Piute Pass

Dad, Libby and I undertook a seven day pack trip this July. The point was to visit the Bear Lakes basin above Bear Creek. Our entrance was via Piute Pass and we exited via Italy Pass to the Pine Creek Pass Trailhead. It was, of course, beautiful and wonderful.

Our first day we went over Piute Pass, and then down to camp along Piute Creek.  We stayed the night before at the Profitas' in Bishop after Joe helped us set up a shuttle by picking us up at the Pine Creek trail head. He hiked with us up to Piute Pass the first day, but couldn't come along for the full trip.


View North Lake to Paiute Creek in a larger map 

The day before we started hiking was stormy.  Giant dark clouds loomed ominously amongst the high peaks around Piute Pass.  Scattered sprinkles started at the cabin at noon, and we were hit by torrential rain on the drive to the Pine Creek trailhead that afternoon.  While Joe was ecstatic to enjoy weather in the 80s down in town, it made me a bit nervous about the prospects for our trip.  Sure enough, the next day, hikers on their way back out over Piute Pass described a four hour uninterrupted deluge.  That's something the Sierras don't see too often.

Oh, and on a different note, did I mention that Dad treed a bear at the cabin that same day?

Anyway, our hike on Monday was cool and damp.  It sprinkled on and off, but never rained substantially.  We made it to the pass around lunch time, and followed quite a crowd of people down the west side toward the Golden Trout Lakes.  Thankfully, our campsite along Piute Creek was perfectly solitary, with only the rumble of the creek, the whine of (many) mosquitoes, and a passel of tiny Golden Trout to keep us company.

 

Pictures are up on Flickr:

Exploring petroglyphs north of Bishop with Joe Profita

First day's hike over Piute Pass in stormy weather