Questions about planned summer trip (darwin/evolution/mcgee)
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:22 pm
Hello all - I'm spending my winter months with my nose buried in NG topo, pining away for summer in the high sierra. I think I've picked out most of my 5-7 day trips, and there are a few questions I have about one of the routes I've got planned.
I've wanted to get back into evolution basin since passing through on the JMT back in 2006. I've also heard that McGee Lakes are beautiful, so I'd like to do a trip that combines them.
The people that will accompany me on this trip will be sierra-experienced and strong backpackers - I'd like something that might have some challenges like off trail travel, but is more of a relax and enjoy the fishing/sites/photography/wandering type trip instead of knocking off the miles/peaks. This will be done late-season right after some other high-mileage sierra trips, so we'll be pretty acclimated and strong, too.
Here's my planned itinerary with questions.
Day 1: Start at North Lake. Over Lamarck Col, into Darwin Canyon. Camp Darwin Canyon somewhere
Questions: Is there any good fishing in Darwin? Where are the best campsites? I haven't been in here before. Is there a good map with the Lamarck col trail hanging out there somewhere on the interwebz? I've found a few, but I don't know how accurate they are.
Day 2: Darwin Canyon, join the JMT, follow it down into Evolution Valley, leave the JMT and head up into McGee Lakes.
Questions: Fishing in McGee Canyon? McGee Lakes? Optimal photography campsites? What is the trail like up McGee Canyon? Is there any trick to finding it from the JMT in Evolution Valley?
Day 3: Over McGee Pass and into Evolution Basin. Camp at Evolution Lake at my super-secret-super-awesome campsite.
Questions: how is mcgee pass? Pictures I've seen make me think there is a trail, but I'm not sure. Secor says it's class 2, which is fine, I'm just wondering if there is easy to follow trail. I'll tell you my super secret super awesome campsite in exchange.
Day 4: Dayhike in Evolution Basin. I'll be bringing my husband along who has never been in this particular stretch of the JMT, so I'd like to do a day trip up to Muir Pass to take him to the hut and show off this incredible area.
Day 5: Back out over Lamarck to North Lake.
Thanks!
I've wanted to get back into evolution basin since passing through on the JMT back in 2006. I've also heard that McGee Lakes are beautiful, so I'd like to do a trip that combines them.
The people that will accompany me on this trip will be sierra-experienced and strong backpackers - I'd like something that might have some challenges like off trail travel, but is more of a relax and enjoy the fishing/sites/photography/wandering type trip instead of knocking off the miles/peaks. This will be done late-season right after some other high-mileage sierra trips, so we'll be pretty acclimated and strong, too.
Here's my planned itinerary with questions.
Day 1: Start at North Lake. Over Lamarck Col, into Darwin Canyon. Camp Darwin Canyon somewhere
Questions: Is there any good fishing in Darwin? Where are the best campsites? I haven't been in here before. Is there a good map with the Lamarck col trail hanging out there somewhere on the interwebz? I've found a few, but I don't know how accurate they are.
Day 2: Darwin Canyon, join the JMT, follow it down into Evolution Valley, leave the JMT and head up into McGee Lakes.
Questions: Fishing in McGee Canyon? McGee Lakes? Optimal photography campsites? What is the trail like up McGee Canyon? Is there any trick to finding it from the JMT in Evolution Valley?
Day 3: Over McGee Pass and into Evolution Basin. Camp at Evolution Lake at my super-secret-super-awesome campsite.
Questions: how is mcgee pass? Pictures I've seen make me think there is a trail, but I'm not sure. Secor says it's class 2, which is fine, I'm just wondering if there is easy to follow trail. I'll tell you my super secret super awesome campsite in exchange.
Day 4: Dayhike in Evolution Basin. I'll be bringing my husband along who has never been in this particular stretch of the JMT, so I'd like to do a day trip up to Muir Pass to take him to the hut and show off this incredible area.
Day 5: Back out over Lamarck to North Lake.
Thanks!