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    The Evolution Loop

    The Evolution Loop

    $855 per person

    The most scenic and classic backpacking loop in the High Sierra, the Evolution Loop is one breathtaking vista after another.



    The most scenic and classic backpacking loop in the High Sierra, the Evolution Loop is one breathtaking vista after another.

    We offer this guided journey in three itineraries:

    • 3-day Ultralight (Available on a Custom Private Basis)
    • 4-day Backpacking ($815/person)(August 4-7 & September 22-25, 2023)
    • 5-day Backpacking ($1975/person)(July 6-10, August 23-27 & September 1-5, 2023)

    Scheduled dates and prices listed here require a minimum of 2 hikers.

    Note: We are closely monitoring how the record breaking snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is going to impact conditions for backpacking trips for the Summer of 2023. We anticipate snow travel to be necessary and abundant on higher elevation trails for most or all of the Summer. Choosing trip dates later in the Summer in August, September or even October will help to decrease the amount of snow travel necessary for your trip.

    The “Evo Loop” is an incredible journey through alpine lakes, craggy peaks, lofty passes, Yosemite scale valleys, and granite landscapes, in the very heart of the High Sierra.

    On both sides of the Sierra Crest above Bishop, California lies a magical network of trails and passes that encircle the Evolution Ridge. The “Evo Loop” is an incredible journey through alpine lakes, craggy peaks, lofty passes, Yosemite scale valleys, and granite landscapes, in the very heart of the High Sierra.

    • Included
      backpacking
      Evolution Loop
      fastpacking
      lightweight
      mountain running
      trail running
      ultralight
    • Not Included
      14ers
      3D chute
      3rd pillar
      3rd Pillar Dana
      AIARE
      AIARE 1
      AIARE 2
      Alaska
      Alaska skiing
      alpine
      alpine climbing
      alpine rock climbing
      Alps
      Alps climbing
      Alps running
      Alps skiing
      Alps trilogy
      American Mountain Guides Association
      AMGA
      avalanche awareness
      avalanche course
      backcountry
      backcountry 101
      backcountry ski
      Backcountry Skiing
      backcountry snowboard
      Bear Creek Spire
      Berner Oberland
      Bernese Oberland
      Bishop
      Bishop Skyline
      Blacksmith Peak
      Bloody Mountain
      Breakthrough
      Bridgeport
      California
      California fourteeners
      camping
      Cardinal Pinnacle
      Carson Peak
      Celestial Aretes
      Chamonix
      Chamonix climbing
      Charlotte Dome
      chef
      classic rock climb
      classic Sierra rock
      climb
      climbing
      climbing camp
      climbing skills
      climbing Swiss Alps
      Clyde Minaret
      Convict Creek
      cook
      courses
      courses instruction
      crampon
      Crest tour
      Crystal Crag
      custom
      custom private ski
      Dana Plateau
      destinations
      Devil's Slide
      Dolomites
      Dolomites climbing
      Double Eagle Resort
      Dream Bowl
      East Buttress
      East Face
      Eastern Sierra climbing
      Eastern Sierra skiing
      Eastern Sierra Winter
      Eiger
      exam
      Fishhook Arete
      Four Seasons
      France
      Glass Creek
      Grindelwald
      guide course
      Haute Route
      heli assisted
      heli skiing
      Hemlock Ridge
      High Sierra
      High Sierra skiing
      high tour
      hiking
      Horse Creek
      horses
      Horsetail Falls
      Hut to Hut
      ice 101
      ice axe
      ice climbing
      ice climbing course
      Incredible Hulk
      instruction
      intermediate level
      international
      introductory
      introductory ice climbing course
      Italy
      John Muir Trail
      John Muir Wilderness
      June Lake
      June Mountain
      Jungfrau
      Kautz Glacier
      kids
      kids climbing programs
      Las Vegas
      lee vining
      Lee Vining area
      lee vining canyon
      level 1
      level 1 refresher
      level 2
      light and fast
      Lone Pine
      Lone Pine Peak
      Lovers Leap
      Mammoth Lakes
      Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite
      Mammoth Mountain
      Mammoth to June
      Mammoth to Yosemite
      Matterhorn
      Matterhorn Peak
      McGee Creek
      Merriam Peak
      mixed climbing
      Monch
      Mont Blanc
      Mont Blanc run
      Mount Conness
      Mount Dana
      Mount Emerson
      Mount Gabb
      Mount Humphreys
      Mount Mills
      Mount Rainier
      mountaineering
      Mountaineers Route
      Mt Conness
      Mt. Dana
      Mt. Emerson
      Mt. Humphreys
      Mt. Russell
      Mt. Sill
      Mt. Tom
      Mt. Whitney
      Mt. Winchell
      mules
      multiday
      negatives
      Nevada
      North Palisade
      North Peak
      north ridge
      onion valley to mt. whitney
      Ortler
      Owens River Gorge
      pack outfit
      pack support
      packers
      palisades
      Palisades Glacier Camp
      peak descents
      Peter Croft
      Pine Creek
      Polemonium Peak
      porters
      Positive Vibrations
      private
      private custom
      professional development
      Red and White Mountain
      Red Dihedral
      red rock
      Red Slate Mountain
      rescue skills
      Ritter Range
      rock
      rock 201
      rock climbing
      Rock Creek
      Rock Creek to Mammoth
      Sabre Ridge
      San Joaquin Ridge
      Sawtooths
      self arrest
      self belay
      self rescue
      Sequoia National Park
      sherpas
      Sierra
      Sierra 5.10
      sierra alpine
      Sierra Mountain Guides
      Sierra Nevada
      Sierra skiing
      single pitch instructor
      ski
      ski guiding
      ski mountaineering
      ski tour
      ski touring
      skiing
      snow
      snow skills
      snowboard
      SPI
      splitboard
      sport
      sport climbing
      Starlight Peak
      supported
      Switzerland
      Tahoe
      Temple Crag
      third pillar
      Thompson Pass
      Thunderbolt Peak
      Tioga
      trad climbing
      traverse
      Tuolumne
      Twin Lakes
      Ultra Trail Mont Blanc
      Valdez
      Via Ferrata
      white line
      wilderness trip
      winter
      Yosemite
      yosemite national park
      Yosemite ski
      Yost Meadow
      Zermatt
      Zermatt Valley
    TRIP ITINERARY: Evolution Loop 3-Day Utralight Fastpacking
    DAY 0 Meet at the SMG office in Bishop in the afternoon to check in, review the itinerary, check gear, and finalize packing and other logistics.
    DAY 1 Start at the South Lake Trailhead and hike up over Bishop Pass, into the amazing Dusy Basin. Descend to camp in the granite paradise of LeConte Canyon in the Middle Fork of the Kings River drainage.
    DAY 2 Ascend LeConte Canyon to Muir Pass and into Evolution Basin, featuring glaciated granite playas and unparalleled ambience in the Range of Light. At the Darwin cutoff we leave the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail to ascend to camp in a very special place known as Darwin Bench.
    DAY 3 A steep cross country ascent from Darwin Lakes leads to to Lamarck Col. Descend past Lamarck lakes to the North Lake trailhead. Shuttle to South Lake and/or Bishop.

    Additional Information

     

    3-DAY ULTRALIGHT INCLUDES:

          • SMG guide(s)
          • Lightweight, yet delicious and nutritious backcountry meals (dinners & breakfasts)
          • Group camping and cooking equipment
          • Wilderness permits and associated permit fees
     

    3-DAY ULTRALIGHT DOES NOT INCLUDE:

          • Lunches, trail snacks, and hot drinks for camp. Bring your own that you prefer.
          • Personal or rental equipment
          • Other personal items
          • Transport before or after trip
     

    3-DAY PREREQUISITES:

        • Excellent mountain fitness and ability to hike 15-20 miles per day with a multiday backpack on mountain trails at moderate to high elevations.
        • Adventurous spirit and desire to experience the mountains on foot.
        • Prior lightweight backpacking and/or fastpacking experience

    4-Day Evolution Loop:

    TRIP ITINERARY: 4-day Evolution Loop
    DAY 0 Meet at the SMG office in Bishop in the afternoon to check in, review the itinerary, check gear, and finalize packing and other logistics.
    DAY 1 Start at the South Lake Trailhead and hike up over Bishop Pass, into the amazing Dusy Basin to make camp. 8 miles / 2100' gain
    DAY 2 Descend into LeConte Canyon and then up the Middle Fork of the Kings River to camp in the upper drainage. 10 miles / 2500' gain
    DAY 3 From upper LeConte Canyon, cross Muir Pass into Evolution Basin, featuring glaciated granite playas and unparalleled ambience in the Range of Light. At the Darwin cutoff we leave the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail to ascend to camp in a very special place known as Darwin Bench. 10 miles / 1900'gain
    DAY 4 A steep cross country ascent from Darwin Lakes leads to to Lamarck Col. Descend past Lamarck lakes to the North Lake trailhead. Shuttle to South Lake and/or Bishop.

    Additional Information

     

    4-DAY INCLUDES:

    • SMG guide
    • Backcountry meals (dinners, breakfasts, hot drinks, & lunch sandwiches)
    • Group camping and cooking equipment
    • Wilderness permits and associated permit fees
     

    4-DAY DOES NOT INCLUDE:

    • Trail snacks
    • Personal or rental equipment
    • Other personal items
    • Transport before or after trip
     

    4-DAY PREREQUISITES:

    • Good fitness and ability to hike 10+ miles per day with a multiday backpack on mountain trails at moderate to high elevations.
    • Adventurous spirit and desire to experience the mountains on foot.
    • Prior backpacking experience is strongly recommended

    5-Day Evolution Loop:

    The 5-day loop is a suggestion that allows the option for you to either: a) extend the experience of being in the Evolution Basin, in the heart of the Sierra, with a half day break from the heavier packs; or b) to complete the "full" version of the loop which extends the overall length of the journey but keeps to relatively easy trails. It is possible to make the decision on the route while you are out there. For this reason, this itinerary is currently only offered on a custom private basis. Please click the 5-Day button above to request prices and availability for your group if you would like to schedule a 5-day (or more) version of this trip.
    TRIP ITINERARY: 5-day Evolution Loop
    DAY 0 Meet at the SMG office in Bishop in the afternoon to check in, review the itinerary, check gear, and finalize packing and other logistics.
    DAY 1 Start at the South Lake Trailhead and hike up over Bishop Pass, into the amazing Dusy Basin to make camp. 8 miles / 2100' gain
    DAY 2 Descend into LeConte Canyon and then up the Middle Fork of the Kings River to camp in the upper drainage. 10 miles / 2500' gain
    DAY 3 From upper LeConte Canyon, cross Muir Pass into Evolution Basin, featuring glaciated granite playas and unparalleled ambience in the Range of Light. Camp near Evolution Lake. 7 miles / 1400' gain
    DAY 4 2 options: a) Have a morning to enjoy the Evolution Basin with a day hike, fishing, swimming, relaxing, or a climb of a nearby peak. Move camp up 2 miles and 1000' to Darwin Bench in the afternoon. b) Continue to do the full Evolution Loop. This option descends into Evolution Valley to Piute Creek then up to camp at Hutchinson Meadow. 13 miles / 2000' gain
    DAY 5 a) A steep cross country ascent from Darwin Lakes leads to to Lamarck Col. Descend past Lamarck lakes to the North Lake trailhead. Shuttle to South Lake and/or Bishop. 7 miles / 1700' gain b) Hike up to Humphreys Basin, up over Piute Pass and down to North Lake. 7 miles / 2200' gain