On August 25-September 2, 1968 myself, Gil Beilke, Ed Myers, Gordon Lee, John Lee, Tim McSweeney, Don Barry and Richard Alvernaz backpacked 53 miles in the Goddard Canyon area of Kings Canyon National Park.
At the end of the Explorer Post 360 trip during the previous week, while camped at Golden Trout Lake the packer brought in fresh supplies including a steak dinner which we all enjoyed.
The first day we headed cross-country for Alpine Col. A beautiful but rugged route. The north side is quite scenic - the south side has a long stretch of moving large boulders which make treacherous footing. We camped at Darwin Bench.
Piute Creek headwaters, Humphrey Basin - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Humphrey Basin, Mt. Humphrey, Summit Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Mt. Humphrey, Muriel Lake, Piute Pass, Mt. Emerson - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Goeth Lake and Glacier - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Goeth Lake and Glacier - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Tim McSweeney, Goethe Lake and Glacier on way to Alpine Col
Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Approaching Alpine Col - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Goeth Lake and Humphrey Basin from Alpine Col
Kings Canyon National Park 25 aug 1968
Goeth Lake and crest from Alpine Col - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1968
Evolution Valley - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
Evolution Lake, Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
Evolution Lake, Goddard Divide - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
Mt. Spencer over Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
Cloud over Sapphire Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
Sapphire Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
Muir Pass, Black Giant, Wanda Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1968
The next day we moved on via the John Muir Trail to Wanda Lake, then cross country to upper Davis Lakes where we found a campsite near Mt. Goddard - another beautiful day.
Waterfall in Evolution Valley - Kings Canyon National Park 31 Aug 1968
Evolution Meadow - Kings Canyon National Park 31 Aug 1968
McClure Meadow - Kings Canyon National Park 31 Aug 1968
Mt. McGee from Evolution Valley - Kings Canyon National Park 31 Aug 1968
The next day, all except I climbed Mt. Goddard (I had climbed it in 1964).
I headed for Mt. McGee and got within 500 feet of the top on the wrong route - got stopped by a cliff but still had outstanding views.
The Goddard group found Norman Hewitt's canteen from 1964 on the route which we took back home and later presented to him.
The next day we went down the North Fork of Goddard Creek instead of on planned crossÂcountry route (Alpine Col had been enough). Beautiful hike including falls and a large waterfall at the junction with Goddard Canyon. We continued over Hell for Sure Pass to camp at Disappointment Lake and had a layover day.
Gil and I hiked to Devil's Punchbowl - a beautiful lake - and had a nice tour. We then hiked back to the North Fork of Goddard Creek to our camp. We then continued down beautiful Goddard Canyon with its great waterfalls and gorge walls and through Evolution Valley to camp at upper Colby Meadow.
The last day we left for home via Lamarck Col. Another wonderful trip.
