This Photo Essay covers a trip to the Evolution Basin region of the Southern Sierra. The trip started and ended at North Lake, near Bishop. This was a local Sierra Club trip (Mother Lode Chapter), lead by Mr. Alan Mendoza, of Chico, California. A total of six guys were in our party (Alan, Karl, Russell, Russ, RodJava, and Tiocampo).

The original plan was to do a 10-day trip through Humphreys Basin, Piute Canyon, Goddard Canyon, Ionian Basin, Evolution Basin, and Darwin Canyon. We ended up doing an 8-day trip over Lamarck Col and Darwin Canyon, at both ends. I found the trip in over Lamarck Col and Darwin Canyon to be pretty rough on the old bod, so I tried unsuccessfully to convince my trip mates to exit via the lower, but longer, Piute Canyon and Humphreys Basin route. They were right. Doing Lamarck Col at both ends was the way to go. It was a great trip!

We made a basecamp at Sapphire Lake. Four of the group hiked over Black Giant Pass, through Ionian Basin, and back out over Wanda Pass. RodJava and I hiked to Black Giant Pass and back to Muir Pass. It was near Muir Pass that I met WLD257 and Altairsoar, as they hiked the John Muir Trail. It was great to spend a few minutes with them.

This trip report also includes a trip map (1,900K!) and profiles. Altogether, we walked about 50 miles, of which 15 or so were dayhikes.

A special "Thank You" is extended to Roger Lilly, for his excellent trip reports and photos from this area.

Photo Notes: The camera on this trip was my Olympus D-380 digital model. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Here are my other trips in this area:

• Dry76/Wet78 Photo Essay
• 1977 Florence Lake Essay
• 1978 Evolution Photo Essay Supplement
• 1996 Evolution-Goddard Trip Report