Sierra Nevada - Piute Pass - Desolation Basin/Humphreys Basin

On August 7-15, 1982, Gordon Lee and I set out to explore the Desolation Basin/Humphreys Basin. Gordon came up from Idyllwild to Lone Pine on Friday afternoon and we drove up to Pine Creek to leave his pickup truck where we would come out, then drove to North Lake and camped out in my car on a rainy night.

Saturday morning it was raining lightly as we headed up the trail toward Piute Pass. We had lunch at Loch Leven Lake about 1 p.m. and proceeded to Piute Lake where we decided to camp on a ridge near the outlet.

We set up camp as the rain started again but it didn't last and we had clear sky by morning. The entire week was clear and beautiful from then on.

Sunday we headed up to Piute Pass. While having a snack one of the packers from Schober's jogged to the pass. We soon headed down the trail - playing tag with a pack train - and then left the trail and headed cross country across the lower Desolation Basin on our way to Knob Lake.

The hiking was easy, few bugs and great scenery with lots of flowers as we traversed with few ups and downs. We ended up a little off course and had to climb over a small ridge before dropping into beautiful Knob Lake which we had all to ourselves.

Piute Lake, Loch Leven - 1982

Approach to Piute Pass - 1982

Gordon Lee near Piute Pass - 1982

Looking west across Summit Lake from Piute Pass - 1982

Gordon Lee on Piute Pass trail - 1982

Mt. Humphreys - 1982

Glacier Divide - 1982

Mt. Humphreys - 1982

Glacier Divide, Tomahawk Lake - 1982

Mt. Humphreys, Tomahawk Lake - 1982

Tomahawk Lake, Glacier Divide - 1982

Glacier Divide - Tomahawk Lake, Gordon Lee - 1982

View of Glacier Divide from inside tent at Knob Lake - 1982

Monday we hiked over to the saddle next to Pilot Knob peak and Gordon climbed it while I enjoyed the scenery and hiked around the area and back to camp enjoying a relaxed layover day. I had climbed it in 1970 - pictures here.

Glacier Divide, Knob Lake (right) - 1982

Glacier Divide, Knob Lake - 1982

Toward Pine Creek Pass from saddle at Pilot Knob, Gordon Lee reviewing map - 1982

Pine Creek Pass from saddle at Pilot Knob - 1982

Toward Merriam Lake from saddle at Pilot Know - 1982

Merriam Lake area from saddle at Pilot Knob - 1982

Knob Lake, Glacier Divide from saddle at Pilot Knob - 1982

The Pinnacles from near Pilot Knob - 1982

Tuesday we headed along the higher portion of the basin toward Four Gables. Our high route was easy going with many views of lakes. About lunch time we came into view of the large Desolation Lake as we continued high above it toward a small lake below Four Gables.

Hutchinson Meadow from near Pilot Knob - 1982

Glacier Divide, Lower Honeymoon Lake from Knob Lake area - 1982

Mt. Humphreys (center), Piute Pass (right), Gordon Lee from near Knob Lake - 1982

Gordon Lee hiking out of the Desolation Basin - 1982

Gracier Divide over Mesa Lake - 1982

Mt. Humphreys, Desolation Lake - 1982

Piute Pass, Glacier Divide over Desolation Lake - Gordon Lee - 1982

Desolation Lake, Glacier Divide - 1982

Four Gables from camp - 1982

Glacier Divide from camp - 1982

Alpine glow on Mt. Humphreys from camp - 1982

Lakes from Desolation Basin ridge
Puppet Lake (far left), L Lake (front right) - see map - 1982

The following four pictures were taken from on the ridge at the saddle above Rust Lake - see map.

Pilot Knob (left), Puppet Lake (left of center), L Lake (front), Royce Falls (on slope right of center), French Canyon - see map - 1982

Steelhead Lake, French Lake, Pine Creek Pass - 1982

Pilot Knob (left skyline), Puppet Lake, L Lake (center), Royce Peak, Merriam Peak, French Canyon, Steelhead Lake, French Lake, Pine Creek Pass - 1982

Wednesday we checked out the ridge we would cross the next day and had a pleasant easy hike and climb to the top of Four Gables. Turns out there are two peaks, one further north and a little harder to get to. The register was, however, on the one we climbed so we agreed that it was the higher of the two. (Sort of the same problem as Mt. Goddard.)

Mt. Humphreys from lunch stop on way to Four Gables - 1982

From top of Four Gables - Mt. Tom (left), Horton Lakes, Owens Gorge - 1982

Mt. Tom, Horton Lake from top of Four Gables - 1982

Horton Lakes from top of Four Gables - 1982

Mt. Tom from top of Four Gables - 1982

Horton Lake from top of Four Gables - 1982

Mt. Humphreys from top of Four Gables - Gordon Lee - 1982

Mt. Humphreys from top of Four Gables - 1982

Desolation Lake, Glacier Divide from top of Four Gables - 1982

Mt. Humpherys, Glacier Divide, Desolation Lake, saddle on ridge above Rust Lake, Pilot Knob, French Canyon from top of Four Gables - 1982

The 'other' Four Gables peak from top of Four Gables - 1982

Flower on top of Four Gables - 1982

Headed back to camp from Four Gables - 1982

View of the ridge with Pilot Knob on right from route down to Steelhead Lake -1982

Thursday we crossed the ridge and dropped down through fairly steep but large boulders with no real route or exposure problems - mostly hard work. Based on the terrain we decided to head to the north for French Lake. The route was rough and tiring but not too bad and the scenery was great.

We arrived at a nice campsite where the breeze keep the bugs down by mid-afternoon and took a nap. Most of the campsites are at the outlet and no one else was near us.

Looking back at the route down toward Steelhead Lake - Gordon Lee - 1982

View across Steelhead Lake toward Pilot Knob - 1982

Gordon Lee taking a rest stop on the way down to Steelhead Lake - 1982

French Lake - 1982

Pilot Knob (left), French Canyon (right) - 1982

Friday we headed across easy country - contouring toward L Lake and made a side trip to Steelhead Lake and then continued on to camp near Moon Lake. Here we found a fairly large party brought in by the packer. We had a fine campsite with views of Royce Falls and the peaks across French Canyon.

Saturday we took a day hike up to Puppet Lake and then west to the other lakes in the area. We found where we should have crossed the ridge (for an easy crossing) at the saddle just southwest of Peak 12,228. This was a very pleasant and relaxed day.

L Lake (left), Pilot Knob (right), Gordon Lee - 1982

Looking back over Steelhead Lake at the ridge where we crossed and descended - 1982

Flower at Steelhead Lake - 1982

Looking back over Steelhead Lake at the ridge where we crossed and descended - 1982

Royce Falls (center), Merriam Peak, Royce Peak - 1982

Gordon Lee photographing Merriam Peak and Royce Peak - 1982

Royce Falls (right center), Merriam Peak, Royce Peak from camp at Moon Lake - 1982

Royce Falls center), Merriam Peak, Royce Peak, Elba Lake - 1982

Royce Falls beyond Elba Lake - 1982

Royce Falls (center), Merriam Peak, Elba Lake - 1982

Pilot Knob, Puppet Lake - 1982

Flower at Puppet Lake - 1982

Puppet Lake, Merriam Peak, Royce Peak - 1982

Pilot Knob, Alsace Lake, Gordon Lee - 1982

Flowers at Moon Lake - 1982

Mt. Humphreys (rear right) and the ridge we crossed with several alternate routes - 1982

Sunday we headed for home - contouring at around 11,000 feet toward French Lake and around to the main Pine Creek Pass Trail. Many beautiful flowers in bloom as we headed over the pass. Met an LA Times newspaper man and his wife on the pass.

The hike down to Pine Creek roadhead was pretty. We enjoyed a late lunch at Pine Lake and sympathized with the hikers coming up the steep trail. The last section to the car was its usual tiring walk as it had been a long day and we were anxious for a hot shower, etc. We arrived in fine shape and headed for Lone Pine where Gordon took a motel room with plans to head home early the next morning. We had beautiful weather, outstanding scenery and a fine relaxing trip.