Exploration of Humphreys Basin and Beyond Register

Date and Time:
Fri, Aug 29, 2025; 8:00 AM (Pacific) - Tue, Sep 2, 2025  4:00 PM  (Pacific)
Time is tentative.

Organized By: SF Bay Chp Backpacking

Location: Starts at the North Lake Trailhead

Map | Directions

Event Organizers:
JP Torres for all questions and correspondence at
   jpinkflo@xecu.net
Linda Weldele
   lindaweldele@gmail.com
   (925) 852-1011

 Moonscape below Mt. Humphreys

CURRENTLY THIS TRIP IS FILLED TO CAPACITY. We are not taking any more signups at this time. 

SUMMARY: Join us on this Eastern Sierra high-altitude exploration of the vast granite expanses beyond Piute Pass, outside of Bishop, CA, and experience travel like the early explorers to this region when they traversed “terra incognita”. We travel south to north from the North Lake trailhead with an exit at the Pine Creek trailhead, covering an overall distance of roughly 25 miles and over 5,000 of elevation gain, excluding the additional distances covered during optional exploratory day hikes. The journey entails a good share of off-the-beaten-path cross-country travel through the Humphreys Basin moonscape and over Pine Creek Pass with overnight camps at four different lakes.

EXPECTATIONS: Here are some of the expectations:

1. The high elevation, likelihood of mosquitoes, sudden inclement weather, presence of bears, etc., all pose their own challenges, and you should come prepared to cope with these (note that using bear spray is unnecessary, so do not bring any).
2. You should plan on carrying with you electrolyte-replacements which help prevent sluggishness and help maintain a consistent energy level throughout the day.
3. We won’t be racing, because we want to appreciate the scenery and wilderness experience. However, maintaining a reasonable pace and group cohesion are expected. So, if you feel you need more independence and less structure, do not sign up for this trip.
4. You may not ask to leave early on the last day. As a group function, we travel together. If you have a commitment that requires you to leave early, do not sign up for this trip.
5. We leaders are volunteers and we do not have time to deal with numerous cancellations. So please make this trip a priority and commit to arranging your work schedule and family obligations around this trip. Otherwise, do not sign up for this trip.
6. In the unlikely event that you need to be evacuated, by signing up for this trip, you accept full responsibility to pay the full cost for your evacuation. Neither the Sierra Club nor the Inyo National Forest Service pays for this service. If you do not agree, do not sign up for this trip.

1. Each day we hike no more than 5 miles to a new lake and set up camp for the night. Afterwards, we set off on a day hike to explore the surrounding area. As an option, you can stay at camp and relax and/or swim. On the last day, we hike out the last 6 miles and you can head home. Refer to the itinerary below.
2. For the four nights of the trip, the elevation of our camps will be between 10,400 and 11,300 feet above sea level. This is why it is important that you arrive on Thursday 8/28 at the nearby campground that we have reserved before the official start of the trip on Friday 8/29. Because the campground is at 8,300 feet, it will allow you to acclimatize before the trip. If you need more time to acclimatize, then you should plan on arriving a day earlier.
3. Each day after Day 1, we will leave the established trail and hike cross-country (off trail) to reach our next camp and to explore the surrounding area. At this altitude, the landscape is mostly granite with few trees, enabling us to navigate freely from place to place. Some portion of our route will be “exploratory”, meaning that the leaders have not previously scouted out the route. So, as we choose routes that appear interesting and we wander, please remain flexible and keep your sense of adventure as we experience travel like the early explorers to this region when they traversed this land without established trails and maps.

Level: Moderate(1B2)

Signup Instructions: Please R.S.V.P and ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIABILITY WAIVER. Afterwards the trip leader will contact you to start the approval process and provide further information.

Bring: Individual commissary. Participants bring their own food and cooking equipment. Participants need to furnish their own overnight sleeping gear. The leader will send a detailed equipment list to approved participants.

Signup Restrictions: Leader approval required for participating.

Additional Directions: We follow the current Sierra Club COVID-19 protocol. Vaccination is not required for participating in this outing. Wearing masks is optional and not required.

Carpool: Getting from and to the trailhead is the sole responsibility of each participant. The leader will provide a trip roster to all approved participants to facilitate ride sharing. We recommend that drivers and riders agree in advance on costs.

Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.