Introduction

It was in the summer of 1991 that my friends Steve and Bob and myself undertook a journey to the Ionian Basin in the remote country of the High Sierra. Not an easy place to get to (even then), but we succeeded in making a brief foray into that desolate mountain basin. For the past few years I’ve had a growing desire to revisit this region and get to know it a little better. Finally it seemed that the summer of last year might be the time! Heading in from the east side of the Sierra over a pass named Lamarck Col looked to be the most direct way in. Although we descended this pass eastward in 1991, I had never climbed it from the east. Looking at a map the stats were daunting: a 3,500 foot climb over about five miles to the crest of the pass (at 12,700’). Nonetheless, the advantage of such a quick route in was compelling. But I came to learn that you cannot really choose your own adventure: your adventure chooses you.

This was a weeklong trip. Due to the length of this trip report, I’m going to break it up into separate posts by day.

Day 0, Sunday: North Lake Campground

Getting an early enough start from the Bay Area, I ate a sandwich in my usual little cranny at Olmstead Point on the Tioga Road. Then bombing down 395 I was in Bishop by mid-afternoon. After climbing up Highway 168 through dry chaparral country, I arrived at a campsite I had reserved at the Bishop Park Campground. It was a pretty disappointing place though, all the spots crammed together right next to each other with no real privacy. So I cruised up the road to take a look at North Lake Campground, which was where my hike would begin the next day anyway. As luck would have it there were some open spots (it’s first come first serve only), so I grabbed Site 7. This was a sweet campsite under the trees, with a creek running right next to it, and plenty of buffer space with the other campsites.

After settling in for a bit I thought I would take a little sneak peak at the start of my trail for the next day. Heading up the pleasant woodland trail next to the creek, I soon found myself at the very pretty “Grass Lake”. There was in fact a lot of tall lush grass growing up out of and next to the water. Occasional breezes rippled the dark shaded surface of the lake, this idyllic scene only slightly marred by clouds of mosquitoes. One must focus on the beauty however!

Descending back down the trail to my campsite, through the trees I spied the jagged cliffs of Piute Crags, dramatically lit by the final rays of the sun as it set behind the Sierra Crest above me. I felt a sense of peace and joy being back once again in the Sierra!