TR: Lamarck Col 6/21/22-6/25/22

[rjszanto]

I think this is my first TR here, or at least my first attempt at a thorough one, although you can be the judge of that.

I normally manage to squeeze in just 1 week long trip to the Sierra each year but I had friends who retired and were hiking the PCT this year. They had joined a trip I had organized to Whitney in 2021 and we conceived of this plan to join them on a resupply. As it turned out, we only needed to bring them a couple of days of food, a ground tarp and some juice to recharge both of their phones, but I think we were of some help.

Our trip started with a drive from Phoenix to North Lake. We have a tradition to hit TKB Bakery in Indio on the way. We were shocked to see what had been a top 5 Yelp! "dive" in a warehouse district got a serious upgrade with a new location close to the freeway. While they've gone a little more mainstream, the place is better than ever and I highly recommend it to anyone passing through Indio on the I-10.

1 TKB Outside.jpg

We arrived to the trail head around 3 pm with a goal of making camp around Upper Lamarck Lake.

3 North Lake Parking Lot.jpg

I don't know why but the pyramid above Lower Lamarck Lake is one of my favorite views in the area - somehow always reminds me of the Paramount Logo.

6 West of Lower Lamarck.jpg

The next day as we were leaving Upper Lamarck Lake it looked as though we might see some weather.

8 Leaving Upper Lamarck.jpg

9 Snow Above Upper Lamarck Lake.jpg

And then the snow started.

11 Above Upper Lamarck.jpg

One of my favorite stretches on the way to Lamarck Col - a remarkably exposed section.

12 Exposed on the way to the Col.jpg

Nearing the tarn below the Col.

14 Nearing the Col.jpg

The Col was in sight - you can make out the path across the snowfield at least.

16 Col in Sight.jpg

17 approaching the Col.jpg

It doesn't look like it hear but the path was about waist deep here.

19 snowfield below the Col.jpg

Finally, we made the Col but we were a bit surprised at Darwin Canyon...

20 the col.jpg

[rjszanto]

Looking North of the Col - we couldn't even see the lakes below.

21 North of the Col.jpg

Finally the lakes started to become visible.

22 Darwin Lakes.jpg

23 more Darwin Lakes.jpg

I labeled this picture Mt Darwin but I think it is actually Mt Mendel or perhaps a pyramidal formation spur off of Mendel.

24 Mt Darwin.jpg

The weather cleared up pretty quickly as we descended into Darwin Canyon.

25 Darwin Lakes.jpg

26 Darwin Lakes.jpg

But looking back the Col continued to be pretty obscured.

27 Looking back to the Col.jpg

The next day was beautiful. I love the contrast of the blue sky and the varied colors of Darwin Bench.

28 Darwin Bench.jpg

29 Darwin Bench.jpg

We picked our way through the bench but there are so many little paths through here we got off the main trail frequently. I think we needed to stay more to the NW side of the bench but kept veering off more to the south and taking some dicey steps down before we found the trail.

30 Evolution Valley.jpg

31 coming down from DB.jpg

Eventually we made it down into Evolution Valley and forded the creek.

32 Evolution Creek.jpg

[rjszanto]

After fording the creek, we met up with our friends doing the PCT. Although there was some light rain, we enjoyed catching up with them by a toasty fire at the junction of the JMT and the Goddard Canyon Trail.

Our packs a little bit lighter after delivering a resupply, we continued down the JMT as we made our way along the San Joaquin and then up Piute Canyon.

33 Evo Creek to San Joaquin.jpg

33 San Joaquin.jpg

34 Piute Canyon.jpg

We stopped short of Humphrey's Basin as we were threatened with rain again. We made camp quickly as a thunderstorm rolled through.

35 Up Piute.jpg

The last day of the hike we were treated to some spectacular views of Humphrey's Basin.

36 Humphrey's Basin.jpg

As we ventured north of Summit Lake, though, we could see another storm threatening. We were obliged to quicken our pace up to Piute Pass.

37 North of Summit Lake.jpg

38 Humphrey's Storm.jpg

Nearing Piute Pass we were treated to some wonderful views but then we started to hear some thunder approaching and decided to descend quickly.

39 east of Summit Lake.jpg

On the other side of the pass, we were surprised to still see some snow fields to cross.

40 over Piute Pass.jpg

41 north fork of Bishop Creek.jpg

The Piute Lakes were pretty and thanks to the inhospitable weather we saw very few hikers on our way down.

42 Piute Lakes.jpg

As we approached the end of our loop, we took one last look to the north at the mountain ridge separating us from the Lamarck Lakes that marked the start of our trip.

43 last look at the mountains north of Lamarck.jpg

All in all, it was a great trip, although shorter than we had planned. I was a bit apprehensive at the start up to Lamarck Col, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. We were plenty warm, never in danger and in hindsight the snow turned out to be a highlight of the trip. Before this trip, I've only done the Sierra in August or early September. But given the fires of the past few years and the reduced snow, I think I may need to start skewing my visits to June.

[c9h13no3]

Cool report. June before the mosquitoes hit is my favorite time in the Sierra. Looks like you nailed the timing.

Sorry you got robbed of the view going over the Col, that one is certainly one of my favorite.

20220619_195942.jpg

[michaelzim]

Perfect timing for this report and excellent photo documenting too!
I have been future tripping of your exact route for a first early season hike if the snows and weather permit sometime in late May or early June. Yes, likely more snow than you encountered but by sticking to the "freeway" trails after Darwin Bench it can add a margin of 'safety', etc. The less traveled part will be Lamarck Col.

Your photo (number 7) titled: "One of my favorite stretches on the way to Lamarck Col - a remarkably exposed section." is just the place I was pondering this morning as to what it may look like with a lot more snow on it! I recall the "exposure" there too (of which I am not a big fan) and have a question for anyone if they have done that in deep snow and how queasy it is??? *[So as not to hijack this thread please PM me]. It reminded me of a lesser version of some parts of Forester Pass...wherein I could envision sliding off into oblivion if lots of icy white stuff clogging the trail.

Thanks much for posting ~ Michaelzim

[paul]

Michaelzim - i have come out over Lamarck col from a ski trip in a heavy snow year. I did not come down where the use trail goes; i bore right off the plateau at around 12k and dropped into thr draw that leads pretty much straight down to Grass lake. I did that specifically to avoid the steep stuff you mention, and if i was going up there over the snow i would take that same line in reverse.

[Harlen]

rz.
Thanks for a real nice Trip Report full of pictures. I really love the way you've included the amazing clouds, and skies in your images. Nice trip, thanks for the report, Ian.

[Flamingo]

Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate your perseverance crossing Lamarck Col in a snowstorm. wowza.