Sierras 2020: Golden Trout Wilderness / Sequoia NP 6-Day Loop

Our 2020 Sierra trip was smaller, and simpler due to the travel risks of covid.  But we fashioned a six day loop hike in August that kept an emergency bailout to a one day hike for safety. This time we took advantage of the relative solitude and some seldom-used trails in Golden Trout Wilderness. And we did a little cross-country travel into Sequoia NP on Day 4.

Our loop hike in GTW, looking SSW with exaggerated relief

 With backpacking so popular this summer, we still were able to hike for two days without seeing anyone. The GTW comprises 474 square miles (!) of south Sierra forests, rivers, meadows and peaks immediately south of the start of the 'high' Sierra and Sequoia NP.  Elevations on our trip were still 9000 - 11000', and our timing luckily fell between mosquito season and the breakout of a hundred fires on August 19 that lasted for many weeks and made breathing smoke intolerable.

Beautiful alpine Miter Basin in Sequoia NP

We spent the first half of the loop hiking through meadows in the GT before making a camp on Rock Creek and spending Day 4 hiking into Miter Basin. This place is a true joy to visit, and while we did see 3 or 4 other people this time, on previous trips we might see one or none. 
  

Looking NNE into the basin