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North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 8:24 am
by nunez7897
A bunch of friends bailed so I have 5 extra permits for the following:
Planning an easy 4-day cross-country backpacking trip starting out of North Lake over Piute pass, then across Humphrey's basin, Puppet Pass, then exploring most of the lakes sitting atop the bench above French Canyon, over Royce Lakes, Granite park, and out Pine Creek trailhead. About 30 miles. Planning to acclimate night of 4th of July at North Lake campsite.

Here is my plan of the itinerary https://caltopo.com/m/EF13

About myself:
-My name is Jose and I'm 29 years old.
-Love maps and finding my way around so getting lost is not an issue for me
-5-6 years of backpacking experience, you don't have to worry about what I carry, although we can share stuff to lighten up the load (my pack will weight somewhere between 25-30 lbs)
-One friend remaining that can go with me and her name is Ana.
Some stuff in my repertoire:
- Mt Whitney twice,
1st - starting from Horseshoe Meadow, Rock Creek, Guyout pass, Crabtree Meadow, and out main trail. (4 days)
2nd - starting from Horseshoe Meadow, Cottonwood Lakes, Old Army Pass, Miter Basin, Discovery Pinnacle, and out MR (3 days)
- Mt Williamson once (4 days), standard route over Shepherd's Pass
- Rae Lakes Loop, counterclockwise (4 days)
- Baxter pass to Rae lakes to 60 Lakes basin to Woods Lakes, and out Sawmill pass (4 days)
- and a few 1-2 nighter trips (Big pine lakes, Thousand island Lake, Cottonwood lakes, Kearsarge Pass, Cloudripper via South Lake, and others)

Go over the map in the link and let me know if you're interested or any questions!

Re: North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:17 am
by rlown
Jose, You might have a problem with the North Lake campground on July 4th. First come-first served. Also, it appears you don't fish as your trip is too short to accommodate that activity in a meaningful way.

Good luck. And welcome to HST! Please post a TR when you get back. We love to read good stuff and learning experiences as well.

Re: North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:48 pm
by nunez7897
Thank you and duly noted! You guessed correctly I don't partake on backpacking to enjoy fishing. I'm more of a relaxer and mountain gawker.

Similar trip, but mid-September... how’d it go?

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:47 pm
by rashoop
After a LONG break from regular backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada, your trip is very similar to one I have planned in September. Though I know the conditions can be radically different from July to September, I’d like to find out how your trip went. For me, it’ll be a first solo-trip in the Sierras, and I am really looking forward to it. The Humphries basin is a place I got snowed out of when my parents took us kids along on one of their climbing trips. Seem to remember that was in August. White out. Wanted to go back ever since, and some 40-45 years has passed since then. That will be just one stop for me, as then I’ll continue on to Alpine Col, Evolution basin/valley, then up and over Lamarck Col. Did that loop with my mom back when I was in my late years of high school, or early years of college. Can’t remember, but a “goal” will be to photograph the trip (landscape photography has since become a passion) to share with my now 83 year old mother. (She’s doing great, and even at this age, still bombing around her home town of Hood River, OR, on her road bicycle... yup, she’s amazing, but just can’t do the Sierras like she used to).

So... any feedback on the condition of this area? Bear activity?

Thanks in advance, and maybe we can join each other in the future. I’m down here in smokey Orange County.

Best regards,

Bob

Re: North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 10:18 am
by apeman45
I would love to go if I had the time. I have done that trip and it's a fine choice for cross country travel practice. Consider it a blessing to do it as a twosome especially since some will be off trail. Larger groups are fine on on trail trips but can hamper the freedom that makes off trail travel so much fun and you need to keep the group together. There are some fine lakes and vistas. Personally I would not even consider not having a fishing pole when in that region - just sayin.

Re: North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 10:36 am
by rlown
+1 on the fishing rod thing.

Re: North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 12:56 pm
by rashoop
Fishing would be a great activity... and food source, but my "fishing rod" will be a tripod and camera gear. Those bits of kit will be keeping me busy during the spare moments, or at least for sunrise and sunset. Just hoping for some good alpenglow. I remember the Darwin Bench is just a gorgeous place. Now if I had more time, it would be on to Dusy Basin as well. Spectacular.

Re: North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:17 pm
by maverick
Now if I had more time, it would be on to Dusy Basin as well. Spectacular.
:nod:

Re: North Lake to Pine Creek July 5th-8th

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 2:38 pm
by rashoop
Thanks Maverick, I'm not an Nth-degree planner. Rough outline with enough time to enjoy, and improvise. Miles are not the objective... enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery on earth is.