Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board North Lake to South Lake

Hi
I know this not Mt Whtitney related, but you guys are such a wealth of information on everything maybe you could direct me to where I might find good information, like TR's mileages, campsites, etc for this route. I want to do it in three days. Is this feasible? Thanks!!

Dave,

Some do it in one day! For a recent trip report of a one day trek, go to the website for the Bishop, California running store Sage to Summit and then go to their Message Board. Karen and Janine detail their Sept 26, 2007 North Lake South Lake day trip (via Lamarck Col). Use Google to find the Sage to Summit website.

A longer approach follows Piute Creek down to the JMT. I last did that way in 2004 with my then 12 year old daughter. We felt comfortable with 3 nights/4days. We camped at Hutchinson Meadow, Evolution Lake, and the LeConte Ranger Station. The latter two areas had many campers, especially near the Le Conte Ranger Station. We stayed away from the outlet of Evolution Lake. At the LeConte Ranger Station, a good campsite site near water, but with more solitute, is 75 yards south of the heliport there. Ask the ranger for directions.

This loop can be expanded to include many excellent side trips. I first explored the Evolution area in 1961 and am drawn back to it like a bee to honey!

Many interesting trip reports can be discovered with a little investigation on the Internet.

Enjoy your trip next summer. Jim

here's a North-South lakes variant:

I considered the North Lake-Evolution-South Lake loop in July 2007, but instead did the 35 mile North Lake-Lamarck Col-Darwin Canyon-Evolution Lake-South Lake loop. it's 2-nighter if well -acclimatized. 3 or 4 nights otherwise.

Fantastic scenes in Darwin Canyon and have the place to your self.( see picture). Bit of route-finding first day, but enough use trails here and there before you join the superhighway (JMT) at Evolution Lake. Highly recommended. Harvey