I climbed 12,245' Pilot Knob on July 4, 1970. The trip started as an Explorer Post 360 trip to climb Mt. Humphreys, however, after hiking to Piute Pass, the party got separated at Desolation Lake. John Butler and the rest ended up at Marmot/Humphrey Lakes while myself and two Post members ended up at Desolation Lake.

Loch Leven Lake and Piute Pass - John Muir Wilderness 3 Jul 1970

Loch Leven Lake - John Muir Wilderness 3 Jul 1970

In the morning, I sent the two boys to join the rest of the group while I climbed Pilot Knot. It turned out that while I was doing that the rest of the group decided they needed to find me. Turned into a comedy of errors.

We finally all got back together. Weather was alternating cloudy and sunny - some sprinkles but nothing really. Warm and humid. Clouds helped keep from getting too hot. Wonderful views from Pilot Knob - lots of nice lakes in Desolation Basin and on the French Canyon side of the ridge.

Desolation Lake in the early cloudy morning - 4 Jul 1970

Desolation Lake camp and Mt. Humphreys early on cloudy morning - 4 Jul 1970

Glacier Divide over Mesa Lake - 4 Jul 1970

Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Merriam Lake valley and peak from saddle next to Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Alsace Lake and Pine Creek Pass from Pilot Knob saddle - 4 Jul 1970

Knob Lake and Glacier Divide from Pilot Knob saddle - 4 Jul 1970

Merriam Lake, Merriam Peak, French Canyon from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Alsace Lake, Puppet Lake, upper French Canyon, Pine Creek Pass
from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Pine Creek Pass from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Alsace Lake from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Paris Lake and Puppet Lake from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Looking down Piute Canyon below Hutchinson Meadow from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Mt. Humphreys, Piute Pass, Desolation Lake, Knob Lake (lower right)
from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Mt. Humphreys, Desolation Lake from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Mt. Humphreys from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Knob Lake, Piute Canyon, Piute Pass (upper left), Glacier Divide
from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Golden Trout Lake, Alpine Col from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Alpine Col (center) from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Knob Lake from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Knob Lake and pond below it from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Packsaddle Lake from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

In September 1983 I did a four day loop trip in the Golden Trout, Packsaddle, Lobe, Honeymoon Lakes area. This page has great pictures of those lakes.

Packsaddle Lake, Lobe Lakes, Honey Moon Lakes, Glacier Divide across Piute valley from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970

Upper and Lower Honeymoon Lakes from top of Pilot Knot - 4 Jul 1970

Upper and Lower Honeymoon Lakes from top of Pilot Knot - 4 Jul 1970

Lower Honeymoon Lake from top of Pilot Knob - 4 Jul 1970