Overview:  I have always been intrigued by the Sierra High Route, the high level alternative to the JMT. Most of the High Route is off-trail staying high and avoiding the deep Sierra valleys that are commonplace on the JMT. Looking at the high route and reading many trip reports, people frequently commented on the area of Bear Lakes Basin being one of the highlights of the route. This wonderful loop would not only take us through Bear Lake Basin, but some other equally scenic areas including Humphreys Basin, Merriam Basin, Piute Canyon and Granite Park. Many of the passes that we would go over were off trail with a 2+ rating. A perfect sampler of the Sierra High Route, the trek was some of the most photogenic areas of the Sierras I have traveled through and the amount of pictures taken told the story.

Movie - Coming Soon

Day 1

North Lake to Mesa Lake

The trip was plagued with a problems at the beginning. Sam had a head pressure that when we began the steep decent up from Bishop to the trailhead the pressure built up to the point of extreme pain, turning around we stopped at a hospital. They wanted nothing to do my health insurance card and wanted my credit card. Calling the trip off, we headed back to the Bay. The trip would go on a week later, Sam was feeling better and we had no problems changing the dates on the permit. We pulled into the North Lake campground at night, put up camp, had a fire, and stayed the night before leaving the next morning to acclimate to the elevation.

We did not get on the trail till 10:30 the next morning. The first few miles made its way up the Piute Canyon, with very interesting red walls of the Piute Crags. A sharp contrast to the granite escarpment on the left side of the canyon.

Piute Canyon Ascent

Piute Pass in the distance

Loch Leven

Piute Canyon

We made it to the top of Piute Pass in about 3 hours. There were about 3 other groups of backpackers up, one with a severe sprained ankle slowly making his way down towards the trailhead.  After lunch we continued on the trail over the pass for about 2 miles, we took a right on a use trail that would take us up higher into the basin. The thin tread of a trail was now non-existent as we reached Desolation Lake. The topo map came out and we crossed another knoll to our where we would camp for the night, Mesa Lake.

Looking over Piute Pass

Summit Lake

Entering Humphrey's Basin

Properly named Desolation Lake

Crossing the outlet of Desolation Lake

Just a few feet short of 14,000 ft, Mt Humphreys

Mesa Lake Camp provided superb views across the lake to the Great Divide. Overall, it was a good day although at the beginning I felt like I had been smoking cigars all morning due to the altitude.

Mesa Lake

Sam bundled up as always in her bag, winds are light, skies crystal clear.

Day 2

Mesa Lake to Granite Park

Up early, I was out taking lots of pics of the nothing short of classic Mesa Lake lake infinity pool reflections.  After breakfast we were packed up and hiking by 8:30. It was gentle cross country up to 2 tarns above Mesa Lake. From there we headed left up the easiest looking path, then veered right across a short plateau to Puppet Pass.

Leaving the lake toward Puppet Pass

On top of Puppet Pass the massive block of granite that makes up Merriam, Royce, and Feather peaks, stood before us with a gigantic 1000 ft water fall down its face into French Canyon. These are the mountains our route would circumnavigate the next 2 days. To get down the pass we headed up to the right about 50 yards and followed a tread down its steep face.

Decent to Puppet Lake

Walking along the east shore of Puppet Lake. My guide book helped out by giving the advice- From Puppet Pass draw an imaginary line to the Royce Falls- And that's the spot where you should drop down to Elba Lake.  At Elba lake a dip was in store after having the sun beating down on us the last two days. I jumped in, shocked, but worth it.

 Elba Lake

 From Elba Lake we picked up a trail and it was off to Pine Creek Pass. It was an easy well graded trail to the top of the pass. The sun was out in force and at the top of the pass I laid in a large crack in the granite to get some shade as I waited a few minutes for Sam to make her way to the top. We had good ole' salami, cheese and Triskets for lunch. As the trail dropped down to Honeymoon Lake, I was not so happy with the elevation loss.  Unless its some nasty off-trail travel, I am thinking that the Royce Lakes Basin might be the way to to save the 1000 ft elevation loss - maybe next time.  We took a break at Honeymoon Lake, the nice thing about the loss in elevation was the lake was ringed with large trees providing plenty of shade.  Back on the trail and starting to feel worn out we did our best to follow a faint use trail.  Hard to follow, we finally called it quits at the 11,300 ft and camped next to 2 small tarns in the midst of Granite Park's very rugged looking peaks. Both of our bodies are feeling a bit stiff as we end a long day.

Day 2

Granite Park to Little Bear Lake

Again getting up to take pictures in the early morning light, the location once again provided a dramatic backdrop of the granite spires.  We were the the trail hiking by 8:00 AM and knew that this would be our shortest day mileage wise, but involving cross-country travel over 2 passes to Bear Lakes Basin. We hiked by many lovely trans and meadows of Granite Park. The last lake was at 10,700 feet and at this point we were surrounded by nothing but white granite of the high Sierra.  As we took a break the sound of nothingness filled our ears- not even a breath of wind. 

Granite Park Camp

My favorite section in Granite Park was around 10,400 ft,  green meadows, tarns, and the spires of Granite Park.

Granite Park

The way steepens toward Italy Pass

The climb up Italy Pass.- The pass was not as hard as it looked from a distance. We followed a steady use trail and its carns that slowly made its way up granite benches to the top.  We also made a friend, as a dog joined us for the final push, his owner  trailing behind.  At the top I found out he was a Golden Retriever, Sharpe mix, a good hiker.  Looking over the top of the pass Jumble Lake was far below and our next destination point. Dancing Bear Pass, was easily spotted to our south with 7 Gable Peak framing it perfectly.

 It took about an hour from Italy Pass to Dancing Bear, we had lunch with a stunning view of the alpine wonderland before us.  From the pass we headed left toward 2 tarns and then in between them. From there it continued down to the south west shore of Black Bear Lake.  From Black Bear Lake it was a delightful hike along the outlet stream and meadows to Big Bear Lake.  Continuing along the North Shore of Big Bear we eventually camped on a bench just above Little Bear Lake.  Our campsite actually has a few trees!  Possibly the only ones of a handful in this basin of granite. Another postcard spot, the basin is downright gorgeous.

 This shot is a good view of our route that we would take tomorrow morning out of the basin. Feather Peak seen on the left and we would climb up to the saddle in between the unnamed peak to the right of the picture.

As the sun started to set I took a short walk back up to Big Bear Lake. This area being so remote, and with no trail access, I was surprised how many groups were in this area. I suppose the word is spreading.

7 Gables Skyline

Day 4

Bear Basin to Piute Creek (Honeymoon Junction)

We left our great campsite and headed back along the shore of Big Bear Lake. There is plenty of good camping along this bench. Then we traveled along the South shore of Ursa Lake, then crossed to the North shore of Bear Paw Lake. From there it was easy cross-country hiking along the inlet stream from the snow above Bear Paw.  It was scenic hiking with the wall of Feather Peak close on our left. 

Once near Feather Pass we hiked up the right side of a large patch of snow until picking a route that looked the easiest up the steep rocks above.  Sam did great and we made it to Feather Pass by 10:00 AM taking 2 hours from Little Bear.  From the pass we headed for a tarn above La Salle Lake and then followed its stream to La Salle Lake.  All these lakes in the basin we would stay on the East side off except one spot where we veered farther east of the stream to find an easier way down the granite benches.  Most of the hiking was easy over polished granite slabs.  Coming down to Merriam lake the talas was a bit steep and easy to slip on.  We had lunch beside the waters of Merriam Lake.  Looking across the ake as we ate was a gigantic face ofl vertical granite.  From Merriam we followed its outlet stream (on the left side) to a large meadow where we picked up a trail.  From there it was a steep but solid trail to the French Creek trail.  We took a left at Hutchinson Meadow- very tired at this point but continued on to get a small jump on tomorrows hike out.  We camped alongside Piute Creek just above the junction to Honeymoon Lake.  The evening was very mellow, spent tending a fire and relaxing.  Its a nice change to be in the forest for a night and have a fire.  Next to camp is a set of cascading pools.

Above Bear Paw Lake

La Salle Lake from Feather Pass

 Granite Walls

 Large rock left here by a glacier

 Wonderful setting of Merriam Lake

 On the French Canyon Trail

 Camp alongside Piute Creek

Day 5

Piute Creek to North Lake

It was a steady accent up Piute Canyon, the trail making its way out of the forest towards Piute Pass.  It was a cool morning, perfect for hiking, and we maintained a good clip up and over Piute Pass

Piute Canyon Trail

Piute Canyon Trail

Mt Humphreys near Piute Pass

IIt was a downhill stroll back to North Lake down the familiar Piute Canyon Trail. Overall, an outstanding 5 days of high sierra travel.  The beauty of each of the basins we entered was stunning.  For the amount of elevation gain, and relatively easy cross-country hiking, this hike had a ton of bang for the buck.

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