our route highlighted. But back on the trail we went. Humphreys, or descend the trail to Hutchinson Meadow and the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek. It was bloody cold. Yikes, yikes, yikes. So we decided to, perhaps inadvisably, eat in our tent. 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. Backpack Trips In The Sierra. Humphreys, or descend the trail to Hutchinson Meadow and the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek. Breaking free from the loop on a point-to-point hike through Humphrey's Basin, up French Canyon, and down Pine Creek. The Hike. So there isn't much else to tell. I don't think Tina, Juniper, or I got more than a couple of hours of sleep that night. The view up towards Piute Canyon was enticing, but not enough to dissolve the apprehension about the conditions we were getting ourselves into. What a fantastic way to start a backpacking trip, right? Swimming in alpine lakes, fording rivers, watching sunsets, and traversing snowfields. The only real problem was that a water source was a 1/4 mile or so away. Traditionally this … and perhaps even a natural wind barrier to cook in that Tina had found. 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. With access over the pass via horseback, many hunters were able to pack out there recent kill easily. Be the first to leave a review! I was quite entertained by how thick the ice was, and so was Tina. Access to John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley, Humphrey's Basin. Hike in with nothing more than a sleeping bag, ground pad and a fishing pole to test you mountain man/woman skills. Whoa! Piute Pass, Puppet Lake Loop - 2019 A stunning 5 day/4 night alpine loop trip for advanced hikers that have experience in cross country. I was a bit nervous going […] I had great weather and saw only a couple of people off the trail. This trail is part of the popular North Lake-South Lake Loop that is popular among backpackers. Explore Inyo National Forest - Wilderness Permits in Inyo National Forest, California with Recreation.gov. Along the way, we visited Humphreys Basin, French Canyon, Evolution Valley, McGee Lakes, Evolution Basin and Darwin Canyon. Hike through the North Lake Campsite to find the trail for Piute Pass. With so many famous hiking trails in the Sierras, its hard to find a trail as isolated as the Piute Pass Trail. Our goal? Luckily, both of our bags were rated accordingly. The first day, we followed the red track from South Lake over Bishop Pass and down to Dusy Basin. I will admit, I was not in the best mood at this point. Piute Pass Photo Gallery. 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. North Lake is located outside of Bishop in the Lake Sabrina area. With so many famous hiking trails in the Sierras, its hard to find a trail as isolated as the Piute Pass Trail. From the pass, we’ll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, crowned by the indomitable Mount Humphreys, and the Glacier Divide. The pass is barely visible in the distance. At a Glance When we woke up the next morning, there was a nice coating of snow outside of our tent. Almost immediately we leave the trail and head to a group of rarely visited unnamed lakes, to camp high above the pass. You will encounter amazing wilderness, spectacular mountain views, and lakes filled with wild trout. The predictions weren't wrong. North Lake to South Lake Key Facts. I had heard the snow falling throughout the night, and it was quite a welcome sound compared to the brawling blows of the wind. 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. Piute Pass, Puppet Lake Loop - 2019 A stunning 5 day/4 night alpine loop trip for advanced hikers that have experience in cross country. But Tina managed to find a bit of shelter from the wind along Loch Leven. It starts out with a couple stream crossings in the woods, but soon you reach treeline and the views open up. That pass looks a helluva lot farther and a lot higher than I expected! Immediately upon exiting the car, the wind hit us like a slap in the face. When I crawled outside of the tent and saw the depth of the snow, I thought, "I have to give the weather folks credit. 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. 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. We plan to spend our first two nights in the basin camped at Muriel Lake. 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. About five hours from when we started the drive, we were in Bishop. This adventure starts in Bishop California on the 395. Red Tape The Piute Pass trail has a quota from May 1st through November 1st each year. It took some time to convince Sadie to follow us through a boulder field. The country around Summit Lake consists of open boulder fields which provide abundant … We hit the trailhead at approximately 7:30 a.m. Permits issued from the White Mountain Ranger Station. 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. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! Backpacking in the Eastern Sierra: Lower Honeymoon Lake via Piute Pass September 08, 2019 by Kristen Fuller in Backpacking , Eastern Sierras , Hiking , Personal stories , Trail guide “Nature has a way of evening the odds.” September 8, 2019Kristen Fuller + Save to a List. Don’t be surprised if you encounter a number of fishermen and women at Long Lake, which is about 2 miles from the Trailhead. North Lake to South Lake Key Facts. But later on, when I got up to pee, the clouds had vanished and the stars were absolutely brilliant. 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. 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