Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness/Kings Canyon National Park

I backpacked over 11,347' Sawmill Pass into Woods Lake July 1-4, 1972 with Larry O'Leary, Mark Twohey and Regina Reiner and August 30-September 1, 1975 with Gil Beilke, Brian Jordan, John Lee and George Abdelnaur.

In 1972 we got a late start (9 pm) from San Diego and with only two hours sleep got a late (9 am) start on a hot trail. (In future it is important to get very early start, like 5 a.m. and take two quarts of water per person - use salt tablets - a girl died of heat prostration the day after we went up).

In 1975 John Lee and George Abdelnaur went on Friday morning, overnighted at Sawmill Lake and we found each other at Woods Lake Saturday. Gil and Brian drove up from San Diego Friday night and we got up at 4 a.m., left Gils car at Onion Valley and hit the trail at Division Creek about 6:30 a.m.

The trail is a four mile sandy steep climb through hot desert with no shade to a ridge. From the ridge it drops a mile downhill in the John Muir Wilderness to water.

In 1972 we camped just below where the trail crosses the creek (limited space). There is an old flume and sawmill remnants on The Hogback ridge south of the creek.

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Trailhead for Sawmill Pass
Larry O'Leary, Mark Twohey, Regina Reiner1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Camp at first water on Sawmill Pass Trail 1972

From here it takes about two hours to climb to Sawmill Meadow. There is water much of the way and shade, but is still warm.

At Sawmill Meadow there are several fair campsites. There is a small spring on the trail just above the upper campsite. Another campsite is hidden behind Aspen trees at the upper end of the meadow where the creek flowing into the meadow disappears into ground when flow is low.

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Sawmill Meadow 1972

It takes about two hours on a mostly shaded trail to climb past Mule Lake (no campsites - dries up) to Sawmill Lake. There are some campsites which are best found by going on the trail to near the inlet creek. Just off the trail is a little meadow and campsite about 75' above the lake. From a cliff overlooking the lake you can see other possible campsites on the west shore.

From the meadow it is about an hour climb on open rock to Sawmill Pass. There may be some water early in the year when snow is still melting.

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Mule Lake on Sawmill Pass Trail 1975

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Sawmill Lake 1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Sawmill Pass Trail below Sawmill Lake 1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Sawmill Lake 1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Moraine above Sawmill Lake 1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Water above falls at Sawmill Lake 1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Flowers above Sawmill Lake 1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Sawmill Lake 1972

Sierra Nevada - John Muir Wilderness - Flowers on Sawmill Pass Trail 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Larry O'Leary on Sawmill Pass 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Sawmill Pass 1975

There are colorful views from Sawmill Pass. The Woods Lake Basin is beautiful with many lakes and meadows. Trees are small and firewood is limited. Now in Kings Canyon National Park, it took about half an hour to drop down from the pass to camp near Woods Lake.

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Woods Lake and basin
from near Sawmill Pass 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Cardinal Mountain
from Woods Lake Trail 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Color on Collusium Mountain
from near Sawmill Pass 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Mt Baxter and Baxter Col
from Sawmill Pass Trail 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Mt Baxter and Baxter Col
from Woods Lake basin 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Sawmill Pass and Colosseum Mountain
from Woods Lake basin 1972

In 1972 we took a nice, mostly shaded with some water, hike down to the John Muir Trail at Woods Creek below Twin Lakes before hiking out after a tiring but nice trip.

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Camp in Woods Lake basin 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Meadow in Woods Lake basin 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Lower Woods Lake basin 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Cardinal Mountain, Mt. Pinchot,
upper Woods Creek from Woods Lake Trail 1972

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Creek at Woods Lake trail junction 1972

In 1975 we camped at the lake just below Woods Lake. After supper, hit the sack about 8 p.m. Up Sunday between 6 and 7 and after breakfast Gil and John climbed Cedric Wright and Perkins while Brian, George and I hiked up to Stocking Lake and then down to the lake above Woods - lazed around - did some fishing and napping.

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Stocking Lake near Woods Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park -Crater Mountain across Woods Lake
from near Stocking Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Woods Lake Basin, Crater Mountain
and Cedric Wright from near Stocking Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Crater Mountain and Cedric Wright
from near Stocking Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Cedric Wright, etc.
from near Stocking Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Upper Woods Lake Basin,
Colosseum Mountain 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Lake above Woods Lake,
Colosseum Mountain 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Stream moss 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Looking toward John Muir Trail
and Pinchot Pass 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Lakes west of Woods Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Lake west of Woods Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - View west of Woods Lake, Pinchot Pass, Mt. Pinchot 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Lake where we camped
below Woods Lake 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Looking north from saddle
between Cedric Wright and Sierra Crest 1975

Around 5 p.m. Gil and John returned (may have been 4 p.m.) and John and George headed for Sawmill Lake for the night to make the drive home easier. Gil and I hiked over to two lakes west of Woods and back while Brian fished. We had supper and I hit the sack about 7:30 since a cold wind was blowing.

Up Monday between 6 and 7 and after breakfast Gil and Brian headed for the Muir Trail for four days ending at Onion Valley on Friday. I headed cross-country for the saddle between Cedric Wright and Colosseum Mtn and then to Sawmill Pass on a sightseeing trip. Nice lake near the saddle. Looks like a good route to the lakes on Woods Creek east of Pinchot, south of Perkins. Left Sawmill Pass about 12:30 and made the car about 5 p.m. with a couple stops. Enjoyable trip - saw a lot of country - clear skies but windy and cool.

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Looking north
from saddle east of Cedric Wright 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Sawmill Pass and Mt. Baxter
from saddle east of Cedric Wright 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Colosseum Mountain
from saddle east of Cedric Wright 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Sawmill Pass
from saddle east of Cedric Wright 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Mt. Baxter and saddle
from saddle east of Cedric Wright 1975

Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park - Cedric Wright from southeast 1975

Sawmill Pass-Woods Lake Area 1972 and 1975 map

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