Beginners Eastern Sierra Adventure, Big Pine Lakes, California

The Trip

 Our early season adventure will take us into a spectacular eastern Sierra canyon where we will gain backpacking experience travelling among picturesque glacier fed alpine lakes. This four-day, 13.5-mile on-trail semi-loop trek will take us by a historic cabin and cascading waterfalls, through forests of aspen and pine, and past shimmering, turquoise lakes. We will spend three nights in Big Pine Lakes basin at 10,800 feet and enjoy stunning views of Temple Crag, the Palisades, and the Inconsolable Range as they tower above us. Our layover day will allow time to explore the area, swim in the many glacial lakes and hike to Sam Mack Meadow and the Palisade Glacier – the southernmost glacier in North America and the largest in the Sierra. This trip is intended for beginner backpackers with previous outdoor experience at elevations above 10,000 feet, although all well-conditioned individuals are welcome to apply. Previous backpacking experience is not mandatory; however, reasonable preparation demands frequent practice carrying a weighted backpack up and down hills in the months leading up to the trip. An above average level of fitness is required to enjoy and safely complete this adventure. 

The Project

Day 1: We will meet early in the morning at our Big Pine Group Campsite (elevation 7800’) for a warm-up pre-backpack day hike to Willow or Brainerd Lake, depending on group interest and fitness. This hike is optional. The first required group meeting will be around 5 pm at our campsite. After introductions we will review personal gear, discuss trip details, and relax over a meal together before beginning our adventure. There will be time after dinner to answer questions and finish preparations for our journey. Dinner will be the first provided meal.

Day 2: After an early breakfast, we will drive to the Big Pine Creek North Fork trailhead to begin our climb to Big Pine Lakes basin. This first hiking day will be our most challenging day, climbing 2,300 feet with full packs to reach our camp in the vicinity of First Lake (9,950 feet). The trail climbs quickly and steeply at times, passing several cascades and offering sweeping views. The total distance is 4.5 miles with 2,300 feet of elevation gain.

Day 3: We start the day off with a short climb and soon Temple Crag comes into view as we pass the aquamarine waters of Second Lake and then Third Lake. After climbing some more, we then make a short descent, and reach our second camp at in the vicinity of Fifth Lake, nestled in a large granite bowl at 10,800 feet, where we will spend the next two nights. Once we make camp, there will be time to explore some of the nearby lakes such as Summit, Sixth, and Seventh. The total backpacking distance is 2.5 miles with 900 feet of elevation gain.

Day 4: We will spend our layover day relaxing, swimming, or -- for those who feel more ambitious -- climbing to Sam Mack Meadow and the Palisade Glacier. 

Day 5: Our final day will take us past Black Lake, where we can enjoy our last views of the Palisade Glacier. Once past the lake, we make a sharp descent and meet the trail to First Lake where we will retrace our steps to the trailhead and the end of our adventure. Total distance is 6.5 miles with an elevation loss of 3,100 feet.

Getting There

 We will meet on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada at our Big Pine Group Campsite, near Big Pine, California. Big Pine is on Highway 395 between Lone Pine and Bishop. Specific driving directions will be sent before departure. Please make plans to arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. For improved acclimatization, participants are encouraged to arrive early and do some day hiking at altitude. An extra day or two also makes it easier to recover from events such as a missed connection and still make it to the trip in time.

Bishop is about a 4-hour drive down Highway 395 from the closest major airport, which is in Reno. Bishop is about 4.5 hours north of Las Vegas, and 5 hours (plus an allowance for traffic) north of Los Angeles International Airport. Burbank and Ontario airports are more accessible and closer to Big Pine than LAX but have fewer flight options.

The Eastern Sierra Transit Bus service runs from Reno to the LA area, with one of its stops in Bishop, where it should be easy to arrange a ride. Check their website for the latest on schedule and availability. 

The leader will provide a trip roster with contact information to facilitate ride-sharing and other logistical details in advance of the trip. Due to the uncertainties inherent in a trip of this type, return flight reservations should not be made for any earlier than the day after the trip ends.

Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

 All meals are included, beginning with dinner on day one to lunch on the last day.

Our backcountry menu will consist of low-bulk, non-refrigerated, lightweight foods that have a high calorie-to-bulk ratio. The menu can accommodate vegetarians, but accommodating more restricted diets will be difficult. Please contact the leader prior to sign-up if you have a food allergy or other critical food restriction to determine if we can accommodate your specific needs.

Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners will all be hearty, healthy, and varying. Participants will be required to bring their preferred drinks and trail snacks. Responsibility for cooking and cleanup will be shared by trip participants.

Participants are responsible for their own water treatment, whether chemical, filter, or UV-based. Additional information will be provided in pre-trip correspondence.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated 3 (moderate) on a scale of 1 to 5 (easy to strenuous). The first day will be especially challenging, with a large elevation gain of 2,300 feet in 4.5 miles. Elevations on this trip range from 7,700 feet to 11,000 feet, exclusive of day hikes or climbs, and all backcountry camps are at or above 10,000 feet. Participants are encouraged to arrive a day or two prior to the trip to help acclimatize to the altitude.

While participation in this outing does not require previous backpacking experience, carrying a 40-pound pack on-trail with daily elevation changes of up to 3,100 feet is physically challenging, particularly at the elevations at which we’ll be hiking. Participants must be in good physical condition and must be prepared for the rigorous physical demands of backpacking. The leader will provide physical conditioning recommendations to participants.

Equipment and Clothing

The Sierra Club will provide all group cooking equipment, a group first-aid kit, a group water filter system for camp use, and bear-resistant food storage canisters (participants are responsible for personal water purification method on trail). At the start of the trip you will be given a full bear canister and/or a portion of the group gear with a combined weight of up to 15 pounds. It is very important that you limit your personal gear and pack weight to no more than 25 pounds, so that together with 1-2 liters of water your total pack weight will be less than 45 pounds. Packs should have a capacity of 60-70 liters with adequate room to carry a bear canister and other group gear.

We require that you bring or plan to share a tent (highly recommended) or lightweight tarp (at a minimum). We also require that you bring sturdy and comfortable broken-in boots that provide good ankle support, a sleeping bag that will keep you warm in freezing temperatures, a small personal first-aid kit, and a waterproof rain jacket and pants.

The leader will send detailed equipment recommendations to participants well in advance of the trip. More information regarding personal gear may be found here.

References

Please plan on bringing your own map and compass -- not only is this a matter of safety, but you will have a better appreciation of where we are going and where we have been. You are also welcome to bring GPS devices.

Maps:

• Mt. Thompson USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle.
• Kings Canyon High Country map published by Tom Harrison Maps (www.tomharrisonmaps.com)
• The two-sheet map set for the John Muir Wilderness and Sequoia/Kings Canyon Wilderness published by the U.S. Forest Service. 

Books:

• Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. The California Academy of Sciences. An excellent guide to the plants and wildlife of the Sierra Nevada.
• Secor, R.J., The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails. The Mountaineers. An excellent general reference to trails and climbing routes in the Sierra Nevada.

Conservation

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” ― John Muir

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

Our trek will primarily be within the John Muir Wilderness area in the Inyo National Forest. Congress designated the John Muir Wilderness with the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964. We will experience firsthand the unique beauty of this area and the fragile nature of its ecology. During our time in the wilderness, we will discuss and practice minimal impact, and discuss local and global conservation topics. In addition, you are encouraged to come prepared and introduce topics of interest to you.

As a group, we will diligently observe Leave No Trace principles.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.