Sept 2016. Next up was a somewhat convoluted attempt to see more of the North Lake to South Lake terrain that I have such fond memories of (1981). Also wanted to see some new terrain so I added a trip up Goddard Canyon with a exit back to the JMT via the north fork of Goddard Creek and Davis Lake. A comfortable 4 night trip with a serious dislike of the rough conditions over the last couple of miles of the Piute Pass trail as it approaches it's end at the JMT. Darwin Bench and Canyon was as expected a wonderful place to be. The real surprise was how nice the terrain leading up to and around Davis Lake was. Alot less talus and scree than I had been prepared for.
MIDDLE SECTION OF GODDARD CANYON
ANOTHER GORGE IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF GODDARD CANYON
THE MAP AND MY INTUITION TELLS ME THAT THE NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK IS TO BE FOUND UP AND LEFT IN THE VISIBLE GAP
THE NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK MEETS THE SAN JOAQUIN AT THIS GORGE
THE PLAN THEN BECAME ONE OF SIDE HILLING SOUTH OF THE GORGE AND HOPEFULLY FINDING A WAY TO GET THRU THE MYRIAD BANDS OF CLIFFS THAT APPEAR TO BLOCK THE WAY
LECONTE DIVIDE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN
THIS VALLEY TURNED OUT TO BE THE KEY PASSAGE THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY GET ME UP INTO THE DAVIS LAKE DRAINAGE
A BETTER VIEW OF THE EASY TRAVEL THAT HELPS SOLVE THE PROBLEM
FALL COLOR IN GODDARD CANYON
GODDARD CANYON FROM THE ROUTE TAKEN TO DAVIS LAKE
NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK
UP AND DOWN ON THE WAY TO NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK
NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK
NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK
NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK
EASY TRAVELLING UP THE NORTH FORK OF GODDARD CREEK
AT THE BIG BEND WHERE THE NORTH FORK TAKES A HARD RIGHT
AT THE BIG BEND WHERE THE NORTH FORK TAKES A HARD RIGHT
THE FIRST OF SEVERAL TARNS ON THE WAY TO DAVIS LAKE
THE LAST SMALL TARN ON THE WAY TO DAVIS LAKE
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE FINAL APPROACH TO DAVIS LAKE
DAVIS ROCK AND NORTH GOD FROM DAVIS LAKE
FIRST VIEW OF DAVIS LAKE
DAY 3 CAMPSITE AT DAVIS LAKE
ANOTHER VIEW OF MY CAMPSITE AND PT 12,964 SOUTH OF DAVIS LAKE
EVENING VIEW SOUTHEAST TOWARDS DAVIS LAKE PASS
ANOTHER EVENING VIEW SOUTHEAST TOWARDS DAVIS LAKE PASS
EVENING VIEW SOUTHEAST TOWARDS DAVIS LAKE PASS
ANOTHER EVENING VIEW SOUTHEAST TOWARDS DAVIS LAKE PASS
SUNSET
TIME FOR DINNER
SUNRISE DAY 4
STARTING THE LONG TRAVERSE ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF DAVIS LAKE
MOVING THRU SOME BIG BOULDERS
MORNING VIEW OF DAVIS LAKE LOOKING TO THE WEST.