fossana
Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2018
- Messages
- 913
![Mt Spencer and Evolution Basin Mt Spencer and Evolution Basin](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99694-30e6a01914e1b7b78b16203bd561ca59.jpg)
Background
Armed with a new hip and 2 months of obsessive training, I planned to test out my hip on one of my favorite big Sierra hikes, a loop through Evolution Basin and Darwin Canyon starting at Sabrina Lake and ending at North Lake. The route passes through some of the most prized terrain for Sierra hikers and climbers. My long-time Bishop friends and all-around overachieving couple, local volunteers and astrophysicists Stephen and Erik, agreed to join.
If all went well, I was planning to do a short, but rugged mostly off-trail backpacking loop in the Palisades one week later. Perhaps not the wisest move, I also did a 12 mile hike up Piute Pass the day prior to our hike with my SoCal friend, Joan, and fur niece, Pika.
Our Route
Start: Sabrina Lake/Basin trailhead
End: Sabrina Basin hiker overflow (painless bike shuttle option from N Lake trailhead)
Mileage: ~25 miles via GPS track
Elevation gain: ~7600 feet
Passes: Lamarck Col (~12,960'), Haeckel Col (~12,680')
Difficulty: class 3
View on Caltopo
![Screen Shot 2021-07-05 at 12.52.15 PM.png Screen Shot 2021-07-05 at 12.52.15 PM.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99691-891aaac173dbcf6bd18f2ff20c2af905.jpg)
![Screen Shot 2021-07-05 at 2.51.16 PM.png Screen Shot 2021-07-05 at 2.51.16 PM.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99706-33b0f35b82ad2485971c54ab05354370.jpg)
Trip Report
I stayed up at elevation, and met Erik and Stephen in the morning. We set up a brief shuttle to the Sabrina Lake trailhead. Erik is a long-time Inyo SAR volunteer, and Stephen and I are used to playing catch-up; however, for the past few years Stephen has been ultrarunning in the alpine zone. Today, I knew I would be the extra slow one. The wildflowers and mosquitos were out as we crossed through Sabrina Basin (incentive to keep moving). Of note was also how unusually warm it was at altitude, another worrying sign of climate change and the likely smoke and fires that would follow later in the year.
![Sierra columbine (Aquilegia pubescens) Sierra columbine (Aquilegia pubescens)](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99695-8ad82cb5ab6080c96450f2fd6c655f25.jpg)
![Sabrina Basin Sabrina Basin](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99696-ac38e49608904de7b69a4b6b8937a1ca.jpg)
![One of the many minor Sabrina Basin lakes One of the many minor Sabrina Basin lakes](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99697-e0dc71d6a8cfc51a3e74389e52e91cda.jpg)
![Heading toward Midnight Lake Heading toward Midnight Lake](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99698-75042ad8e8f8a77f3398e9d43f5e2104.jpg)
![Some of the minor peaks and ridges around Picture Peak Some of the minor peaks and ridges around Picture Peak](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99699-531bb534523bf83bdda5456493b44cda.jpg)
We made our way to Picture Peak (what Sierra bible author, RJ Secor, calls one of the most beautiful peaks in the Sierra) and Hungry Packer Lake. To avoid the long talus slog, we left the official trail and took the ridge to the right, bypassing the most striking view of the peak from the NE shore of the lake.
We stopped at the unnamed tarn below Haeckel to filter water, the most accessible water source on Evolution Traverse in low snow years. The climb to Haeckel Col was relatively painless, minor scree and talus to ramps. At the top of the ridge, the traditional route up Mt Haeckel (the broad chute) came into view.
![Ascending the rib to the right of Picture Peak Ascending the rib to the right of Picture Peak](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99700-1b2c69308cf7c080014b07a2ce69d306.jpg)
![Looking back at the way we came through Sabrina Basin Looking back at the way we came through Sabrina Basin](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99701-7fc5b75325211711417f3bdb7cd153ab.jpg)
![Picture Peak Picture Peak](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99702-f8b39a2f82157084a409cc2a71b467eb.jpg)
![First glimpse of Evolution Range and Haeckel Col First glimpse of Evolution Range and Haeckel Col](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99703-7319e9641f900dbb55483e7f074dc855.jpg)
![The tarn below Mt Haeckel The tarn below Mt Haeckel](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99704-d8f1d37c5149fe4cbfde4ebccdc3f0e5.jpg)
![The traditional broad chute route up Mt Haeckel The traditional broad chute route up Mt Haeckel](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99705-6dbc8b1dadd954ea868a0a3eb96603b2.jpg)
What I hadn't remembered was the long talus descent into the Spencer/Huxley Cirque. After what seemed like forever, we stepped onto the unusually dry meadows of Evolution Basin. My hip, however, was holding up well and it was nice to have my balance back. Stephen immediately jumped in the lake, while Erik and I opted for deep wading.
![11808' lake from Haeckel Col 11808' lake from Haeckel Col](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99711-0a8df3b84411f94b9553e20102b38d77.jpg)
![Descending the endless talus from Haeckel Col Descending the endless talus from Haeckel Col](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99712-c108f9615c4642ffd6eee34b0ec118e6.jpg)
![The shores of 11808' lake The shores of 11808' lake](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99713-889ac4fb68c957127402b36308f2f417.jpg)
![Walking out the drainage toward Sapphire Lake Walking out the drainage toward Sapphire Lake](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99714-97c60290997fdddf0cccf31620ff2261.jpg)
We contoured across the slabs and eventually made our way onto the JMT/PCT proper. It was remarkably quiet on one of the most coveted sections of the JMT, Evolution Basin, but that wouldn't last. As we approached Evolution Lake, there was a giant party of noisy backpackers and another group playing music on speakers. It might as well have been a SoCal beach.
![Mt Spencer Mt Spencer](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99715-5cbd1a58347554cd210b70f1ae4b3344.jpg)
![Evolution Basin Evolution Basin](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99716-5ccc13da73fe46afbc34149eb15c816c.jpg)
![Crossing over to the W side of the drainage Crossing over to the W side of the drainage](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99717-aa6daf8ab27bd2c7bb06577286a592aa.jpg)
![Erik stopping for a well-earned head dunk Erik stopping for a well-earned head dunk](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99718-f17bb067b66fd4c4fcb581130e31b5d9.jpg)
![Looking back at Mt Spencer Looking back at Mt Spencer](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99721-e2538bd869b7e55955ac4dcddcea3231.jpg)
![Still unusually quiet on the JMT Still unusually quiet on the JMT](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99722-9c36ff11260ba632ed0a7a4e94d4d0ed.jpg)
We stopped briefly on the far shore of the lake for a snack before the last big climb up to Lamarck Col. We opted for the trail to Darwin Canyon instead of contouring up the ramps. The trail to Darwin Canyon has been rerouted to reduce impact, and the start was further down the JMT than we expected. On the upside, it now had wider, gentler switchbacks. My legs were starting to feel extra tired.
![Evolution Lake Evolution Lake](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99723-727532e0cf950b4fe79b795c9048e6d4.jpg)
![Ascending to Darwin Canyon Ascending to Darwin Canyon](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99724-c4bf87211ff71f4f21599f86e73c25be.jpg)
At the foot of Darwin Canyon and the start of Evolution Traverse, we ran into my Bishop friends, Emma and Matt. ~10 years ago, out of a blue I had run into Emma on Mt Haeckel at a low point in my attempt at the traverse. The apple she gave me kept me from bonking, and allowed me to finish off the route. I knew Emma and Matt were doing the North Lake/South Lake loop out of Lamarck Col, but I was surprised to find them so easily. We chatted with them for a while before hitting the gentle trail up Darwin Canyon. I hadn't been very hungry the past few days, and I had way too much food still left in my pack (sadly, a common theme for me at high altitude).
![One of the many lovely Darwin Canyon lakes One of the many lovely Darwin Canyon lakes](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99725-2c2d4c1f2798a42646f835be2c61d102.jpg)
![Stephen and Erik navigating the slabs and streams up Darwin Canyon Stephen and Erik navigating the slabs and streams up Darwin Canyon](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99726-00487bad4e909e830b47699f91547e47.jpg)
![One of the minor peaks on the N side of Darwin Canyon One of the minor peaks on the N side of Darwin Canyon](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99727-4d2e680fcaaceb3ec5e4329a2d0d1bb1.jpg)
The streams and lakes in Darwin Canyon were surprisingly full, considering how dry Evolution Basin was. We walked the undulating trail, skirting the many lakes until we reached the last major obstacle, the ~1400' climb up Lamark Col. The altitude, distance, and my lack of calories were taking their toll. I caught a parting shot of Mt. Darwin. Stephen and Erik kindly waited for me at the pass even though I had told them multiple times along the way that they should feel free to head back on their own. I had done this section several times solo in the past.
![Mt Mendel Mt Mendel](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99728-f18b912aa19f85d409813740f9bd86da.jpg)
![Mt Darwin and Mt Mendel from the trail to Lamarck Col Mt Darwin and Mt Mendel from the trail to Lamarck Col](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/99/99729-c45a51734e00e9ec9cd19b37672704d2.jpg)
Erik had wanted to reach the well-maintained, Lamarck Lakes trail proper by the time full darkness hit, and we made it, barely. Stephen ran ahead, and Erik and I walked the few miles back to the trailhead, then ~2 easy miles down the North Lake road to my vehicle. It was dark enough to see the Milky Way. While I could have done this solo, I was grateful to have friends along and to run into others on route. I felt bad for being slow, but given my recovery timeline I'll count it as a win.
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