Ionian Basin, Dusy Basin, & Lake Basin

Bishop Pass Meander

Early fall is the best season to visit otherwise heavily-used areas in the Sierra, after most of the backpackers have headed home for the year. Bishop Pass, Dusy Basin, and the PCT/JMT over Muir and Mather passes all fall into this category and we hit each of them. Along with these classic spots, we also traveled cross-country to three trail-less areas we hadn't previously seen and covered a bit of Roper's Sierra High Route as icing on the cake. We had perfect fall weather with only one stormy day through the entire trip, ideal for navigating unfamiliar routes. A woodcut print by local artist Tom Killion was the inspiration for our first off-trail destination of Davis Lakes & Mt McGee. From there we circled around the back of Mt. Goddard through stark and lonely Ionian Basin. We re-joined the JMT at Muir Pass via Black Giant Pass, then made our way to the old Cataract Creek route to visit Ampitheatre Lake. From there we passed through Dumbbell Basin on our way to magical Lake Basin, with a goal of Class 3 Frozen Lake Pass which would be the technical crux of our trip. Despite unsettled weather that night we had no difficulty with the pass and rejoined the JMT in Upper Basin just south of Mather Pass. We stayed on-trail to Lower Palisade Lake, then took Cirque, Potluck, and Knapsack Passes to return to Dusy Basin for a final night in the wilderness. That evening's sunset was a Range of Light classic, one for the memory books. An easy walk brought us back over Bishop Pass to our car, for the long drive home.

“No trails lead here now, and as a result it is one of the most sublime corners of the High Sierra”

— Andrew Skurka, on Lake Basin

Bishop Pass Cataract Creek Lake Basin Dusy Basin Map

LOCATION

Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness, CA, USA

MILEAGE

50 miles on-trail, 33 miles off-trail

TOTAL CLIMB (& Descent): 27,810'

DAYS: 9 SEASON: Early September

STARTING & ENDING TRAILHEAD

Bishop Pass (South Lake)

Day5 Velvet buck downed trees Deer Meadow along Cataract Creek 1.JPG

Map: Tom Harrison Kings Canyon High Country Trail Map

GuideBooks: The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, Trails by RJ Secor & Sierra High Route by Steve Roper

Our Inspiration: Davis Lakes & Mt McGee, color woodcut print by artist Tom Killion

LOCATION

MILEAGE

TOTAL CLIMB (& Descent): 27,810'

DAYS: 9 SEASON: Early September

STARTING & ENDING TRAILHEAD

Day 1 Bishop Pass Trailhead (South Lake) | 7 mi (trail) | 2844' Climb | 1322' Descent

Day 2 Dusy Basin | 15.2 mi (trail) + 1 mi (off-trail) | 4771' Climb | 4930' Descent

Day 3 Davis Lakes | 7.1 Mi (Off-Trail) | 2997' Climb | 2349' Descent

Day 4 Lake 11,818' Ionian Basin | 5.3 Mi (Off-Trail) + 5.4 mi (Trail) | 2288' Climb | 4872' Descent

Day 5 Big Pete Meadow | 10.5 mi (Trail) + 2.5 mi (Off-trail) | 4917' Climb | 3427' Descent

Day 6 Ampitheatre Lake | 5.7 Mi (Off-Trail) | 2806' Climb | 1987' Descent

Day 7 Upper Lake Basin (Frozen Lake Pass Approach) | 3.2 Mi (Off-trail) + 5.3 Mi (Trail) | 2482' Climb | 3454' Descent

Day 8 Lower Palisade Lake | 6.6 Mi (Off-trail) | 3302' Climb | 2607' Descent

Day 9 Dusy Basin | 1.3 Mi (Off-trail) + 6.4 mi (Trail) | 1403' Climb | 2875' Descent