Sierra Nevada - Kings Canyon National Park
North Lake to South Lake 1964

On August 22-29, 1964 I backpacked the North Lake to South lake portion of the John Muir Trail with Explorer Post 360 (22 Explorers, 4 men) for 50 miles. This was a standard San Diego Council, Boy Scouts of America, John Muir Trek.

We climbed 12,440' Mt. Spencer (22 on top), Peak 13,231' south of Mt. Huxley (22 on top) and 13,568' Mt. Goddard (22 on top).

Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Evolution Lake, Mt. Spencer, Mt. Huxley - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Evolution Lake, Mt. Spencer, Mt. Huxley - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964

Swimmers at Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Swimmers at Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964

Swimmers in Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Swimmers in Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
'The Thinker' (Steve Henderson) Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
'The Thinker' (Steve Henderson) Evolution Lake
Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964

Camp at Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Camp at Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Camp at Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964 - Bob Brooks Photo
Camp at Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964 - Bob Brooks Photo

On August 24, 1964 we climbed Mt. Spencer with 22 making the summit. I also climbed the peak on August 17, 1960.

Mount Spencer is a 12,431' peak in the Sierra Nevada, in Kings Canyon National Park and Fresno County, California.

It is named for Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher and prominent scientist in the field of evolution who coined the term "survival of the fittest."

Other nearby mountains in the Evolution Group include Mount Darwin, Mount Mendel, Mount Fiske, Mount Haeckel, Mount Huxley, Mount Wallace, and Mount Lamarck. The area around the peaks, known as the Evolution Region, includes Evolution Basin and Evolution Valley.

Although it is not a very well known peak, it offers a picturesque view of Evolution Lake and the John Muir Trail.

Mt. Spencer from Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Mt. Spencer from Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
On the way up Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
On the way up Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964

Mt. Huxley (left) and Mt. Goddard (right) from Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Mt. Huxley (left) and Mt. Goddard (right) from Mt. Spencer
Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964

Evolution Lake below from top of Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Evolution Lake below from top of Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Sapphire Lake from top of Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Sapphire Lake from top of Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964

Evolution Lake from top of Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Evolution Lake from top of Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Sapphire Lake, descending from Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964
Sapphire Lake, descending from Mt. Spencer - Kings Canyon National Park 24 Aug 1964

On August 25, 1964 we continued on the John Muir Trail to Wanda Lake.

Bob Brooks early morning fishing in Evolution Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Bob Brooks early morning fishing in Evolution Lake
Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Sapphire Lake on John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Sapphire Lake on John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964

On August 25, 1964 twenty-two Explorer Post 360 members climbed Peak 13231 (Mt. Warlow) from our camp at Wanda Lake. The Post also climbed it on August 19, 1969. It was first climbed in 1926 by Nathaniel Goodrich and Marjory Hurd.

Sapphire Lake on John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Sapphire Lake on John Muir Trail - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
The route up Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
The route up Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964

On top of Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
On top of Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon from top of Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon from top of Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964

Black Divide, Muir Pass (right) from Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon Naitonal Park 25 Aug 1964
Black Divide, Muir Pass (right) from Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon Naitonal Park 25 Aug 1964
Mt. Spencer and Mt. Darwin from Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Mt. Spencer and Mt. Darwin from Peak 13231 - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964

Camp at Wanda Lake, Muir Pass beyond lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Camp at Wanda Lake, Muir Pass beyond lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964

Camp at Wanda Lake, Muir Pass beyond lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964>

Fish catch at camp at Wanda Lake, Muir Pass beyond lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Fish catch at camp at Wanda Lake, Muir Pass beyond lake
Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Muir Pass over camp at Wanda Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964
Muir Pass over camp at Wanda Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 25 Aug 1964

On August 26, 1964, from our camp at Wanda Lake, we climbed Mt. Goddard via what is known as the "Starr Route" (northeast side). The Post also climbed it on August 20, 1969.

13,564' Mount Goddard is a mountain of California's Sierra Nevada, in the north section of Kings Canyon National Park. Goddard forms the southwest boundary of the Evolution Basin.

The peak is named for civil engineer George Henry Goddard, who surveyed the Sierra Nevada during the 1850s. The name was given by William Brewer's California Geological Survey party in 1864, during which year they made two unsuccessful attempts to climb the mountain.

Fifteen years later, Lilbourne Winchell and Louis Davis completed the first recorded ascent on September 23, 1879. They scrambled up class 2 rock from the east side of Martha Lake to Goddard Col, and a lake and chute beyond. From here they attained the summit by way of the Southwest Ridge, and a short class 3 ridge between the two summits of Mount Goddard.

Davis Lakes from below Mt. Goddard, Mt. McGee - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Davis Lakes from below Mt. Goddard, Mt. McGee
Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964



On the way to Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
On the way to Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

Climbing Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Climbing Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

Near top of 'ledge route' on Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Near top of 'ledge route' on Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Climbing Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Climbing Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

Climbing Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Climbing Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

The 'ledge route' to Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
The 'ledge route' to Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

Lookng back on 'the ledge' route from the crest - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964 - Chris Mayer Photo
Lookng back on 'the ledge' route from the crest
Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964 - Chris Mayer Photo

View southwest from crest of Mt. Goddard ridge - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View southwest from crest of Mt. Goddard ridge
Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
South Peak of Mt. Goddard from North Peak of Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
South Peak of Mt. Goddard from North Peak of Mt. Goddard
Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

NOTE: People have diagreed whether the South or the North Peak was the highest. We climbed Mt. Goddard again in 1969 and the Register Box had been moved to the other peak from where it was in 1964. The North Peak is officially the highest.
The 'peak makers' on the highter North Peak of Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
The 'peak makers' on the highter North Peak of Mt. Goddard
Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View east toward Muir Pass from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View east toward Muir Pass from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

View east-southeast from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View east-southeast from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View southeast from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View southeast from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

View southwest from Mt. Goddard, LeConte Divide, North Fork Kings River - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View southwest from Mt. Goddard, LeConte Divide, North Fork Kings River
Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

Heading down from Mt. Goddard, Wanda Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Heading down from Mt. Goddard, Wanda Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View south from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
View south from Mt. Goddard - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964

Bob Johnson Temple builder on the ridge - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964
Bob Johnson Temple builder on the ridge - Kings Canyon National Park 26 Aug 1964






The next day we headed out from our camp at Wanda Lake over Muir Pass to camp at Little Pete Meadow.

Wanda Lake early morning - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964
Wanda Lake early morning - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964
Approaching Muir Pass from Wanda Lake - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964>
Approaching Muir Pass from Wanda Lake - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964

Muir Hut on Muir Pass - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964
Muir Hut on Muir Pass - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964
Dedication plaque on Muir Hut on Muir Pass - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964
Dedication plaque on Muir Hut on Muir Pass - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964

Inside Muir Hut on Muir Pass - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964
Inside Muir Hut on Muir Pass - Kings Canyon National Park - 27 Aug 1964
Going down LeConte Canyon, Helen Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Going down LeConte Canyon, Helen Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964

Descending into LeConte Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Descending into LeConte Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon cascades, Big Pete and Little Pete Meadows around corner - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon cascades, Big Pete and Little Pete Meadows around corner
Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964

LeConte Canyon cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964

LeConte Canyon cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
LeConte Canyon cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964

Little Pete Meadow (Norm Hewitt photo) - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Little Pete Meadow (Norm Hewitt photo) - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Relaxing at Little Pete Meadow camp - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Relaxing at Little Pete Meadow camp - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964

Relaxing at Little Pete Meadow camp - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Relaxing at Little Pete Meadow camp - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Swimming at Little Pete Meadow - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Swimming at Little Pete Meadow - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964

Fishing at Little Pete Meadow - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
Fishing at Little Pete Meadow - Kings Canyon National Park 27 Aug 1964
The Citadel as we leave LeConte Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
The Citadel as we leave LeConte Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964

The next day we headed for Dusy Basin for the last night's camp.

Dusy Creek cascades leaving LeConte Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Dusy Creek cascades leaving LeConte Canyon - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Dusy Creek cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Dusy Creek cascades - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964

The Citadel from Dusy Basin trail - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
The Citadel from Dusy Basin trail - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964

Camp at Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Camp at Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Messing around on bridge - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Messing around on bridge - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964

Dusy Basin from above camp - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Dusy Basin from above camp - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Enjoying a swim in Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Enjoying a swim in Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964

Enjoying a swim in Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Enjoying a swim in Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Enjoying a swim in Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964
Enjoying a swim in Dusy Lake - Kings Canyon National Park 28 Aug 1964

The next day we headed out over Bishop Pass to South Lake.

Morning at Dusy Basin - Kings Canyon National Park 29 Aug 1964
Morning at Dusy Basin - Kings Canyon National Park 29 Aug 1964
Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964
Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964

Sign on Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964
Sign on Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964

On the trail out from Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964
On the trail out from Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964
Switchbacks down from Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964
Switchbacks down from Bishop Pass - John Muir Wilderness 29 Aug 1964


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