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The Trip

Pack animals carry our gear on one of the most magnificent and photogenic classic routes in John Muir's famed "Range of Light." The trip dates place us in the High Sierra at an ideal time -- we're likely to have near-perfect weather, glorious sunrises, fabled blue skies, wildflowers, trout-filled waters, evening mountain summits radiant in alpenglow, and nights sparkling with stars. On layover days, we'll enjoy the meadows and surrounding peaks, explore alpine lakes and basins, or just relax.

We will marvel at the grandeur of the mountains, meadows, and lakes in Kings Canyon National Park. Our trek together will take us over Bishop Pass to Dusy Basin and LeConte Canyon, and then on the John Muir Trail north over Muir Pass to Evolution Lake and Evolution Valley, before exiting the park at Piute Pass. This trip is for adults only.

Itinerary

We'll hike 54 miles from South Lake to North Lake in 13 days on a trip that includes three layover days, crosses three mountain passes, and covers one of the most scenic sections of the John Muir Trail.

Day 1: Our High Sierra adventure begins Tuesday, August 24 at a campground near South Lake, located 20 miles west from Bishop, where we'll have our get-acquainted dinner.

Days 2-3: The next morning, we'll deliver up to 35 pounds of our personal equipment in duffel bags to the packer, who transports our gear from campsite to campsite as we hike with day packs. From the South Lake trailhead (9,750 ft.), we will climb to Bishop Pass (11,960 ft.), where we enter Kings Canyon National Park, quickly feeling the joy of the mountains as we pass numerous emerald lakes and take in seemingly endless vistas -- all in just our first seven miles! Because we will be gaining 2,200 ft., we will spend the first night and a layover day just beyond the pass in Dusy Basin (11,350 ft.).

Day 4: Today, we will descend past lakes and meadows to the John Muir Trail at the Kings River, which we follow downstream to Grouse Meadow.

Day 5: We will head up LeConte Canyon and camp in upper LeConte Canyon.

Days 6-7: On day six, we'll climb to Muir Pass (11,955 ft.) with its memorial to John Muir: Muir Hut, then hike down to Evolution Lake (10,850 ft.) where we'll have another layover day -- we will be free to explore a nearby basin, enjoy the lake, or just snooze in the sun.

Days 8-9: On the eighth day, we head down into the trip's namesake, John Muir's beloved Evolution Valley (9,600 ft.) where we'll spend another layover day.

Day 10: Today, we will hike down beside the rambling waters of the San Joaquin River to the junction with Piute Creek (8,050 ft.).

Days 11-12: On day eleven, we'll head up Piute Creek to Hutchinson Meadow (9,500 ft.), and the next day we'll climb to Humphreys Basin (10,850 ft.).

Day 13: On our final trip day, Sunday, September 5, we'll head out over Piute Pass (11,423 ft.) to the trailhead at North Lake (9,250 ft.). From the trailhead, we'll be shuttled back to our vehicles at South Lake.

As we return to our busy lives, we'll be recharged -- filled with the peace and joy of the mountains -- have glorious memories of the High Sierra and a wonderful adventure shared with great people, and look forward to the next year's reconnection with mountains and nature.

While every attempt will be made to follow this itinerary, this trip is subject to change, depending on a variety of factors including trail conditions and weather, such as a heavy snow year blocking access over mountain passes. Even if we don't adhere to the planned itinerary, whatever we do will be a fantastic and inspirational experience.

Getting There

Participants are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the starting point, South Lake, located 20 miles west of Bishop, California. Sierra Club leaders are not allowed to make carpool arrangements for participants, but directions to the start point and a list of trip participants to contact for possible ride-sharing arrangements will be provided before the trip. The nearest major airports are in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Reno, and Las Vegas. Approximate mileages to the South Lake trailhead:
San Francisco/Oakland, California: 350 miles;
Los Angeles: 300 miles;
Reno, Nevada: 225 miles;
Las Vegas: 300 miles.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in personal tents and sleeping bags at several campsites. All meals will be provided, beginning with dinner on the first day and ending with lunch on the last day. Meals will be prepared and served by a cook provided by the packer. Because of weight and other considerations, we will not be able to accommodate special diets.

Trip Difficulty

Although pack animals carry most of our personal gear, allowing us to hike with day packs, this trip is of moderate difficulty because hiking at high altitude is challenging. We will hike over 54 miles, cross three mountain passes and hike 6-10 miles on nine hiking days. High Sierra weather in August should be beautiful; however, be prepared for rain, and plan for a range of temperatures from the high 70s to below freezing. This trip is for adults only in good physical condition.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants furnish their own personal equipment, including boots, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, basic first-aid kit, and toiletries. You are allowed up to 35 pounds of personal gear in a duffel bag, which will be carried by pack stock. You are free to bring additional gear, but you will have to carry it yourself. The packer furnishes stoves, cookware, cooking utensils and food. The Sierra Club provides a group first-aid kit.

The leader will send out a detailed personal equipment list.

References

Books:
• Starr, Walter A., Starr's Guide to the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Region
• Secor, R.J., The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes and Trails
• Storer and Usinger, Sierra Nevada Natural History
• Horn, Elizabeth L., Sierra Nevada Wildflowers

Maps:
• "Bishop Pass" Trail Map, published by Tom Harrison Cartography. www.tomharrisonmaps.com scale 1:47,520, 80 ft. contours, one inch represents 3/4-mile.
• 7.5-minute quadrangle maps can be ordered from the U.S. Geological Survey at www.usgs.gov/pubprod. The route is shown on the following U.S.G.S. 7.5-minute quadrangles: "Mt. Thompson," "North Palisades," "Mt. Goddard," "Mt. Darwin," and "Mt. Henry." Scale 1: 24,000, 20 meters contours, two inches represent one mile.
• You can print custom maps from the Topo! series of maps on CD, either "Sequoia Kings Canyon and Surrounding Wilderness Areas" or "California."

Conservation

The Sierra Club's outings program provides high-quality outdoor adventures led by volunteer Sierra Club Members. The Outings objectives are to encourage members to see firsthand the land that the Club seeks to preserve and protect, enjoy the fruits of past conservation victories, and support and champion conservation efforts.

Sierra Club founder John Muir discovered an essential truth while hiking the high country: If you want people to go to bat for the environment, he realized, you've got to get them out into the wilderness. "If people in general could be got into the woods, even for once, to hear the trees speak for themselves, all difficulties in the way of forest preservation would vanish."

The High Sierra region of California contains many of the lakes, peaks, geologic features, and mountain passes that prompted the formation of the Sierra Club itself. As California's urban regions have grown, the High Sierra has suffered. Longstanding fights over water and declining riparian supplies have threatened both wildlife and commerce.

The Sierra Club advocates the creation of a preserve that will protect 400 miles of these dazzling granite mountains and forested slopes. The Sierra Club's goal is: "To mend and defend these mountains, Sierra Club activists are working to establish preserves spanning the range's entire length and breadth. Building on existing national parks, wilderness areas, and wild-and-scenic rivers, the Club seeks ancient-forest reserves and expanded protected areas. The Club's objective is a Sierra Nevada wild enough to permit native species to migrate, re-colonialize after local extinctions, and adapt to long-term climate changes."

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Frank Lai lives in Irvine, CA. He is a computer database professional. He started hiking as a teenager and is a Lifetime Sierra Club Member, and has led numerous day hikes, lodge trips, and some base camp trips in Humphrey Basin, Lady Lakes and McGee Lakes. His favorite adventure is hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and backpacking in Joshua Tree National Park. He enjoys rock climbing, skiing and horse back riding. His extensive travel experience has taken him around the earth twice into 30 countries. Frank is a certified WFR (Wilderness First Responder), EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant). He is also a docent at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles.

Co-Leader:

Marv Schinnerer, a native of Berkeley, California, started backpacking in the Sierra in 1948. In the following years he has traveled most of the trails and many cross-country routes from Lake Tahoe to Domelands Wilderness in the Southern Sierra. He started leading Bay Chapter backpack trips in 1971. In 1996 he retired after 33 years of teaching at City College of San Francisco. Since then he has led 6 Base Camps and 8 Highlight Trips, mostly in the Sierra, but also in the Idaho Sawtooth Wilderness.

Over the past 40 years he has taken numerous bicycle touring camping trips. Early days it was mostly travel in California. Since retirement he has bicycle toured each year in New Zealand and Australia. He has now covered 21,000 km in each country to equal the distance around the world at the equator.

E-mail: marvschin@yahoo.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carpooling
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Carbon Offsets
• Medical Issues
• Participant Approval
• Leader Gratuities
• Standard Trip Equipment
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Legal Information
• Seller of Travel Disclosure