2007 – South Lake to Lower Dusy Basin

In 2007 we have a leisurely backpack with friends on the agenda. We spend a couple of nights at elevation to acclimatize before starting out from the trailhead at South Lake, which we’ve used on earlier trips.

After an early morning start at South Lake, we follow the trail along Long Lake and up past Timberline Tarns to the Bishop Lake Basin. We make camp on a rise between Saddle Rock Lake and Bishop Lake. We have great views of the surrounding peaks, which catch the warm light of a golden sunset on our first evening.

From there we are in a good position to summit Bishop Pass (almost 12,000 feet) the next day, hiking through bolder fields but, in this dry year, not too much snow. From the pass, we can see the whole of Dusy Basin laid out before us as we head down from the pass to our camp in the Lower Dusy Basin. The larger lake and its many lakelets provide ample places to camp; a perfect spot for our layover day. We spend the layover day taking a hike around the lower lake and part way down into LeConte Canyon. There is also time to explore the ponds for plants and frogs. We are again lucky to have sunsets which light up the surrounding peaks and cast reflections in the still waters.

After our layover day, we backpack the short way up to Middle Dusy Basin to camp. This allows us to explore the upper reaches of the basin. The clear afternoon sky once again transitions into a colorful evening with alpen glow which lights up the ridges.

The next day, we retrace our steps up and over Bishop Pass, and head down into the Bishop Lake Basin to set up camp not too far from where we stayed on our first night.

On our last day, the hike downhill back to the trailhead feels very easy compared to our first day heading uphill steeply into the basin. A simple but beautiful backpack.

Monday 6 August – Parchers Resort / South Lake to Bishop Lake
Tuesday 7 August – Bishop Lake to Dusy Basin Lower Lakes
Wednesday 8 August – Lay-over Day, Dusy Basin Lower Lakes
Thursday 9 August – Dusy Basin Lower Lakes to Upper/Middle Dusy Lake
Friday 10 Augustus – Middle Dusy Lake to Saddle Rock Lake
Saturday 11 August – Saddle Rock Lake to South Lake