John Muir Wilderness I

Saturday 29 July 2017

Bog orchid and tiger lilies, John Muir
Wilderness.

Morning, Piute Pass Trail. Clouds 1%. Backpacking trip with MWS. From the North Lake campsite in the Inyo National Forest we began the trail westward and upward towards Piute Pass in the John Muir Wilderness. The trail began through a forest of quaking aspens (Populus tremuloides) and pines. There was quickly a diversity of beautiful blooming species including orange tiger lilies (Lilium sp.) and spires of white bog orchids (Platanthera sp.).

After hiking for some time, we began to lose the shade of the forest to more open areas of rocky granite. The flower composition changed too with the more open terrain – now there were abundant Castilleja (paintbrushes) and salmon pink Penstemon. We stopped for lunch at the shore of the first major lake, Loch Leven (elev 10743 ft), a small tranquil alpine body of water about halfway between the trailhead and Piute Pass. There were more pines on the north side of the lake and a few shrubby willows. On the bright, treeless slopes there were yellow wallflowers and small plants with clusters of dainty white flowers bearing variable 4-6 petals each.

Whitebark pine, John Muir Wilderness.

Afternoon, Piute Lake. Clouds 3%. Continuing up the trail toward the west we found a shady soft patch of carpeted ground at the northwest end of the lake, shaded by a group of whitebark pines (Pinus albicaulis) which will be base camp for the next few days. The terrain around the south side of the lake near our camp was mostly granite slabs and boulders but the pines were present in respectable densities. Also in the landscape mix were tiny little meadows of sedges and other graminoids. The rocky ridges of grey granite forming the canyon walls were mostly unvegetated to the north and south. Both sides of the valley had patches of snow, but it was more common to the south where the sun was less direct. The moon is a quarter crescent in the east.

Piute Lake (foreground) and Loch Leven (background).

Evening, Piute Pass. Clouds 0%. After setting up camp, we walked the remaining distance up to the pass to the west to observe the sunset. The basin opened up to the west and was surprising barren upon first sight in the evening. It was devoid of trees but had numerous lakes. I initially did not think the view was as impressive as I imagined, but my feelings would change tomorrow when we would hike into the basin.

Sunset at Piute Pass (left) and nighttime view of the Milky Way from Piute Lake (right).