Autumn Light on Sabrina Basin, John Muir Wilderness, California
Sierra Club Outings Trip | Backpack
Highlights
- Backpack in the uncrowded late season
- Explore nearby lakes and peaks with just your daypack
- Experience early fall color with low-angled sunlight
Includes
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Healthy meals with organic and non-GMO ingredients
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All cooking equipment and bear canisters
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Permits and first night camping
Overview
The Trip
“Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” — John Muir
Our late season trip will take us a short but memorable distance into the beautiful upper reaches of Sabrina Basin. We will backpack mostly on trail and above timberline on a scenic journey to stunning crystal blue alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, and streams cradled beneath majestic rugged peaks of the towering Sierra Crest
The Trip
“Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” — John Muir
Our late season trip will take us a short but memorable distance into the beautiful upper reaches of Sabrina Basin. We will backpack mostly on trail and above timberline on a scenic journey to stunning crystal blue alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, and streams cradled beneath majestic rugged peaks of the towering Sierra Crest.
This trip is well suited for the intermediate backpacker who is comfortable hiking above timberline at a fairly high altitude. With moderate to steep ascents, our travel days will be short in distance but challenging at times due to the rugged terrain. Our planned distances between camps should provide plenty of opportunities to explore many of the hidden scenic and bountiful remote treasures the basin has to offer.
We will have plenty of opportunities to explore nearby features like gorgeous mountain peaks, secluded alpine lakes and serene meadows nestled among rocky terrain rich in diverse environmental habitats and compelling geological history. Come join us for a breathtaking outdoor experience with several hiking options on trail, less used trails, and short cross-country segments through a diverse sampling of some of the Sierra's finest scenery! Most of these lakes are stocked with trout, providing the backcountry angler ample opportunity to wet their line.
Itinerary
Day 1: The trip officially begins on Tuesday afternoon at a campground near Lake Sabrina. We will introduce ourselves to one another, review trip details, and share an early dinner together. After dinner there will be time to answer questions and finalize our group gear. (There will be sites held for those who wish to arrive a day early on Monday.)
Day 2: Our hike will start by heading up from Lake Sabrina, with views of the glaciated basin and the high encircling peaks of Mt. Darwin, Mt. Haeckel, Mt. Wallace, and Mt Powell. After a short gradual traverse above Sabrina Lake, we enter the John Muir Wilderness. The trail will turn and become steeper as we steadily climb to Blue Lake (10,338 feet). We’ll plan to have lunch here among granite rock slabs and enjoy the beauty that abounds
Day 1: The trip officially begins on Tuesday afternoon at a campground near Lake Sabrina. We will introduce ourselves to one another, review trip details, and share an early dinner together. After dinner there will be time to answer questions and finalize our group gear. (There will be sites held for those who wish to arrive a day early on Monday.)
Day 2: Our hike will start by heading up from Lake Sabrina, with views of the glaciated basin and the high encircling peaks of Mt. Darwin, Mt. Haeckel, Mt. Wallace, and Mt Powell. After a short gradual traverse above Sabrina Lake, we enter the John Muir Wilderness. The trail will turn and become steeper as we steadily climb to Blue Lake (10,338 feet). We’ll plan to have lunch here among granite rock slabs and enjoy the beauty that abounds. After our lunch break, with most of our climbing behind us, we will continue our hike along granite ledges to Dingleberry Lake (10,489 feet). This will be our most challenging day with full packs. The distance today will be 4.8 miles, with a 1,400-foot ascent.
Day 3: Today we will continue on the main trail from Dingleberry Lake and hike deeper into the upper reaches of Sabrina Basin where we plan to make camp for our layover days. We climb moderately toward Picture Peak and the picturesque basin beneath (11,071 feet). Flexibility and weather conditions will give rise to our base camp selection and off-trail hiking. After making camp, we will have options to explore nearby Sailor Lake (10,850 feet) and remote rockbound Moonlight Lake (11,052 feet) with its cascading waterfall. Today’s travel distance will be less than 2.5 miles, with a 600-foot ascent.
Days 4-5: Autumn will cast her low angled light and bring early evening gathering in camp. We have planned two full layover days to explore nearby Midnight Lake, Hungry Packer Lake, and Echo Lake. For the more adventurous, we plan to scout cross-country routes between Moonlight Lake, Echo Lake, and the Sierra crest.
Day 6: Today we continue our journey, retracing our steps on the main trail toward the lower basin with a lunch stop near Blue Lake. We will hike alongside meandering meadows with possible early season frost and late-season soft hues warming the terrain. Today will be our longest day on trail, but we will have lighter packs. Today we descend about 1,900 feet on 7.5 miles of trail to conclude our trip with welcoming aspens at trail's end.
Logistics
Getting There
Bishop is located on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, about 200 miles from Reno, 265 miles from either Las Vegas or Los Angeles, and 300 miles from San Francisco. Trip members arriving from other parts of the country should explore the option of flying to one of these major cities and sharing a rental car or arranging a ride. As of this writing, Eastern Sierra Transit offers bus service from Reno to Bishop on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please check online for current information.
From US 395 in Bishop, take Highway 168 toward South Lake. Continue southwest on Hwy 168 to a junction with Lake Sabrina Road and continue on Lake Sabrina Road to the campground near the lake
Getting There
Bishop is located on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, about 200 miles from Reno, 265 miles from either Las Vegas or Los Angeles, and 300 miles from San Francisco. Trip members arriving from other parts of the country should explore the option of flying to one of these major cities and sharing a rental car or arranging a ride. As of this writing, Eastern Sierra Transit offers bus service from Reno to Bishop on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please check online for current information.
From US 395 in Bishop, take Highway 168 toward South Lake. Continue southwest on Hwy 168 to a junction with Lake Sabrina Road and continue on Lake Sabrina Road to the campground near the lake.
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 the official first night in camp on Day 1 and concluding with lunch on the last day on trail. Meals will be healthy and vegetarian friendly, featuring some organic and non-GMO items. Some food sensitivities might be accommodated. However, please let the trip leaders know of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you apply. Boiled water and a gravity water filter system for treating group water will be provided. For any and all non-group personal water treatment, you must provide your own water purification method. Trip participants will share in the responsibility of preparing daily meals, cooking, and cleaning up while on trail. Throughout our trip, we will adhere to all land agency regulations and guidelines as well as the principles of Leave No Trace (LNT).
Trip Difficulty
High-altitude backpacking is physically demanding and this route and itinerary will require participants to be in excellent physical condition. A disciplined training and conditioning program will be necessary to achieve the very good level of fitness required for this hike. Your leaders will discuss a fitness regimen with you upon sign up.
We will be above 10,000 feet for the majority of our hike, which also contributes to the difficulty of the trip.
This trip is rated a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult. This late-season trip has an overall distance of approximately 15 miles and is designed with short moving days between two camps. The planned layover days provide an array of exciting hiking opportunities, to explore remote cross-country routes, lake basins, streams and meadows without the weight of a full backpack. Our first backpacking day will be the most challenging as we hike with fully loaded packs and climb up 1,400 feet in elevation. Campsites will all be located at high altitudes between 10,400 feet and 11,000 feet. Most backpacking will be on-trail, except for short segments of off-trail.
Participation in the outing suggests that you have some hiking experience with a loaded backpack. Your backpack will likely weigh 35 to 40 pounds when loaded with gear and food. Carrying this load at elevation requires that you be in good physical condition and have a routine that builds physical and aerobic strength. Hiking on rough terrain requires good balance, and backpacking with others requires patience, flexibility, and a sense of humor. Our objective is to enjoy some spectacular and scenic wilderness in good company. Late season is less crowded and brings equal days of sun/night-light and cooler mornings and evenings. Weather could change unexpectedly with sudden rain, hail, snow, and colder temperatures. Daytime temperatures can be moderate, while nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. It is essential that you be prepared for extremes in weather conditions, and also be adaptable should we need to change our route to accommodate the unexpected.
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 treatment 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 between 10-12 pounds. It is very important that you limit your personal gear and pack weight to no more than 20 pounds, so that together with 1-2 liters of water your total pack weight will be less than 40 pounds. We require that you bring or plan to share a tent (highly recommended) or lightweight tarp (at a minimum), 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 at http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html
References
- Hill, Mary, Geology of the Sierra Nevada. University of California Press. “A smooth-flowing, easily read historical account of the ‘Sierra Nevada through the ages.’” – G.D. Howell
- Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. California Academy of Sciences.
- Secor, R.J., The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails. The Mountaineers Books. An excellent general reference to climbing routes, cross-country routes, and trails in the Sierra Nevada.
- USGS’s Mt. Thompson and Mt Goddard Quadrangle 15 minute Topo or Tom Harrison Maps’ Bishop Pass, North Lake – South Lake Loop Trail Map
Conservation
“Humankind has not woven the web of life.We are but one thread within it.Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.All things are bound together.All things connect.”— Chief Seattle, 1854
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 trip will start in the Inyo National Forest and enter the John Muir Wilderness. 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. Although this wilderness is now protected from logging and mining activities, this has not always been the case. In fact, the surrounding national forest lands do not receive the same level of protection. We will examine and consider the level of protection that wilderness designation has given to this area, appreciate how this land compares with other types of "protected" areas we are familiar with, and discuss how we should protect these areas for future generations.
While the area we're visiting has been protected, it continues to be threatened by outside forces such as climate change and pollution. We'll have an opportunity on our outing to discuss such threats, the importance of large protected areas for habitat resilience, and what we can do to support work on these issues. Participants are also encouraged to share information about other environmental issues such as those in their local communities.
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from Inyo National Forest.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners