Sixty Lakes and More in Kings Canyon National Park, California

The Trip

Follow the trail less traveled on this adventurous point-to-point trek through the heart of Kings Canyon National Park.  Rather than tramping the busy John Muir Trail, our small group of intrepid explorers will opt to ramble cross-country or on secondary trails that traverse much less visited, but no less scenic, areas.  We’ll achieve greater solitude and connection with the wilderness experience, relish in our achievements, and experience the unsurpassed beauty of iconic landmarks such as 60 Lakes Basin and Bench Lake.  Our extended cross-country journey between Woods Creek and Bench Lake is unique in that it avoids the huge talus blocks found on many High Sierra routes.

We will be traveling through areas where total group size is limited to eight. The smaller group size is advantageous from an efficiency standpoint, especially cross-country, and facilitates greater intimacy with our surroundings. The east side entry speeds our access to the promised land of timber land country and eliminates the need to retrace our steps.

Newcomers to cross-country travel are welcome, provided they possess the conditioning and desire to elevate their backcountry game!  Learning and practicing Leave No Trace principles will be a central theme of this trip. We will employ some innovative techniques to lighten the load and burden of preparing group meals.  All food and scented items must be stored in bear cans while in the wilderness.

Day 1: The trip officially begins Saturday afternoon at a campground near the Kearsarge Pass trailhead.  We will need to shuttle some vehicles over to the Taboose Creek exit trailhead. Vehicles with decent clearance will be especially appreciated on the rough Taboose Creek Road. After completing that task, we will reconvene at the campground to introduce ourselves, review trip details, and share dinner before turning in.

Day 2: A relatively early start and steady grade will facilitate our climb up the popular Kearsarge Pass trail.  After four miles and 2,600 feet of elevation gain to the top, we will spend the remainder of the day alternatively descending and traversing to our camp at Charlotte Lake.

Day 3: We’ll hook up with the John Muir Trail and switchback over precipitous Glen Pass. Our off-trail adventure begins as we leave the through hikers behind and go over Rae Col.  We’ll descend into the upper end of 60 Lakes Basin, and make camp near a crystal-clear lake.

Day 4: Our first layover provides an opportunity for a wide variety of exploration options, such as lake hopping through the basin or climbing to a high point for expansive views. Swimming and relaxing are viable options as well. 

Day 5: We pack up and descend down the fading 60 Lake Basin Trail. Eventually the trail disappears and we cut cross-country back to the John Muir Trail. We’ll make camp in the general vicinity of the pedestrian suspension bridge over Woods Creek. 

Day 6: This is a short but steep day -- a 2,000-foot climb in just over two miles, cross-country!  But our efforts will be rewarded by a relaxing camp at the scenic and secluded unnamed lake east of aptly named Window Peak.

Day 7: A nearly 1,900-foot scamper over slabs, tundra, short cliffs, and small talus delivers us to the top of Explorer Pass.  We will opt for the easier, class 2 descent down yellow scree into a beautiful, unnamed basin northeast of towering Arrow Peak.  We’ll maneuver along the basin’s meadows and forests and eventually reach our camp at the delightful Bench Lake.

Day 8: Our second layover begins with reveling in the incredible morning view of Arrow Peak, which looms over Bench Lake.  Suitably inspired, some may opt for an attempt on that lofty summit, while others may opt for a more relaxed day. 

Day 9: With our newly found acclimatization and lighter packs, we will set out over Taboose Pass and head for the cars, but 12 miles and a 6,000-foot descent is nothing to sneeze at! The key to victory is to take it easy. The trip ends when we reach the trailhead, but some of us will need a ride back to our beginning trailhead to retrieve our vehicles.

Getting There

Participants are responsible for arranging transportation to the entry and from the exit trailheads.  The Onion Valley/Kearsarge Pass entry trailhead is located at the end of the Onion Valley Road -- 25 minutes or 13 switchbacking, paved miles east of Independence, CA.  Independence is a little over a four-hour drive from either the Reno or Las Vegas Airports. The Eastern Sierra Transit Bus service runs from Reno to Lancaster, with one of its stops in Independence, where it should be easy to arrange a ride to the trailhead. You may find a greater variety of services in Bishop, however. Driving directions, links to current public transit schedules, and a trip roster with contact information to facilitate ride-sharing will be provided in advance of the trip.

The Taboose Pass exit trailhead is a bit tougher, as it is located six miles up an increasing rough, rocky road from US 395, 14 miles north of Independence. The car shuttle between the two trailheads will take about 1 hour and 10 minutes one-way.  Due to the uncertainties inherent in a trip of this magnitude, return flight reservations should not be made for any earlier than the day after the trip ends.

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

Accommodations and Food

All meals, snacks, and drinks are provided and included in the trip price, beginning with dinner on day one in the campground to lunch on day nine (the last day).

With the requirement to store all food in bear canisters, we will strive to reduce bulk, as well as weight, wherever possible.  Therefore, the backcountry menu will consist of low-bulk, non-refrigerated, lightweight foods that have a high calorie-to-bulk ratio.  An excellent example of this type of food is peanut butter.

The menu can accommodate vegetarians, but accommodating more restricted diets can 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 without adversely impacting the group. 

Generally, we'll have hot or cold cereal for breakfast and dinners will usually consist of soup, a one-pot entrée, and dessert. Because all food and drinks are provided and must be secured in the bear cans, we cannot accommodate the extra weight and bulk of personal food items. Again, please contact the leaders before the trip regarding your individual needs.

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

Trip Difficulty

This trip difficulty is rated 4 per the Sierra Club Outings system of rating trips on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. Factors such as daily mileage, elevation gains and losses, terrain, and altitude are assigned points. The daily point totals are then averaged to determine the rating.

About seven miles of the 36-mile route is cross-country, and can involve steep slabs, loose scree, small talus, and short cliffs. Icy snowfields could be encountered. Daily elevation gains exceed 2,000 feet on three of the hiking days, and the last day involves a descent of 6,000 feet.  Expect to hike with your pack close to eight hours on the longest days; four hours on the shorter days.

The entry trailhead lies at an elevation of 9,200 feet and the first pass is at 11,800 feet. All camps except for the Woods Creek camp lie above 10,000 feet. Acclimatization to altitude is a MUST for this trip! We highly recommend spending time at elevation one, two, or even more days prior to the trip. The proximity of Mammoth Lakes (7,880 feet) to the trailhead provides ample opportunity for acclimatization prior to the trip. The towns in the Owens Valley -- from Bishop to Lone Pine -- are not really high enough for effective acclimatization. It is not really necessary -- in fact it could be detrimental -- to over-exert while acclimatizing.

Excellent physical fitness is absolutely essential for the success of each participant and the group. Participants are required to follow a regular fitness program including aerobic and strength training. We have found that backpacking stresses your body in some very unique ways, like lengthening your foot from the extra weight. Therefore, we highly recommend supplementing your routine by wearing your boots and carrying your loaded pack on hikes up and down hills (or staircases) for at least a month prior to the trip.

This is a group trip whose success relies upon the cheerful, active contribution of all participants. You'll be assigned to a cook-crew with a fellow participant and prepare the group meals on a rotating basis. You’ll also assist with cleaning, sanitation, camp set-up and break-down, food storage, etc. As stated before, this trip will emphasize a Leave No Trace ethic in all aspects of its operations.

With the effects of climate change, conditions in early September have been highly variable the last few years.  The leader will keep participants apprised of expected conditions prior to the trip. Other circumstances on the trip may dictate an adjustment or a complete overhaul of the route, so a flexible attitude is a must.

As stated above, this trip is well suited for newcomers, provided they are properly prepared. Proper preparation will include following an adequate physical training program and acquiring the proper gear. The leaders are eager to go the extra mile to help you properly prepare for this trip, provided we can establish an efficient mode of communication and you actively pursue the recommendations.

Equipment and Clothing

“Light is right!” A general equipment list can be found at the link listed below.  Pre-trip communication will provide much more detailed elaboration on the range of equipment choices available, as there really is no one correct answer for a particular need.  While not an “ultralight” trip per se, many of the concepts of ultralight backpacking are useful. Some clothing fundamentals include wearing good quality raingear, dressing in layers, and avoiding duplication. We highly recommend trekking poles to contend with rough terrain, descents, and stream crossings carrying a loaded pack.

The trip includes group equipment, such as cooking pots and utensils, stoves, fuel, hand-wash station, commissary tarp, and bear canisters. Each trip participant will bring his/her own eating utensils and carry one loaded bear canister, along with a share of the other group items, bringing each participant's total share of the commissary to about 15 pounds at the start of the trip.

The total weight of your personal gear, including pack, must not exceed 25 pounds. Many participants have been successful in reducing their “base load” to well below 20 pounds! This is important not just to increase your stamina and comfort, but also for safety. Generally speaking, packs should have a capacity of at least 60 liters, but with scrupulous attention to weight reduction, some participants have been able to use slightly smaller packs. A small pack will not relieve you of carrying a bear canister! 

Backpacking footwear has seen quite a revolution of late, with many people choosing to use low-top hiking shoes. However, the leader still prefers durable boots that provide ankle protection, abrasion resistance, and stability on rough, off-trail terrain. The most important thing is that footwear should be well broken in and field-tested under expected loads well before the trip.

While the weather can be quite pleasant in the High Sierra in early September, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s, be prepared for extremes.  With the increased solar radiation experienced at altitude, it can feel much warmer than the thermometer would indicate.  Extended rain or even snow can occur at any time of year. Thunderstorms -- with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, and hail -- happen occasionally, and can be followed by a spectacular sunset. Snowfields after a heavy winter could be encountered, so we recommend low gaiters. Finally, if fishing, you will need a current California Fishing License.

References

• Eastern Sierra Transit – 395 bus routes: http://www.estransit.com/routes-schedule/395-routes/
• Equipment: http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html
• Leave No Trace: https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles
• Sierra Club Our Wild America: http://content.sierraclub.org/ourwildamerica/

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and the 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.

We will venture off-trail into pristine alpine lake basins, which appear today much as they must have to the early mountaineers of the 19th century. We will share the mountaineers' stories and their visions for ensuring the preservation of this treasured wilderness for many generations to come. As a group we will diligently observe Leave No Trace principles, and invite discussion of current efforts to protect our wilderness lands.

While the area we're visiting has been protected, it continues to be threatened by outside forces such as climate change and pollution. Many of the surrounding areas are unprotected and face additional threats, such as logging and poorly planned development. 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.

Visitors like us have an effect on the wilderness. Our trip will provide a good opportunity to observe why it is important to minimize our impact and consider ways in which we can leave no trace. We may also discuss how wilderness practices have changed over the years and how they can be further improved, while at the same time allowing for a special experience in the wilderness.

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