July 8, 2013 - Sapphire Lake

Title: July 8, 2013 - Sapphire Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: John Muir Trail, Day Fourteen

Starting location: Colby Meadows

Destination:   Sapphire Lake

Distance:  5.1 miles ¹

Start Time:  9:00

End Time:  3:30

Travel Time:  6:30 (0.78 mph)

Moving Time: 3:06 (1.65 mph)

Elevation Rise:  1,186' ¹

Maximum Elevation:  10,966' ¹

Description:

Evolution Valley

Cold last night. Stayed snuggled in my bag until 6. Everybody else is also slow coming our of their cocoons. Normal breakfast. Enjoyable morning with Ray and Rachel. We left around 9-they left about half an hour before us.

The Hermit and Friends

 I felt a bit sluggish going up the rest of Evolution Valley. I do not think Sherri was doing much better. We came to the creek, coming off of Darwin's Bench.  Mike and Anna from Fresno were there already. Beth and Victor joined us a few minutes after we arrived. This is probably the last meeting we will have with them.

Mt Mendel and Mt Darwin

By our performance, we pretty much have decided on going only to Sapphire Lake. At this point, we start our climb for the day. This is 800' to Evolution Lake.  Somehow the pack feels heavier than yesterday, even though I know it is lighter, and it should be.  But I am still huffing and puffing. The scenery helps. As we rise, we see Evolution Valley in its entire length. Such a sight! Also the cataract of the creek beside us, is wonderful.

Gary sucking air

As we approach 10,600', two things happens. First, the trail becomes less steep. Second, my GPS loses 500'. We catch up with Ray and Rachel who is talking to Bam Bam, a PCTer. A trail runner had just passed us all, and we were talking about him. We walk to Evolution Lake, where we have a nice, leisurely  lunch. Laying around for an hour or so before taking off.

Evolution Lake

The trail goes around Evolution Lake on the east side, high on the slope. This causes more heavy breathing, and good views of the lake. It also puts us in direct sun light, without much protection, n a warm, but breezy day.

Lakeside Walk

We cross the creek at the end of the lake. There are big stone boulders to assist us. Then it is up a couple more hundred feet to get to Sapphire Lake, our camping spot (37.15210, -118.69545). Ray and Rachel are already searching for a place to sleep, but without success. So we assist a team from the USGS, putting up a tarp. They say we can sleep in some places around them. They are counting Yosemite toads in the area and are going on to Davis and Martha Lakes.

More of Evolution Lake

We lounge around the rest of the afternoon. I manage to do a bit of wading, cleaning myself off. As the shadows creep across our camp, we have an early dinner. The wind is blowing pretty good, sending the temperature down. Right before we go to bed, a ranger come by and checks our permits. She notes that it is better not to pitch our tent on the grass. But Leslie  is gracious and informs us why-the "fairy grass" is over 25 years old. Bed time is 8:00.

Mt Mendel

Our slightly illegal tent

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Peanut Butter and Nutella on crackers	Beef and Cabbage Wrap	Clif Bar, Jelly Bellies, CytoMax, Propel, GORP, Bank Balls

 ¹The supplied figures above come from either the book John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America's most famous trail by Elizabeth Wenk or from topo maps. There was only partial tracks for today in my GPS. Below is the readings from today's status on the GPS. I view it as only somewhat accurate.

Distance:  5.38 miles

Elevation Rise:  714'

Maximum Elevation: 10,991'