Eastern Sierra 5-Day Adventure, Big Pine Lakes, California

The Trip

Our late summer adventure will take us into a spectacular eastern Sierra Canyon where we will experience the changing of the seasons among picturesque glacier-fed alpine lakes. This four-day, 13-17 miles 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 the Big Pine Lakes basin at 10,800 feet and enjoy stunning views of the towering Temple Crag, the Palisades, and the Inconsolable Range. 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 hikers of all ages with previous overnight backpacking experience at elevations above 10,000 feet, although all well-conditioned backpackers are welcomed to apply.

We will be hiking on historic lands of the Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute Indians. The tribe grew crops down in the valley and supplemented farming with hunting and fishing, especially in the summer

Day 1: We will meet in the afternoon at a campground located near Big Pine (at approximately 7,800 feet elevation). After introductions, we will review personal gear, weight packs, discuss trip details, and relax over a meal together. There will be time after dinner to answer questions and finish preparations for our journey.

Day 2: After an early breakfast, we will drive a short distance to the North Fork Big Pine Creek trailhead to begin our climb to the Big Pine Lakes basin. This first hiking day will be our most challenging day, climbing 2,500 feet with full packs to reach our camp at Second Lake (10,100 feet). The trail climbs quickly and steeply at times, passing several cascades and offering sweeping vistas. Temple Crag will come into view as we approach the aquamarine waters of Second Lake. The total distance is 4.8 miles with 2,500 feet of elevation gain.

Day 3: This day will be a short day. After breaking camp, we hike beyond Second Lake, pass Third Lake, then climb steadily to Fourth Lake. Another 0.5 mile and 200 feet climb brings us to Summit Lake, where we will spend the next two nights. Total distance is about 2.5 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Once we make camp, there will be time to explore Sixth and Seventh Lakes.

Day 4: We will spend our layover day relaxing, swimming, or -- for those who feel more ambitious -- climbing 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. The total distance is 6.5 miles with an elevation loss of 3,400 feet.

Getting There

We will meet on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada at a campground near Big Pine, California. Specific driving directions will be sent well before the trip start date. Please make plans to arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. For improved acclimatization, participants are encouraged to arrive early and to do some day hikes 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.

Big Pine 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 a traffic allowance) north of Los Angeles International Airport.

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. Big Pine is 15 miles north of Bishop. 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 time 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 mainly 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 signing 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 water treatment while on the trail, 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 2,500 feet in 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 before the trip to help acclimatize to the altitude.

Participation in this outing requires prioir 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 trip 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 methods on the 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. You must limit your 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. Generally speaking, a total pack weight of less than 40 pounds will make a backpacking trip safer and more enjoyable.

Packs should have a capacity of 60-70 liters with adequate room to carry a bear-resistant canister and other group gear. We require that you bring or plan to share a tent. 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 at http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html

References

Please plan on bringing your 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 was 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 the 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.