We peered up at the ridge above the cirque, straining to find Lamarck Col. Checking our maps and double-checking the GPS, we found what looked like a playground of car-sized boulders. The silhouette of a lone backpacker sitting at the top confirmed our suspicions — our route was going to involve some scrambling. Little did we know that the other […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Little Pete Meadow to Upper Dusy Basin
DAY FIVE on the North Lake/South Lake Loop For our fifth day on the trail we had a very short hiking day up to Upper Dusy Basin. We also knew it would be a pretty good 2,500 foot ascent over a pretty short distance. We didn’t know a lot about Dusy Basin or what it […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Sapphire Lake to Little Pete Meadow
DAY FOUR on the North Lake/South Lake Loop We woke early and it was cold at Sapphire Lake. There was ice all over the outside of the rain fly and it took a few minutes for me to warm my clothes inside my sleeping bag before I wanted to put them on. The skies were […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Goddard Canyon to Sapphire Lake
DAY THREE on the North Lake/South Lake Loop The trail up to Evolution Valley starts off with a 1,000 feet of switchbacks that dig in right away! The switchbacks follow the waterfall that is Evolution Creek flowing out of the valley – and some of the views are breathtaking. As you top out, you then […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Hutchinson Meadow to Goddard Canyon
DAY TWO on the North Lake/South Lake Loop Our second day on the trail would be relatively short, and connect us with the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail with the Goddard Canyon Junction our destination. We awoke to another beautiful, clear morning and we headed southwest along Piute Creek towards the JMT junction. […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop: Piute Pass to Hutchinson Meadow
DAY ONE on the North Lake/South Lake Loop The Piute Pass Trail is a gentle 2,000 ascent up a gorgeous canyon over five miles. We woke at sunrise at the North Lake Campground, had breakfast and coffee, and broke camp. We hit the trailhead at approximately 7:30 a.m. The weather was sunny and perfect. Our […]
Backpacking the North/South Lake Loop in Six Days: An Overview
For those who have backpacked the famous John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley is often mentioned as one of the most beautiful and memorable spots along the trail. But is there a way to get to Evolution Valley on just a one-week backpacking adventure? The answer is YES – and the most popular of these routes […]
Backpacking over Bishop Pass to LeConte Canyon
I admit it. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Sierras. I fell in love with the Sierras on my first backpack trip there back in 1978. The first time I thru-hiked the John Muir Trail in 1980, it was official. I was hooked. Earlier this spring I attended the first ever JMT […]
