Finally completed the write-up of last summer's hike. Was fortunate to have a late summer window with minimal smoke. My route was North Lake to the JMT, up Goddard Canyon to Martha Lake, across Ionian Basin to the JMT, the SHR to Lower Palisade Lake, the JMT through Evolution Basin, and an exit over Lamarck Col.
That was great! I followed your progress on CalTopo. I was particularly interested in your rate of travel through the IB, as I'm eyeing that for a visit later this year.
The section from Goddard Col to Chasm Lake was pretty slow. Had I stayed high, along the 12,200' contour, around the south end of Lake 11951 it would have been a bit quicker. Should you go through Ionian Basin, suggest earlier season this year so the upper basin ponds still have water.
Great TR and photos. I too followed along c/o your main website link and unless you are the fastest typist and photo poster online that must have taken some big effort to share. Thank you for the generosity of your time!
You definitely should go back and spend at least 3-5 days in Ionian Basin. And a climb of Mt. Goddard is a "must do".
Ionian Basin was one of the first backpacks I did in the Sierra (1997?), including a loop down Enchanted Gorge, a classic, although I admit not everyone thinks so. This trip was in an extremely high snow year, in August, and many snowfields lingered, including solid snow to get down to Lake 11837 and snow still covering the creek below Lake 11692. I shimmied across snow bridges in Enchanted gorge! I went out over Black Giant Pass which was also solid snow. What a difference from the photos you show for last year. I traveled about half the pace you did.
I bet it was horribly hot south of Hutchings Meadow. When I did it a few years ago, I roasted and wished I had a shade umbrella!
michaelzim - indeed, it takes me a lot of time. I started writing the trip report back in October in ms word deciding which of my pics best carry to story that is unfolding. I never even try to write anything unless I think I have a couple hours uninterrupted; referring to notes, maps, gps waypoints, and when each pic was taken requires time to focus. And for this one weeks went by between writing sessions. From there it is mostly copy and paste. The web editors on wordpress, and here on topix make it easy to add the photos. Still it took a few hours over the weekend to get everything online. I get a few things in return for the effort...one, and I suspect a lot of us do this, I get to go back (in my case decades) and relive some great adventures. I also get to review route beta should I return to a place. On this trip I reviewed my notes of my first time through Ionian Basin and though traveling in the opposite direction had enough detail to determine my pace, have ideas on where to camp, etc. Lastly I feel I am giving back since so many, on this site especially, share their adventures and stories of the Sierra. And I think I speak for a lot of us when I say there is no place I'd rather be. I've backpacked, and hiked elsewhere, but the Sierra has called me home almost 40 of the 52 years I've called myself a backpacker.
WD - it was dry. I am trying to imagine your high snow season visit given how wet it was in the less than normal 2012 season. Surprisingly the section from Hutchison Meadow to the Piute Creek bridge was not that bad. (and the umbrella helps) Especially compared to summer 2019 the day I walked from Lake Reflection to Roads End to get my resupply. Kings Canyon was HOT!!! And I'll keep a 3rd trip to Ionian Basin on the list for when I am not out solo. Even though I've been backpacking and doing significant stretches off trail for most of my life, peak bagging and places like Enchanted Gorge are a bit beyond my "out there alone" comfort zone. Your trip sounds quite the adventure, even more so it being one of your first Sierra hikes. My first was rather tame by comparison: an out and back from Wolverton to Moose Lake via Alta Meadow.
I also was in Ionian early August 2006 (130% snow). Photos below of Martha Lake and Lk 11582. I went over Reinstein Pass and traversed to the Lake below Scylla.
WD - that looks like a nice route and the presence of snow adds a lot. My schedule has generally put me in the Sierra late August/early September and in all but big snow years I don't get to see much. And even this year, though I may get out mid-July there won't be much.
I enjoyed your report and photos. I've spent a fair amount of time in the area and it's always fun to see someone else put together a trip through it that is different from most.
