Pioneer Basin Backpack, Sierra Mountains

With stunning, jagged peaks, lakes and waterfalls, Pioneer Basin is one of the most beautiful and isolated alpine areas in Sierra Mountains south of Yosemite National Park. The effort to get here is well worth it. This is best done as a multi-night backpacking trip with an approximate roundtrip distance of 25 miles, depending on how far you go into the Basin. Permits: The usual modern-day red tape applies here. Overnight stays require a wilderness permit, which isn’t always easy to secure at the last minute. If you can, it’s best to apply for one six months in advance. Directions: Tap into your map app, “Mosquito Flats Trailhead.” It should direct you to Rock Creek Road which runs south off Highway 395 (north of Bishop). Take Rock Creek Road all the way to its end and the trailhead. Parking is limited and often the lot is filled in the summer by early morning. There is overflow parking back down the road in little turn-outs. The trail is well-marked; follow the signs for Mono Pass. Another take on Norman Clyde:    • Left Alone in the High Sierra & No One Kno...