Women's Eastern Sierra Adventure, Green and Baker Lakes, John Muir Wilderness, California

The Trip

Join a long tradition of women in the wilderness as we celebrate 40 years of women’s trips. Connect with nature, find camaraderie, and trust in yourself as you backpack with us. Our trek will take us into a scenic eastern Sierra alpine area with expansive views, picturesque lakes, and numerous peaks nearby to climb. This four-day, 14-mile on- and off-trail point-to-point trek will take us by cascading streams, through forests of aspen and pine, and past shimmering high-elevation lakes situated on a beautiful mountain plateau.

Our trip begins with a challenging climb from South Lake up the trail to Green Lake. The landscape will change dramatically as we ascend 1,600 feet through the forest and into alpine terrain with expansive views of the Sierra crest. From Green Lake we will head on- and off-trail to spend two nights camping above 11,000 feet on a high alpine plateau. Surrounding peaks beckon us to climb them, such as The Hunchback, Quasimodo, Vagabond, and Cloudripper, the tallest peak in the Inconsolable Range. As we travel across the plateau, we will see marks left behind by the Basque sheepherders who grazed their sheep here in the early 20^th century. This will allow us to discuss the impact that grazing has had on these high alpine areas of the Eastern Sierra.

Our layover day will allow time to explore this vast area. We can swim in the scenic alpine lakes, climb a peak or two, or simply relax and take in the incredible views. On our last day, as we descend 3,400 feet on the trail back to our cars at our exit trailhead, we’ll have panoramas of the Owens Valley, the North Fork of Big Pine Creek, and the Palisade Glacier, the southernmost glacier in North America and the largest in the Sierra.

If you are short on vacation time, this trip may fit well into your schedule. This trip is intended for women with previous backcountry experience at elevations above 10,000 feet, although well-conditioned beginners are welcome to apply.

The John Muir Wilderness Area contains the ancestral lands of the Western and Eastern Mono/Monache and the Northern Piute/Numu. The area provided summer trade routes and important hunting and gathering locations.

Day 1: We will meet in the afternoon at a cabin located near Bishop (at approximately 8,500 feet elevation). 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.

Day 2: After an early breakfast, we will shuttle cars 34 miles to our exit trailhead at the North Fork of Big Pine Creek trailhead then return to the South Lake trailhead to begin our hike. This first hiking day will be somewhat challenging as we climb 1,600 feet with full packs to reach our camp at Green Lake (11,100 feet). The trail climbs quickly and steeply at times as we follow the outlet stream of Brown Lake. Our climb offers sweeping views of the South Fork of Bishop Creek and Mt. Tom. The total distance is 3 miles with 1,600 feet of elevation gain.

Day 3: We leave Green Lake and hike on- and off-trail over gentle terrain past Baker Lake to reach our second camp at another high lake, with options for climbing peaks or exploring the area on our layover day. Once we make camp, there may be time to relax or hike to other nearby lakes in the afternoon. We will hike about 4 miles with 800 feet of elevation gain.

Day 4: We will spend the day relaxing, swimming, or, for those that feel more ambitious, climbing any of the surrounding peaks, such as The Hunchback, Quasimodo, Vagabond, or Cloudripper.

Day 5: On this final day of our adventure, from our camp, we will hike 7.0 miles on the trail and descend over 3,400 feet to the vehicles we left parked at the North Fork Big Pine Creek trailhead.

Getting There

We will meet on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada at a cabin near Bishop, California. 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 in Reno, NV. Bishop is about 4.5 hours northwest 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 a stop in Bishop, where it should be easy to arrange a ride. Check their website for the latest 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 non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

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. Accommodating more restricted diets will be difficult. Please contact the leader before 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 be hearty, healthy, and varied. 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, 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 last day will be especially challenging, with a large elevation drop of 3,400 feet in 7.0 miles. Elevations on this trip range from 9,800 feet to 11,900 feet, exclusive of day hikes or climbs, and all backcountry camps are at or above 10,700 feet. Participants are encouraged to arrive a day or two before 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- and off-trail with daily elevation changes of up to 3,400 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 their water purification 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 10 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 40 pounds or less. 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), 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 and Mt. Hilgard USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles.

• 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.