Trip Report
Evolution Basin, Kings Canyon...in the rain
Wednesday August 22, 2012 3:11pm
Did the North Lake to South Lake loop last week. Weather report was looking poor, but that just adds to the fun, right? Makes for good photos, too.

Thunder and lightning right out of the parking lot forced us to stop and camp below treeline and Piute Pass after only covering a couple miles. Dawn broke clear, and over the pass Mt. Humphreys was looking pretty good:

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Credit: Steve in Tahoe
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Still a lot of water up there - had lunch along Piute Creek:

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The water is really warm everywhere - we swam in the San Joaquin, Evolution Creek, even Wanda Lake. Here's the Evolution Creek waterfalls north of the JMT as you climb up to Evolution Meadow:

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Because we lost time the first day, we only made it to McClure Meadow instead of pushing on to Evolution Lake, but it was a nice sunset:

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Next day we made it to the Wanda Lake outlet before the weather cut loose. Back into the tent again at 3 PM for a nap. But sundown, when the storm cleared out, it was friggin' gorgeous:

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Mt. Mendel and Mt. Darwin at sunset:

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Next days view, looking east from Muir Pass at Helen Lake:

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Caught some cool sunrise god-beams at Dusy Basin:

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And of course, the view from Bishop Pass:

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Trip ended as it began, with me trudging down the road in a hailstorm to Parchers Resort to fetch the car.

Good time had by all!
Cheers,
Steve

More: http://www.stevedunleavy.com/Landscapes/Evolution-Basin-Loop-Kings/24919598_rdvzZq






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Steve in Tahoe
About the Author
Steve in Tahoe is a photographer from Lake Tahoe, NV.

Comments
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Aug 22, 2012 - 03:31pm PT
yay, tfpu
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Aug 22, 2012 - 04:04pm PT
Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing. I love to look at great pictures like yours.
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
  Aug 22, 2012 - 04:15pm PT
Great photos of what for me is the heart center of the Sierra, the Evolution Region. Thanks for sharing, brings back fond memories of my many trips over the years in all seasons with great friends.
Steve in Tahoe

Mountain climber
Lake Tahoe, NV
Author's Reply  Aug 22, 2012 - 04:43pm PT
Pretty quiet out there last week - I think the weather report forced folks to cancel their plans.

Enjoy, and thanks for the comments.
pvalchev

Social climber
Truckee, CA
  Aug 22, 2012 - 05:03pm PT
Fantastic photos - thanks for sharing!
this just in

climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
  Aug 22, 2012 - 05:13pm PT
Some of the best photos. Thanks.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Aug 22, 2012 - 05:39pm PT
Very nice a Beautiful mountain ramble!!!
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
  Aug 22, 2012 - 09:11pm PT
Awesome photos
Ain't never seen the Evolution without 3 feet of snow
Mike Bolte

Trad climber
Planet Earth
  Aug 22, 2012 - 09:30pm PT
some really beautiful shots
storer

Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
  Aug 22, 2012 - 10:24pm PT
Thanks for the image of McClure Meadow. Somehow the memory of a wonderful day years ago (perhaps '62) keeps coming back to me more often than other rememberances. I remember sitting on a rock just soaking it in thinking that this is how I wanted to spend as many days as possible of my time on this earth.
Steve in Tahoe

Mountain climber
Lake Tahoe, NV
Author's Reply  Aug 22, 2012 - 11:26pm PT
Yeah, McClure Meadows is sublime. I blazed through there not paying attention a couple years ago doin' the JMT. It was nice this trip to take it a little slower, and just enjoy...
limpingcrab

Gym climber
Minkler, CA
  Aug 22, 2012 - 11:59pm PT
Awesome to hear about fun in the mountains, and nice photos. The benefit to Summer thunderstorms: beautiful pics.
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