Humphreys Basin Backpack
Overview
Humphrey’s Basin outside of Bishop, CA is a beautiful area to backpack for those who love to explore alpine lakes and the Eastern Sierras. Our friend Misha, who we’d met through the Sierra Club, secured a permit for the trip a few months before, so we tagged along spending four days and three nights in early August 2024.
The trip was designed for us to hike in and set up a basecamp at Golden Trout Lake and then do some day hikes from there. This meant the crew could bring more gear and food (read: camera tripod and elaborate meals) than we would for a more rigorous thru hike.
If you've stumbled on this content, please agree to abide by the following to keep these places beautiful and open!
- Leave no Trace: pack out your trash, your toilet paper (sometimes more), don't move or stack rocks etc., picking up casing & whats left of your targets, removing old artifacts, spray paint.
- Tread Lightly: Stay on-trail or road when designated. When off-trail, tread only on durable surfaces and when in groups, spread out
- Put out your fires; and often, don't start them. Especially these days, know the fire danger level and what's allowed. Most of these devastating fires are started by us. If you're not in position to put our your fire (you should be able to touch the embers), don't start it. Also, be sure to have respective fire permits!
- Know the access: make sure the respective area is open, you have the proper permits if required, and you're following outlined rules.
- Know before you go! All of the above + make sure you have the right equipment, active fires, weather and potential to change, you're own skill level, the challenges, escape route(s),
- Keep your music to yourself. Please don't use bluetooth speakers
- Drones suck. I have one and love to use it but when you're not the one flying it, they suck. Respect rules and others!
- Know the doggo rules: They're often not permitted in protected areas and when they are, use a leash. These rules are for the wildlife no matter how well behaved they are
- Microspikes don't count.
- Shit happens! But don't force it to. Have a turnaround time and follow it. Turnaorund don't drown. Have the proper equipment etc.
Map
Highlights
Trip Report
Pre-Camp [8/8]
Reaching Humphrey’s Basin involved hiking in from the Piaute trailhead outside Bishop, CA. The drive was about 5 hours north of Los Angeles.
The day before we headed out on the trail we camped at the North Lake Campground. There are only 11 campsites with no reservation system at the campground, so try to get there early. If you don’t snag a spot, there are a few other campgrounds on the way in, closer to Aspendale.
We were the first in our crew to get in and two additional cars met us throughout the night. We were able to fit three cars & three tents at the first spot.
Day One [8/9]
Day one began with a smorgasbord for breakfast, loading up on calories and organizing supplies before strapping on packs.
The Piute trailhead starts at the campsite. Cars have to be parked in a hiking lot about a mile outside the campground. By the time we did the car shuffle, we were packs on and walking around 12:30. The route to Golden Trout Lake was 8 miles with 2,476 ft elevation gain
The trail began relatively shaded within the Inyo forest before opening up a couple miles in above tree line. You get excellent views of Mt. Emerson and Mt. Thoreau. The trail up passes numerous alpine lakes, many with their own camping areas.
The majority of the elevation gain is the first five miles up to Piute pass. Don’t be fooled. There are a few “false” summits that appear to be the end of the elevation. But once you summit you’ll see the trail continues pushing upward.
Once over the pass, the basin lays out before you. From there we took the Golden Trout Trailhead which branched off the Piute trailhead through the basin at a lower elevation for about two miles. At Upper Golden Trout, we found nice camp spots on the rocky knolls.
After setting up tents and some water filtering, we ended up cooking dinner in the dark and heading to bed soon after. Temperatures were a bit chilly, and I think we were regretting taking out some of the clothing “luxuries” like beanies and base layers.
Day Two [8/10]
However, once in sleeping bags we were good, because day two we woke up HOT.
The day ended up being more of a recovery day. Our lack of fitness, accumulated lack of sleep over the weeks before, and members of the crew flying from East Coast hours led to a slower start than we were expecting. But it was nice to make some breakfast and have coffee while the sun came up and shone on Mount Humprey’s.
With the second half left of the day, we decided to do a bit of off trail exploring close to the campsite. We trekked across the Golden Trout area heading south, doing some scrambling to reach an unnamed lake. There, we relaxed. Laid out and picnicked for a few hours before heading back to camp for dinner.
The stars were incredible, and we were there a few days before the Perseid Meteor Showers, so we brought out sleeping bags and watched the stars.
Day 3 [8/11]
Day three our objective was Muriel Peak at 12,937 ft elevation.
We started back on trail the way we’d come, choosing to rejoin the Piaute trail a little earlier to compare the route to Golden Trout. It was a bit more consistent in elevation, but perhaps a little longer. Once we reached the Piaute pass, we continued on toward Muriel Lake. There, we stopped briefly to pump water before continuing the rest of the way off-trail.
The route involves a lot of scrambling and we were definitely breathing hard (or was that just Lindsay?) The route passes four “Lost Lakes” on the way that served as fun progress markers of our trip. Before the final ascent, we had to cross a small snowfield, which was fun and surprising in early August.
The final ascent got even steeper as we tried to find the best route to the top. We aimed for a keyhole in the cliff facade that gives you a nice look at Darwin lake on the other side of the peak. Running low on time and energy, we opted to consider the keyhole a successful back-up objective and made our way back down, past the Lost Lakes and back to camp.
Day 4 [8/12]
Not having had much time to explore the lake we were camping at, we woke up before the sunrise on our final day to see more of Golden Trout Lake.
We hiked further West along Golden Trout Lake Trailhead to explore the lower Golden Trout Lake. There were some great views of the lake and the pink sunrise clouds.
We hurried back to pack up camp and headed back out east the way we came in around 8:30, reaching the cars by about 2 pm.
We stopped for a quick bite at Great Basin Bakery before hitting the road back to Los Angeles.
Gold stars of the trip go to Lindsay Katz, whose incredible cooking we enjoyed throughout the trip in the form of fresh bread, tasty zesty energy balls, and elaborate feast-like dinners like quinoa with mussels and peanut butter noodles. It was her first every backpack, but you would never have guessed it.
Big Thanks to our friend Misha for inviting us out.
Image Gallery
Table Of Contents
If you've stumbled on this content, please agree to abide by the following to keep these places beautiful and open!
- Leave no Trace: pack out your trash, your toilet paper (sometimes more), don't move or stack rocks etc., picking up casing & whats left of your targets, removing old artifacts, spray paint.
- Tread Lightly: Stay on-trail or road when designated. When off-trail, tread only on durable surfaces and when in groups, spread out
- Put out your fires; and often, don't start them. Especially these days, know the fire danger level and what's allowed. Most of these devastating fires are started by us. If you're not in position to put our your fire (you should be able to touch the embers), don't start it. Also, be sure to have respective fire permits!
- Know the access: make sure the respective area is open, you have the proper permits if required, and you're following outlined rules.
- Know before you go! All of the above + make sure you have the right equipment, active fires, weather and potential to change, you're own skill level, the challenges, escape route(s),
- Keep your music to yourself. Please don't use bluetooth speakers
- Drones suck. I have one and love to use it but when you're not the one flying it, they suck. Respect rules and others!
- Know the doggo rules: They're often not permitted in protected areas and when they are, use a leash. These rules are for the wildlife no matter how well behaved they are
- Microspikes don't count.
- Shit happens! But don't force it to. Have a turnaround time and follow it. Turnaorund don't drown. Have the proper equipment etc.
