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Pine Creek Pass (JMT) permit

Pine Creek Pass (JMT) Gear Checklist

Pine Creek Pass starts at the Pine Creek Pack Station near Bishop, climbs the steep Pine Creek canyon past Pine Lake and Upper Pine Lake to Honeymoon Lake, and then crosses the pass into French Canyon and on to the John Muir Trail. The Forest Service caps starts at 15 people a day in season and bans campfires above 10,000 feet. People who hiked it write about a hard first climb with few places to pitch a tent, cold nights above Honeymoon Lake, creek crossings and one hiker's choice of boots over trail runners.

What shapes your gear on Pine Creek Pass

Quota and the trail you pick
The Forest Service limits overnight starts to 15 people a day from May 1 to November 1. Its older quota list splits that into 9 spaces released six months ahead and 6 released two weeks ahead. Pine Creek Pass and Italy Pass share the trail up to Honeymoon Lake, but a different permit is required for trips heading toward Italy Pass or Gable Lakes, so pick the trailhead that matches your route.

From Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail, Inyo National Forest: Wilderness Trail Names and Quotas for Inyo National Forest and Inyo National Forest: Wilderness Permits

A steep first day
A 2016 photographer put the trailhead at 7,440 feet and Pine Lake about four miles up at 9,942 feet, for a vertical of 2,600 feet. Upper Pine Lake sits a mile and 200 feet higher, and Honeymoon Lake a mile beyond at 10,420 feet. A magazine counts a 3,036-foot climb and 12 miles round trip to Honeymoon Lake.

From David Senesac and Backpacker

Few places to pitch a tent below the lakes
The lower canyon is cut into steep bedrock. The 2016 photographer found no flat spots beside the trail to tent until about 9,600 feet, other than on the trail itself. He also met a couple who had pitched about 30 feet from Pine Lake and moved their tent once he asked about their permit.

From David Senesac and Inyo National Forest: Wilderness Regulations

Cold nights, even in August
A 2013 group saw ice at Lake Elba on night two and a frozen small bottle at their third camp. Another night at a tarn below Merriam Lake was colder, and one hiker put on base layers and a jacket inside the sleeping bag. The same group found Honeymoon Lake at about 10,400 feet nearly free of mosquitoes.

From Backpacking Light forums

Creeks to wade
A 1983 pair waded Pine Creek on the way to Honeymoon Lake. Farther along, their French Canyon day ended with a creek at Hutchinson Meadow where they found no logs and waded. The Forest Service says the main trail past the pass drops down French Canyon to the John Muir Trail.

From mtnmouse.com and Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail

What the agency requires on Pine Creek Pass

What hikers carry on Pine Creek Pass

  • A warm sleep system with an extra base layer

    The 2013 group's lowest camp froze a small bottle, and one hiker slept in base layers and an insulated jacket inside the sleeping bag. Another night at Lake Elba iced up, though the tent stayed zipped open for lack of mosquitoes.

    From Backpacking Light forums

  • Light boots rather than trail runners

    A retiree alternated between boots and trail runners on day hikes before the trip, chose boots for the week and said they held his feet more securely on the steep descents.

    From Backpacking Light forums

  • A strong headlamp, and a spare, if you start late

    A photographer who could not reach the trailhead until dusk started at 9:10 pm, hiked four hours by headlamp and carried a second older light so the main one would last. He found no tent spots until 9,600 feet.

    From David Senesac

  • Shoes you can wade in

    Pine Creek and the creek at Hutchinson Meadow both needed wading for the 1983 pair, who found no logs at the second crossing. One of the 2013 hikers also mentions using hiking poles at a stream crossing.

    From mtnmouse.com and Backpacking Light forums

  • Repellent for the lower, wetter camps

    Mosquitoes were nearly absent at Honeymoon Lake and Lake Elba in August 2013 and only a few bothered the 2016 photographer at Royce Lake. The 1983 pair called their camp on Piute Creek the worst of the trip for mosquitoes.

    From Backpacking Light forums, David Senesac and mtnmouse.com

  • A water filter or tablets

    The Forest Service says creek, lake and spring water should be treated. The 2016 photographer found a year-round stream on the 11,030-foot bench above Honeymoon Lake that drains Granite Park, and a spring about 8,400 feet up the lower trail.

    From Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail and David Senesac

15 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.

Plan a trip here

What hikers regret or leave behind on Pine Creek Pass

  • A 60-pound pack

    The photographer hauled near 60 pounds, 14 of it food and nearly 20 of camera gear, up the first 2,600 feet at night and called the climb a punishing ordeal. The 2013 group's pack weighed about 19 pounds without water which that hiker credited for a trip he could still enjoy at his age.

    From David Senesac and Backpacking Light forums

  • A tent right by the lake

    The lakes are tempting but the forest wants camps at least 100 feet from water. A couple 30 feet from Pine Lake had to pick up their tent and move back.

    From David Senesac and Inyo National Forest: Wilderness Regulations

  • An Italy Pass plan on a Pine Creek Pass permit

    The Italy Pass and Pine Creek Pass trails split at Honeymoon Lake and need different permits. The 1983 pair dropped their Italy Pass plan because of heavy snow and crossed Pine Creek Pass instead.

    From Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail and mtnmouse.com

Gear questions for Pine Creek Pass

Do you need a bear canister for Pine Creek Pass?

Pine Creek Pass is not on the forest's list of eight areas with a mandatory container, but food, trash and scented items must go in a bear-proof container or be counterbalanced. A container is required where there are no trees tall enough to hang from, which can include camps near treeline.

From Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail and Inyo National Forest: Wilderness Regulations

Are campfires allowed on the Pine Creek Pass trail?

Not above the wilderness boundary in Pine Creek Canyon, and not above 10,000 feet anywhere on the trail. Stoves that burn gas, petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed. Stoves that burn twigs are not.

From Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail and Inyo National Forest: Wilderness Regulations

How many people can start on Pine Creek Pass each day?

The forest limits overnight starts to 15 people a day from May 1 to November 1. The older quota list shows 9 spaces six months ahead and 6 two weeks ahead.

From Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail and Inyo National Forest: Wilderness Trail Names and Quotas for Inyo National Forest

Is a Pine Creek Pass permit also good for Italy Pass?

No. The two trails split at Honeymoon Lake, and the forest says a different permit is required for trips heading toward Italy Pass or Gable Lakes. Check the area map before you reserve.

From Inyo National Forest: Pine Creek Pass Trail and David Senesac

Sources

  1. Pine Creek Pass Trail · Inyo National Forest · Agency
  2. Wilderness Permits · Inyo National Forest · Agency
  3. Wilderness Regulations · Inyo National Forest · Agency
  4. Wilderness Trail Names and Quotas for Inyo National Forest · Inyo National Forest · Agency
  5. Eastern Sierra: Pine Creek semi-loop trip · Backpacking Light forums, d k · Forum thread
  6. Summer 2016 trip chronicle: Pine Creek · David Senesac, David Senesac · Trip report
  7. John Muir Wilderness - Pine/Piute Traverse · mtnmouse.com · Trip report
  8. One Night Wonders: Couples, Honeymoon Lake · Backpacker · Blog