On June 8, 1975 myself and Joe Cremi joined John Bullock, Nancy Henderson and John Smallwood on a 12 mile round trip day hike to 11,423' Piute Pass in the John Muir Wilderness.
Beginning in lodgepole pine and quaking aspen, the trail follows the creek at the foot of Piute Crags and Mount Emerson. Climbing glacier carved granite benches, the trail passes Loch Leven, Piute Lake and many smaller lakes and ponds on the way to the pass. Beyond Piute Pass the trail gives access to Humphreys Basin, with an abundance of high alpine lakes and tarns on the north side of Glacier Divide. The Piute Pass trail descends Piute Creek to Hutchinson Meadow and eventually joins the John Muir Trail.
John, John and Nancy were backpacking in to climb Mt. Humphrey. Joe and I day hiked in for the exercise. Left roadhead about 9 am and made Piute Pass about 2:15 with an hour out for a nap and lunch. Snow on the trail from just below Loch Leven which was 40% ice. Piute Lake 80% ice. Snow on most of the trail above Loch Leven but was mostly firm so the going was not bad. Left at 3:15 to come down and made cars just before 6 p.m. Had a good day.
Piute Pass Trail Route 1975
