South Lake to North Lake via Lamarck Col

“this trip will be great. I've been in to Muir Pass from South Lake and into Upper Lamark Lake from North Lake and those areas are beautiful. I've been wanting to go over Lamark Col into Darwin Canyon and see some of Ionion Basin.”

“This trip is posted on the trips page for next July.”

“Yeah, when I did the JMT years ago, I remembered that the Muir Pass area was spectacular. Then when my ranger brother told me that some of his backcoutry rangers love Ionian Basin, I wanted to return and travel through that area. Glad to see you can make it!”

“Geoguy! Where ya been? Go to WINTERFEST! You can drink your Zima and other girly drinks there. We won't care...much! :)

Wing, sounds fun. I'll sign up but it is along time away.”

“Count me in sounds fantabulous!!!”

“Where are landscaper and wannabp?”

“Sounds like a good idea”

“I am totally interested!!!”

“This might be one I would be interested in. Distances and days out is about right!”

“...and how appropriate. I will be 55 on July 16!!!”

“Great - a birthday to celebrate on this trip.”

“This loop rules the world of backpacking. I love it! If I can pull it off, I'll try and make this trip with ya'll. I have so many freaking trips already planned... I just gotta quit work. That's it.

Here's a link to some photos from that trip for those wondering what kind of country this goes through. Only the top half of this album is from this trip, the others aren't.

North Lake - South Lake loop




Outlet of Evolution Lake looking down on the valley.




Outlet of Evolution Lake.”

“Rockman [Pants Candy?]; I've been slummin' Been thinking about doing another trip with yos guys since leaving Twin Lakes. I invited Landscaper and wannabp regarding this trip; maybe I'll try again. Zimas!! Yes! Sorry I missed you guys at Chevy's.”

“Was looking at the route using my mapsource software. Looks like most of the hike is cross-country. Are there a lot of use trails where we are going (for example, over Lamark Col)?”

“For Lamark Col there is a use trail pretty much most of the way.”

“I've never been to the Col, but I went up to Upper Lamark Lake and there was even a sign for the junction to the Col.”

“July works good for me because my daughter is still in summer school...less day care to arrange for.

Good job, wingding!”

“...and geologyguy.”

“Sounds fantastic. I signed up and as soon as we find landscaper's password or get him a new one, he'll sign up.

We were on a mini-historic hotel vacation, got to see the Veteran's Day parade in Virginia City, NV. Take a look at http://www.stgeorgehotel.com/ if you're going to be anywhere near Volcano, CA, south of Placerville. It's totally charming, the people are friendly, and the breakfast that goes with the room is excellent.”

“Phil, I think the major cross-country portion will be the part from right below Muir pass to Chasm Lake, then over Wanda Pass to the northern end of Wanda Lake. But its all open granite, and should be farily painless. The part through Darwin Canyon is also open, and info from Seacor and others say the col is easy. Wannabp, hope you and Landscaper can make it.”

“:) Sounds like a really cool trip!
I'm in and I'll probably drag my 2 sons along too...so put me down for three! Wingding how far in advance can we get permits???”

“Wingding!

Just looked at the maps and you've got a great idea going here.

Count me in.”

“This trip is Geologyguy's idea - and a darn good one at that.

Geologyguy - how do you want to work the permits? Should be each get our own?”

“Ummmm.... ...Yeah, permits for everyone. That the ticket! Seriously, I think that works the best. I'll find the permit link and post it to the trip page. Hey, WD, are you going to bring your bear cannister on this trip?”

“I'm in geo . This may be instead of Windorama. I'll need to see what my vacation schedule will allow but I'd really like this trip.”

“permits are accepted on a rolling 6-months basis, so it looks like we send in our requests on January 10th.”

“It will be Jan 10th before we know it.

Shhhhh, that's landscaper's birthday, but don't tell him I told you.”

“Holy snikies! Landscaper is only 6 days older than me!”

“Oh, and you can bet I'll be getting my own permit this time. No more sweating it out to see if mr. ranger is just around the next corner.”

“: ""Oh, and you can bet I'll be getting my own permit this time. No more sweating it out to see if mr. ranger is just around the next corner."
Rockman
01:35:27 AM
11/19/03

Hi Rockman! Last time I did the South Lake - North Lake loop, I got my permit checked by a ranger up on Bishop Pass. Well, sorta. I had the permit in my chest pocket and by the time I made it up the pass I was drippin' sweat. I pulled out a soggy piece of yellow paper that was my permit, and the ranger said, "uhh, that's okay, I believe you!", ha ha! It was a legite permit, but I'm thinkin'... "heeeEEEEEeeeey", get a yellow piece of soaking wet paper, put it in yer pocket and whip it out if requested, they'll never know the diff! Okay, I really wouldn't do that, but it's a thought! :^D”

“If this trip starts or ends on a weekend, I'll try to show up. I've already got my vacation days planned for the rest of the year so I can only do overnighters”

“It starts on a Saturday, so hopefully you'll join us for a weekend Snow Nymph.”

“SN - What big trips do you have planned next year?”

“Sierra High Route. Don't know if we're doing 2 wks or 30 days yet. Depends on SnowDude's work schedule.

Planning to take a Fri or Mon off for some peak bagging trips. Also want to do the Mountaineer's Route in 2004. Maybe some peaks by Palisade Glacier.

I want to do a trip to Tulainyo Lake , that Calhiker's brother Steve did on a weeklong trip this year. That might take a few days to get to.

So many places to go . . . .”

“Awesome trips, SN! Thanks!”

“Here are some pictures I took on a trip I did in August of 2002 from South Lake to Muir Pass and back out:

http://community.webshots.com/album/48844678MhYjmn

It's just such a beautiful area.”

“Hey wingding, I just went through your linked photo album (while eating a big fatty bowl of ice-cream) and those are some FANTASTIC pics of a great adventure through breathtaking country! Absolutely gorgeous stuff! And you have a great eye for capturing it so wonderfully! Gracias!”

“WD is our leader!!”

“Yeah...she loves that job!!! LOL!”

“Great pics Wingding0! Thanks!”

“Great pics wingding. I really have my sights set on this trip.”

“Leader! Leader! Leader! WingDing0 is our Leader!”

“I changed my status to YES. I am going to plan on that trip for now.”

“Wonderful pics, Wing!”

“I'll slap you if you call me leader again Geologyguy. This is your trip, but I am really looking forward to it.”

“So lemme think here...from Nov to next July is 8 months...and the location is on the other side of the continent...I'll need at least 7 days off...travel and eating expenses could run alot of ca$h...but this trip is one I'd LOVE to take part in. (Please don't count me in in any way or how...yet)”

“Buddur - I think this trip will rock. I am not sure what the elevations are yet. Maybe wingding or someone can get a profile.”

“This is the High Sierra, so the elevations remain true to the name. Bishop Pass is just under 12,000', Muir Pass is just under 12,000', and Lamarck Col is just under 13,000'. If the elevation doesn't take your breath away, the scenery will, so either way you're gonna be gasping for air.”

“Wha'da'fa??? I posted this on the Trips page thread...what's it doing here???

Oh, last night I took a looooong look at the trail that is posted on the itinerary, and believe me, I noted the elevation(s). And the longer I followed the trail, the more I could see myself digging this trip to no end.

As a geologistizationer and someone who grew up in W PA's continental terminal end moraine terrain, and as I've never been in an alpine-glacier zone, this should be quite an experience.”

“What's a "geologistizationer?"

Checked Encarta. Wasn't there.”