High Sierra Highlights on the John Muir Trail, Kings Canyon National Park, California

The Trip

Our trip explores the most magnificent scenery that Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Trail (JMT) have to offer. We will visit the Rae Lakes, Bench Lake, Twin Lakes and many more. We cross five scenic High Sierra passes, all about 12,000 feet high. We will camp in the Dusy Basin and have an option to visit 60 Lakes Basin. Tour these areas carrying only a daypack while mules carry the bulk of our gear.

After two nights of pre-trip acclimating, this 11-day, one-way trek on the famous John Muir Trail starts at the South Lake Trailhead, and proceeds over Bishop Pass into Kings Canyon National Park. We will camp in beautiful Dusy Basin, before descending into Le Conte Canyon for our next camp near Ladder Creek. We then climb along Palisade Creek to our lakeside camp under the 14,000-foot Palisade Crest. The next day we cross Mather Pass and camp in the upper Basin before proceeding to remote Bench Lake. We have a layover day there for rest or exploration. Next, we cross Pinchot Pass on our way to our Twin Lakes camp. We move to Arrowhead Lake for two nights, which will allow us to explore 60 Lakes Basin via cross-country travel or rest in camp. Crossing Glen Pass we descend to Charlotte Lake for our last night. On our final day we cross Kearsarge Pass to our shuttle back to our cars.

Day 1: We meet at 4 p.m. at a camp, to be designated later, to start getting acquainted and acclimated to the altitude. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. before camping that night in our tents.

Day 2: We will take a day hike, to help acclimate and assess fitness levels for our trek. We return to our camp for our second night.

Day 3: After an early breakfast we will shuttle to the trailhead at South Lake. From the South Lake Trailhead (9,845 feet) we will climb for 6 miles past several lakes to Bishop Pass (11,972 feet). From the pass we descend about 2.5 miles to our lakeside campsite in Dusy Basin (10,750 feet). Distance: 8.5 miles. 

Day 4: We descend into Le Conte Canyon, turn south, and travel down canyon to our Ladder Creek camp (8,200 feet). Distance: 6 miles. 

Day 5: Today our hike is an ascent along Palisade Creek via “the Golden Staircase," the last section of the JMT to be completed, to our camp at Lower Palisade Lake (10,613 feet) under the magnificent 14,000-foot Palisade Range. Distance: 8 miles.

Day 6: We hike over Mather Pass (12,100 feet) and descend into the Upper Basin to our camp (approx. 10,000 feet). Distance: 6 miles. 

Day 7: We descend along the John Muir Trail before climbing to the Bench Lake trail junction and turning west for 2 miles to Bench Lake (10,558 feet). Distance: 6 miles. 

Day 8: Layover day at Bench Lake for rest or exploration.

Day 9: After hiking back to the John Muir Trail, we climb to Pinchot Pass (12,130 feet) and then descend to our Twin Lakes camp (10,630 feet). Distance: 9 miles. 

Day 10: We descend along Woods Creek to the crossing at 8,492 feet and then climb to our camp at Arrowhead Lake, enjoying fine views of Fin Dome over the lake (10,292 feet). Distance: 8 miles. 

Day 11: Layover day. Or an optional 7-mile loop (part cross-country via Basin Notch) through 60 Lakes Basin, north past the Rae Lakes, and back to our camp.

Day 12: Travel south past the Rae Lakes and the Painted Lady. Then hike up to Glen Pass (11,978 feet) and descend to Charlotte Lake (10,370 feet). Distance: 7 miles.

Day 13: On our final day we ascend to Kearsarge Pass (11,845 feet), enjoying fine views of the Kearsarge Lakes and Pinnacles, Mt Bago, and Bullfrog lake. From there we pass lakes and creeks as we descend to the trailhead at Onion Valley (9,185 feet). Distance: 8.8 miles. 

The distances and elevations shown above are approximate. The planned itinerary may have to be modified due to various factors such as weather and limitations to camping with stock.

Getting There

Our meeting place is at a camp that will be communicated to the participants later. It will be between Bishop and Mammoth, California.

Sierra Club leaders are not allowed to make carpool arrangements for participants, but a list of trip members to contact for possible ride-sharing arrangements will be provided before the trip. The nearest large airports are Sacramento, Reno, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco. There is also a smaller, closer airport at Mammoth Lakes.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will use our individual tents and sleeping bags for accommodations at wilderness campsites after the first two nights of tent/car camping. At each camp a latrine will be set up by the packers with a sit-down toilet and surrounding tent. Folding chairs will be provided for comfort in camp. A large tarp can be set up in case of rain. All meals will be prepared and served by an experienced cook beginning with dinner on the first day and ending with lunch on the last day. The cook will also handle the cleanup after the meals. A food preference sheet will be provided for trip members to fill out so that food provided can more closely meet trip members' needs. If you have special dietary requirements let the trip leader know and he will check with the packer to see if they can be accommodated.

You will be responsible for the purification of your drinking water (e.g. Steri-pen or water filtration system such as Katadyn Hiker).

Trip Difficulty

The overall trip is very strenuous. We will be at high altitude -- above 10,000 feet for most of the trip. We will cross high passes (12,000 feet) five times. Some optional travel will be off trail, walkable cross-country. Some days we will climb or descend more than 2,000 feet. Our relatively light day packs and optional layover days and some shorter hiking days make the trip suitable for most people in good health, who follow a good conditioning program for a least a couple of months before the trip. Be aware of the effect of the relatively high altitude on your hiking ability. Also, terrain conditions like snow fields and crossing rushing creeks may impact our ability to move. Refer to the itinerary for the individual day’s hiking requirements. The most difficult days involve distances of 9 miles and climbs of over 2,000 feet. Endurance is much more important than speed. If you desire all travel can be by trail. The cross-country travel is optional.

The weather is usually quite pleasant this time of year. However, we need to be prepared for wet and cold conditions. Daytime temps usually range between 55 to 70F. Night temps can dip below freezing. Most summer rain or hail comes in the form of afternoon thundershowers, usually with a clearing sky by evening.

Equipment and Clothing

A few months prior to the trip, those signing up will be provided with a detailed checklist of required and optional items they should bring on the trip. These items will be very similar to what you would bring on a backpacking trip. But, the generous 35 lb. limit that the packers carry for you means you can carry more luxury items. You need only carry a large daypack since the mules will carry everything except what you need during the day on the trail. The gear to be carried on the mules should, preferably, be placed in one large duffle bag (two is okay). A sturdy pair of hiking boots or shoes with good lug soles are needed. Broken in but not worn out. Your sleeping bag should be rated to at least 25F or colder. You may get by with a lower rated bag if you are willing to wear warm clothes to bed. A quality tent is needed since we are camping at relatively high elevations and need to be prepared for stormy weather. The packer will furnish stoves, cookware, cooking utensils (including eating utensils and plates for trip members) and food. We will provide you with a folding camp chair. You may wish to bring a mug or insulated cup for your hot drinks and a plastic container for your lunch sandwiches. The Sierra Club will furnish a group first aid kit and a satellite phone in case of emergency. You are expected to furnish your own basic first aid supplies such as band aids, blister material, headache relief, your meds, etc. You will be responsible for purifying your own water.

References

Maps:

• Kearsarge Pass Rae Lakes Loop. Tom Harrison Maps. ISBN 13 978-0-9915784-4-3.
• Kings Canyon High Country. Tom Harrison Maps. ISBN 1-877689-45-9.
• USGS Topo maps 1:24,000: Mt. Thompson, Ca. North Palisade Quadrangle, Split Mountain Quadrangle, Mt. Pinchot Quadrangle, Mt. Clarence King Quadrangle.

Books:

• Secor, R.J., The High Sierra Peaks Passes and Trails. 3rd edition. 
• Scheidt, Laurel, Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Conservation

Since we are hiking in wilderness one conservation focus will be on wilderness. This includes how wilderness is defined, designated, and preserved. Our contribution to wilderness preservation will be to practice Leave No Trace principles.

A second approach to conservation will be to ask each trip participant to select a conservation issue preferably from the area in which they live, and present that topic to the group for information and discussion.

Hopefully each participant will want to share their favorite memory from a visit to a national park.

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