A hard BPL trip in the High Sierra (summits, cross country, long days, laughs)

[Jack H.]

Five of us hit the Sierra last week. It was great.

We crossed Lamarck Col and camped at Evolution Lake the first night. Four of us headed on to summit Mt. Solomons above the Muir Hut. Three of us then continued over Black Giant Pass and into Ionian Basin. We spent the night. The next day two of us summited Scylla and walked a bit of the Ragged Spur. We finished the traverse of the basin with an exit via Martha Lake. I took a hard fall. Read about it on my brand new blog. We all rendezvoused near the Goddard Creek/PCT junction on the third night. The high speed cruise up to our last night in Humphrey's Basin was all the better as a group.

Truly an excellent trip. Casey, James, Craig, Adan: it was nice getting to know you. You're all very solid outdoorsmen. We hiked hard and saw a lot.

I took 87 good photos and I'd like you to see them. I'd also love it if you follow me on my new website at jackhaskel.com.

[Ken Thompson]

Glad you are OK Jack. Falling as an adult is always surprising. If we only weighed 70 pounds like when we were kids. bouncing back up from what dang near kills us now.

Fantastic trip with good company. Worth the risks.

[Steven Paris]

I've been looking forward to the TRs from this trip. Great photos!

Jack, glad you're ok. Just curious, what happened that caused your fall? I always feel/hope I learn something from the details of backpacking mishaps.

Finally, I think it's interesting that 4 of the 5 "finish" pack weights were almost identical. Wonder if that's a "sweet spot" for gear.

[W I S N E R !]

Here are some of my pics…

Looking back on North Lake approach.

Approaching Lamarck Col.

Mountain Men. (L to R) Casey, Jack, Adan, Craig, James.

Getting over the Col.

Darwin Canyon.

Approaching Evolution Valley.

Break in Darwin Bench.

Evening at Evolution Lake.

Grub: Mashed potatoes with veggie breakfast sausage, Parmesan cheese, and wild onion.

Wanda Lake with Mt. Solomons and Goddard Divide looming above.

Muir Hut and Solomons.

Mt. Goddard from ridge below Solomons summit.

Wanda Lake from Mt. Solomons.

Enchanted Gorge (finger on lake) from Solomons summit.

Humphreys Basin high country.

Humphreys Basin.

Afternoon Sky.

Dinner at Desolation Lake Cafe.

Satisfied….

____________________________________________________________________________

Great people, great route, great country. Thank you gentlemen. Thank you for putting this together Jack.
I'm strongly considering going back solo in the next few weeks to settle some unfinished business…the Black Giant.

[Andy Duncan]

Thank you for posting your TR and photos. Good to hear that you made it back ok. I've also been looking forward to seeing the photos from this trip, I have been planning a similar trip all winter (Darwin/Evolution/Ionian) and I leave June 21st. Did the southeast approach up Mt Goddard look like a reasonable class 2 scramble? Was there any good camping in Ionian Basin? Looks like you had an adventure. Thanx again.

[Bob Gross]

"Did the southeast approach up Mt Goddard look like a reasonable class 2 scramble?"

That is the easy way most of us lightweights go up Goddard.

–B.G.–

[James Winstead]

A trip of more than a few first for me… I learned a ton and had so much fun. This one set the bar pretty high. Jack, thanks for getting this together. Casey, Craig and Adan, I really enjoyed spending time with you guys. I hope we can get back out there together again… There are peaks awaiting!

Here are a few select images… For more (like 170ish photos) feel free to go here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/109076926638277526838/July2012IonianBasinTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCJC9srb_qqSQrgE#

Lamarck Col

Happy 4th of July! Camp 1 at Evolution Lake

Up Solomons (the first bit… with packs on)

Casey on Solomons

Black Giant Pass looking into the Ionian Basin

Up the drainage out of Chasm Lake to unnamed lake at 11592ft

Camp 2, Charybdis catching the last light.

Scylla Summit

Jack on the Ragged Spur

Casey and Jack

Tricky

Past Martha Lake. Sub-Alpine wilflowers abound

Humphreys Basin

Legit looking clouds. A single thunderclap was the worst we got.

Craig and Adan

Mt. Humphreys

This one is going to stick with me a while.

[Dave T]

Dangit!

Nice one fellas.

[Ken Helwig]

Great trip guys!!!! Funny that you guys were just south of us at or around the same time. Fantastic pics!

Glad you were ok Jack…that is scary

[Jay Wilkerson]

Nice one and that is a awesome area–Remote!

[Art …]

Looks like a fantastic trip.

Great job everyone !

[Jack H.]

Thanks guys. My wounds are healing fine and don't appear to be infected.

I just slipped. I'm honestly not sure if a rock moved, crumbled, I tripped or if it was just slippery. Boom, off the ledge I went.

Climbing Goddard doesn't appear to be that hard. I'd like to do it too.

Great photos my friends!

[Jonathan Foley]

Wow fantastic guys? How many nights/days? I'm impressed by the ultra-low food weight (0.5 and 1 lbs) and am wondering what you ate and for how long.

[Jonathan Foley]

From the caption on facebook…I see that the photo is the end, these weights make more sense now!

[Anonymous]

"Dangit!

Nice one fellas."

Couldn't have said it better, Dave. +100.

Thanks guys for sharing your experience. You really brought the trip to life for me.

[Author]

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