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Miter Basin Lake Hopping Backpack - John Muir Wilderness
September 20-24, 2025

📕 TABLE OF CONTENTS 📕
00:00 Cottonwood Pass Trailhead
00:58 Soldier Lake
01:12 Miter Basin
01:42 Primrose Lake
02:11 Sky Blue Lake
02:37 Crabtree Pass
03:03 Crabtree Lake
03:42 Lowest Crabtree Lake
05:29 New Army Pass
05:57 Cirque Lake

Evening 1 - Big Route Redirect to Miter Basin 🤸🤸
Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Cottonwood Pass to Siberian Pass Trail
We went in the afternoon expecting weather, had a route planned that went down to the Kern River first, but decided to reverse our route once upon the crest of Cottonwood Pass at 4pm. Heading to the good stuff first while the weather holds!! We experienced an incredible sunset from atop the ridge overlooking Boreal Plateau and Siberian Pass. Foxtail magic everywhere 🤩🏞🏕

Day 2 - 10/10 Day 💫💫
Siberian Pass Trail to Soldier Lake to Miter Basin to Primrose Lake to Crabtree Pass to Below Upper Crabtree Lake
We make our way past Soldier Lake and climb through a narrow slot up to Elizabeth pond, not labeled on the maps! Miter Basin awaits! We pop up to Primrose Lake for a gander, then make our way to Sky Blue Lake for lunch and drying out gear. The afternoon off trail navigation is convoluted as all get out! We make it over Crabtree Pass in the late afternoon, the crux of the hike, the weather is fantastic! Down, down, down and beyond the upper Crabtree Lake with sunset light in the basin to a protected camp among giant boulders for a cozy night sleep at 12,000 ft. 🏞🏕🏔🤗

Day 3 - Just had to Revisit Fairyland 🧚‍♂️🦄
Below Upper Crabtree Lake to Crabtree Pass to Miter Basin to Sky Blue Lake
It’s cold in the morning, there is a brisk breeze as we make our way down slabs and talus through Crabtree Basin, witnessing morning golden glow against thick deep blue on the lakes, sunrise light and stark granite towering walls. Beyond the final of the lakes we take our time to assess our next move. Another last minute decision to go back into the high country instead of drop to the Kern. Weather is perfect, we can go see it all again! Back over Crabtree Pass and through the convoluted folds of Miter Basin it is NO easier than yesterday! Ha! We say a sweet goodbye to the sun as we plot a camp on a ledge above Sky Blue Lake with the BEST views! 🏕🏔🏞💫🤩

Day 4 - Savoring the Present 🕊️
Sky Blue Lake to Above Soldier Lake to Miter Basin Trail to Mount Langley Trail to New Army Pass to XCl to Cirque Lake
In the morning we casually drop from our camp platform to Sky Blue Lake and travel along the shores until we reach Elizabeth Pond again where we gather up some rays of sun and come up with a plan. We will hook onto our original route and go over New Army Pass then XC over to Cirque Lake! We have a little fun with schwack in the willows, follow a steep wall into the Foxtail forest then pop out to take a break at another unnamed lake. Onto the ridge below Langley for lunch, we see a marmot and a teeny chipmunk who we decide must be friends. Views from New Army Pass do not disappoint! It’s a long drop into the basin where we skirt Long and South Lakes. 🏞🏔🏕🤗🤸‍♀️ We take our time in the afternoon to notice detail and beauty in light, water, plant and terrain. With our decided XC adventure to Cirque Lake we find ourselves in a krummholz forest, then another thick healthy Foxtail forest with giant white boulders interspersed throughout. We arrive at Cirque Lake, collect water as the sun slips beneath the ridge, we try to catch the rays for as long as we can. The breeze dies down after sunset and we enjoy our evening meals in the dusky light overlooking Cirque Lake, what a treat! 🏕🏞🏔🤗🌈

Day 5 - Gold in the High Country
Cirque Lake to South Fork Cottonwood Creek Trail to Cottonwood Pass Trailhead
Well “boy howdy”, did we ever get one of the best sunrises in the world!! The light started out slowly then “bam” it was game on at Cirque Lake. What a fantastic day to start our final day. This entire week has been such a gift with unexpected perfect weather, so many new places I was able to touch and feel, and the best hiking partner! We meander over to South Fork Lake for morning light and reflections, taking our time, enjoying the space, then do some meadow hopping through the less travelled parts along Cottonwood Creek until we finally make it to the main trail for our exit.