TR: Evolution Basin and Davis Lake, Aug 17-22
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:05 pm
Although we picked a really wet week for our trip, and spent three whole afternoons in the tent as a result, our trip through Davis Lake basin went really well, and the kids really enjoyed their first significant off trail experience, including miles of talus in the basin, and weaving through the cliffs during the descent of North Goddard Creek.
We started Saturday evening, by catching the last (4.30pm) boat across Florence Lake, and getting to Muir Trail Ranch just as it was starting to get dark. As a result, we missed out on the hot springs, but fortunately we were able to rectify that omission at the end of the trip instead. Sunday morning dawned quite bright, and we headed up the canyon.
However, it rapidly clouded over and at 2pm, as we reached Franklin Meadow, and the bottom of the switchbacks to Evolution Valley, it started to hail and rain. We put the tent up quickly and huddled out of the rain for an hour. At 3pm the rain stopped and we made the decision to head up the switchbacks, lest we be too far behind schedule the next day. After we crossed Evolution Creek, it started to rain again and we stopped around 4.30pm between Evolution and McClure Meadows. It was still fairly patchy, so we were able to get out and make dinner, and see a very pretty sunset down the valley.
Monday morning we had a repeat of the same weather: we pushed on up past McClure meadow and The Hermit, and up the switchbacks to Evolution Lake in time for lunch. We had hoped to get as far as Sapphire or Wanda Lake, but at 1.30pm it clouded over quickly and the rain resumed, so we set up our tent in the trees, and watched the clouds and thunder in Evolution Basin, as a steady stream of people joined us that afternoon.
Tuesday dawned bright and clear and we were off up Evolution Basin at 8am, so we could head over from Wanda Lake to Davis Lake. The views were spectacular as we headed up, and it didn't look at all like rain. Muir Pass seemed incredibly low as we looked across Wanda Lake, sitting between two 13000ft+ peaks.
At 10.30am we headed off the trail from Wanda Lake, and quickly reached the col, to be treated to an amazing sight, with the upper lake turned bright blue by the melting glaciers on the Goddard Divide.
We started Saturday evening, by catching the last (4.30pm) boat across Florence Lake, and getting to Muir Trail Ranch just as it was starting to get dark. As a result, we missed out on the hot springs, but fortunately we were able to rectify that omission at the end of the trip instead. Sunday morning dawned quite bright, and we headed up the canyon.
However, it rapidly clouded over and at 2pm, as we reached Franklin Meadow, and the bottom of the switchbacks to Evolution Valley, it started to hail and rain. We put the tent up quickly and huddled out of the rain for an hour. At 3pm the rain stopped and we made the decision to head up the switchbacks, lest we be too far behind schedule the next day. After we crossed Evolution Creek, it started to rain again and we stopped around 4.30pm between Evolution and McClure Meadows. It was still fairly patchy, so we were able to get out and make dinner, and see a very pretty sunset down the valley.
Monday morning we had a repeat of the same weather: we pushed on up past McClure meadow and The Hermit, and up the switchbacks to Evolution Lake in time for lunch. We had hoped to get as far as Sapphire or Wanda Lake, but at 1.30pm it clouded over quickly and the rain resumed, so we set up our tent in the trees, and watched the clouds and thunder in Evolution Basin, as a steady stream of people joined us that afternoon.
Tuesday dawned bright and clear and we were off up Evolution Basin at 8am, so we could head over from Wanda Lake to Davis Lake. The views were spectacular as we headed up, and it didn't look at all like rain. Muir Pass seemed incredibly low as we looked across Wanda Lake, sitting between two 13000ft+ peaks.
At 10.30am we headed off the trail from Wanda Lake, and quickly reached the col, to be treated to an amazing sight, with the upper lake turned bright blue by the melting glaciers on the Goddard Divide.