Peter Boothe, Dan Boothe, and their father Tom Boothe held a little reunion and hiked for 8 days and 7 nights in the Sierras. Dad had always wanted to see Evolution Valley, and we hadn't all hung out in far too long. For the last few days of the trip, we met up with Victor Hanson-Smith - a fellow grad student of Peter's who happened to be in the area (see Victor's photos of our time together on trail). We hiked and hiked and saw amazing sights and had a wonderful time. Evolution Valley really is one of the gems of the Sierras. It's like Yosemite, except the only way to get there is to hike for 3 days over major passes. Our route may be seen below, and below that is all the pictures we took (click on a picture for a better view) and the contents of the logbook as recorded by Peter.
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30 August 2007 |
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Eugene-Sonora
Boston-Sonora
Arrive in Sonora within 5 minutes of each other after driving for many hours. Sleep in Days Inn in Sonora.
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31 August 2007 |
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Bishop
Sonora Pass
MCMWTC in Bridgeport
Mono Lake
Lunch at Tom's Place
Set up cars
Little craft fair - Dan and Peter get Otter Pops
Organize all gear and food
"It doesn't weigh very much"
Get permits
Good Indian Dinner
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1 September 2007 |
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Over Pine Creek Pass
Waffles @ hotel
Leave PT Cruiser @ Pine Lake trailhead, 7,400 ft.
Tungsten mine
Start walking
up up up
lots of switchbacks
Lunch just above Upper Pine Lake
Nalgene fountains are funny every time
Met former Navy guy who is: civil engineer, canoe race, almost deaf from guns, and says about Long Beach "I wake up every morning and think 'what the f*** am I doing here?'"
After 8 miles, Pine Creek Pass. 11,160 ft
Nice long break at Pine Creek Pass
Meander down French Canyon for 2 1.4 1.2 miles.
Set up camp
See lots of Gray Jays
Pasta for dinner with artichoke asiago pesto cooked on Dan's stove
Plan the rest of the trip: day 2 in Aspen Meadow, day 3 in McClure Meadow, day 4 at Evolution Lake, day 5 at Wanda Lake, day 6 in Little Pete Meadow, day 7 Saddlerock Lake, day 8 fín
map and compass exercises
everyone thinks of sleeping outside, but lightning scares everyone into sleeping in tents.
Peter's flashlight was on in his pack and is now dead. Lame.
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2 September 2007 |
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Top o' French Canyon
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just past JMT junction on S. fork of San Joaquin River
Overly leisurely morning/start
Walking at the crack of 9:38am
Beautiful hike down canyon to Hutchinson Meadon (Piute Pass trail junction)
Lunch after H.M. at nice waterfall on Piute Creek. Soaked feet.
continued down and met: design people (before lunch), and ladies hiking out.
met up with John Muir Trail at bridge.
Continued up river
Good looking campsite on river
Went swimming in river
Saw bear on opposite bank (!)
Saw bear pooping
Ramen noodles for dinner
Alpenglow
Pack bear canisters maximally
counterbalance + bear canisters
bats!
a very tiring day
very very pretty landscape
"Yosemite-like"
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3 September 2007 |
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to just before McClure Meadows
Raisin datin' walnuts
got on trail behind a party of three ladies - ended up playing leapfrog all day
proceeded up canyon across 2 bridges
passed by 2 stock trains while climbing up to Evolution Valley
long break by waterfalls on Evolution Creek
ford Evolution Creek
lunch @ Evolution Meadow with deer, hawks
"Like Disneyland"
ladies pass us. It's a mother and 2 daughters, and it turns out one of them is a UO student
continue up Evolution Valley and Creek
find the most excellent campsite ever
Dad swims - "refreshing"
Dan swims - "pretty goddamn cold"
gave Dad his birthday present of Aquavit
Peter kicks over the soup, but we manage to have dinner anyway
campfire
fit everything into the bear canisters for the first time ever
everyone sleeps out
sleep
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4 September 2007 |
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McClure Meadows
to
Evolution Lake
All the meadows are spectacular
met George the ranger, he looks the part
2 needles - lodgepole pine
5 needles - white bark pine
up the switchbacks
did not hike Darwin Canyon
find fantastic campsite
went swimming
Dan explores peninsula
discover the names of all the local peaks
Peter and Dad go to meet neighbors
they are both photojournalists
they offer Thai curry (way better sounding than dehydrated Mexican rice)
we offer Aquavit in return
they, of course, win the phtography competition both in terms of gear and pictures
juggling lessons for Melina
amazing alpenglow
Janet's curry and soup were fantastic (note to self: check the asian market for food for camping trips)
fun conversations
we washed dishes
light painting
aquavit was a hit
We retire to a cold night's sleep with Peter and Dan in the cairn and Dad in the tent one flat spot up.
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5 September 2007 |
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Evolution Lake (10,852 ft)
over Muir Pass (11,955 ft)
to little lake above Helen Lake (11,700 ft)
"Religious movement" - Dan
"They blow up so fast" - Dan
Leisurely breakfast. Chat with neighbors again.
Wandered onto trail at 11:28
Made excellent time to Wanda Lake (1.5 hrs) (11,426 ft)
long lunch at Wanda Lake
amazing diving bugs, tadpoles, tiny shrimp, tiny barnacles
lake is very blue and very cold
after lunch, blast up to Muir Pass (1 hr)
See hut
Moon landscape with wonderful views
"This is what mountains should look like"
Tiny chipmunks, also brazen
Duct tape on my Nalgene is dead
Coming down from the pass we see a golden marmot
found nice campsite
set up camp
saw another small marmot
rice with dehydrated broccoli and cheese and tunahish from a bag is nice but no thai curry
expected and received excellent alpenglow
new word: catabatic zone
Peter climbed little lump in middle of basin
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6 September 2007 |
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Lake above Helen Lake to
50 yards up from the Bishop Pass Trail/JMT junction
Leisurely breakfast
Dad climbs little lump
rock cornice
good views, cold night
walk down valley, views remain excellent
pumped water, saw 9+ frogs
continued on and met park-employed trout killers and ranger Dave
lots of stories
killing the trout to save the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog
Met Victor at Big Pete's Meadow
Went to campsite next to designated helicopter landing pad
had fire
pasta with pesto for dinner
Victor brought spice cake and a peach to share
slept out
great stars
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7 September 2007 |
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BPT (8,400 ft)
over Bishop Pass
to Saddlerock Lake (11,128 ft)
up at 6:30
hiking at 7:58
very doable climb up Dusy basin
go off trail to "Victor's Grotto" (10,388 ft), which is the lakes beneath Isoceles Peak
everybody swims
Victor goes first
rock in middle of lake. 3/4 of the party ends up swimming out to it
beautiful views of the Palisades
Dan, on rock in middle of the lake - "Does anyone have any glass that needs cutting?"
Proceed cross country to Bishop Pass (~12,000 ft)
Nice views
"Dad, no one has been jiggy with anything for a decade, and Homey hasn't played for 15 years."
Jigsaw Pass does not look like it is a pass at all
Head down trail that was blasted out of solid rock
Lakes look wonderful
Decide to camp at Saddlerock Lake
Happy Birthday Dad!
Aquavit, pea soup, chocolate, and alpenglow
amazing stars
biggest shooting star ever.
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8 September 2007 |
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Saddlerock Lake
to
Bishop Pass Trailhead (South Lake)
Wake up cold
frost
Hiking by 7:02am
Pretty sunrises and reflections
religious movement
out.
Cinnamon rolls at Schatt's
Say goodbye to Victor
Drive up to Pine Creek Pass trailhead
Divvy up gear
Say goodbye
Home
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