Hiking the North Fork of Big Pine to the Glacial Lakes and Palisade Glacier

[@HuckOutdoors]

Finally getting to go! Permits got cancelled back in 2020, but this weekend we will be up there for 3 days!

[@jennyc1846]

Thanks Josh thanks Chris awesome scenery. Loved the blue/green of the lakes in contrast to the grey rock/scree and the Autumn colours were stunning. cheers from Western Australia

[@JazzyLewis19]

Thank you for documenting this. I’m going next weekend!!

[@christinerolle3876]

Thanks Josh for sharing.wishing i will be able to do a backpacking trip. Awesome info.!! Its so magical

[@khuuphotos]

Thank you for narratives, very informative!

[@theworldhiker1]

Thanks Josh for another great video...I just went to the Big Pine Lakes a couple weeks ago and hiked up through the snow. One of the best hikes in California for sure. Appreciate your amazing videos and genuine personality in sharing the outdoors with us!

[@Jxnskates]

Is the trail easy to follow?

[@erict5878]

Hey Josh! Had no idea you are a backpacker as well! Good for you! Keep hiking the Eastern Sierra and you will be BLOWN away my friend!

[@asucenarodriguez641]

Great job!!!!... Love all your videos. Very informatives.

[@ExploreLiveCreateShare]

Awesome vid! Question… Overnight backpacking. Is it mandatory that we bring a bear containers to store our food? Or is it only highly recommended only? I’m getting all kinds of answers. Thanks!!

[@jeffmcneal9005]

Everything tastes better while sitting around a fire after a long day hiking! 5 out of 5 for the video, thanks for the info. I’ll check this place out someday.

[@Zambita25]

Love all your videos!!! Thanks to you I have done many trails and have tons on my list to do. THANK YOU

[@tomlewis2477]

That glacier is bizarre. I've been as far as the 3rd lake in '94 and the 2nd one in '98. Thanks for making this video. It is very cool. No pun intended.

[@dypark89]

where did you guys leave your backpacking gears?! to climb the boulders to palisade glacier?

[@TrekkingPals]

Nice video. Is it possible to fish in one of the lakes?

[@summitsparrow]

Sweet vid! I've been to the glacier three times now. I love it every time I go, it's a magical place.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Agreed, I can't wait to go back.

[@Italionmex]

Doing Mt. Whitney in a few days. Got my permit. This will be next. Hopefully the end of the month.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Awesome, let me know how it goes!

[@pnwadventuresandgearreview8749]

That looks like an epic trip!

[@sleeve51]

That hike is brutal. Whitney trail was a walk in the park compared to the trail to the PG.

[@thinkinoutloud.1]

Nice!

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

Nice video, I also like the occasional distances you cite. Been to the lakes but did not hike the Glacial Trail.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for watching, I agree it is an amazing hike

[@XBOXNationTVHD]

I can't imagine what the California Sierras looked like before man touch them but none the less.... Beautiful my friend

[@somethingmorerealistic9582]

california use to be beautiful. nothing but farm land, old country towns. it really was the wild wild west. then democrats moved here and created san fran. it hasnt been the same ever since

[@raidthanfl]

A lot of the eastern sierras are untouched...they are amazing

[@normajean5975]

Yes it was much more wild and beautiful before Europeans showed up.

[@adanperez648]

@@somethingmorerealistic9582 way to make everything political loser

[@iraqiimmigrant2908]

@@somethingmorerealistic9582I’ve got family in Cali… DemonRats destroyed the state. Beautiful place, horrible government.

[@rachelleannligon7791]

Hi! How did you secure permit to camp overnight at second lake? Thank you

[@istolethisaccount]

ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE VID!! Keep it up you guys! The Sierras are such a special place to me, me and my dad would go backpacking EXACTLY where you guys went every year! I'm surprised you guys got up to the glacier without having bad weather, it's ALWAYS thunder and lightning up there when we go!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for the comment! I agree the Sierras are a super special place and it was nice to have no weather when at the glacier

[@mark_girardeau]

Another great video! Which camera mount are you using to attach to your pack strap??

[@californiathroughmylens]

This is the clip I use, I love it for hiking with my camera. amzn.to/2sYpoh6

[@mark_girardeau]

Awesome! Buying it right now for my trip to Big Pine Lakes this weekend, thanks so much! I love your website and all your videos!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Awesome have fun, I am jealous I bet its beautiful right now!

[@mark_girardeau]

Thanks!

[@VentureAHighway]

The view from that final destination is unreal, the thumbnail got me lol

[@PokeYourEyez]

Nice video. Did you film everything on your GoPro? What are you using for microphone

[@krsty1415]

I don’t hike, I hiked up a steep tiny mountain about half a mile up and thought I was going to pass out. My boyfriend really wants to hike up to the second lake, would you recommend this hike for people with no experience and not in the best shape??

[@cutproductions]

Oh my goodness I want to go there right now! I've done very little exploring of the Eastern Sierra and have seen so much cool stuff about them this past year. Can't wait to check them out soon!

[@Skyclub12]

Which parking is closer to the trailhead, the day parking or the overnight? And how far is the two parkings from the trailhead? Thanks if you could reply.

[@danielkaranja7978]

If i remember correctly, the day parking is far closer and right at the trail head itself. Overnight is probably a mile further back.

[@orion4624]

Hi, awesome vid! Question: So I'll be hiking up to the 2nd lake with 5 other people. 2 of them are more experienced (though one hasn't hiked in awhile), the other three are intermediate or average. It will be my first time hiking in such long-distances. I've read that it has snowed up to 6 inches 4 days ago, and it looks like it'll be the same tomorrow (which is when we are going). I believe none of us have traversed through snowy conditions such as this. Would it be possible for a beginner, such as myself, to hike up to the 2nd lake in these conditions? I am aware that the total hike for all the lakes is around 16ish miles. We only plan to go to the 2nd lake and we will be heading back afterwards. We won't be camping. I've hiked smaller distances before, less than 2.8 miles in not much steeper slopes. The conditions in that hike were much hotter than what I've read. I've also camped out at Joshua Tree for a couple days and climbed some of their larger rocks. I also camped out in another desert (forgot the name) and traversed through it's dark and enclosed cave system. In regards to snowy terrain, alls I did was sled down Mountain High. That's the extent of my experiences. To be honest, a slight bit nervous? As I've read in some of the reviews in Alltrails.com, even experienced hikes said it was difficult. Still excited though! I've seen videos about it, such as yours, and it looks beautiful and not as steep. Thanks!

[@carmenheld-tauchar1113]

What about wildlife up there? Is it dangerous? I would love to do this kind of thing some time, but I am very afraid of ending up on the bottom of the food chain... :(

[@californiathroughmylens]

I didn't see any wildlife when I was there. You do need to bring a bear box and keep it away from your tent but I have not heard of many wildlife sightings.

[@carmenheld-tauchar1113]

Thanks :)

[@ianmandel352]

Awesom freakin video !! Thanks again for sharing your overnight backpacking trip...Did you have to get a reserved campsite at 2nd lake ? . Thats a sweet windbreaker , what brand is that ? i need to copy you ..lol ..any tips for me doing this trip ? thanks

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for the comment. We got an overnight permit then it is first come first serve at the camping areas. If you are talking about the blue jacket, its this one www.sierratradingpost.com/trespass-qikpac-jacket-waterproof-for-men-and-women~p~5240x/

[@ianmandel352]

Sweet !! thanku for the tip Josh.. l appreciate it ..and yup thats the cool lookin jacket ..

[@jdelizalde1982]

Quick question, you did all in one night camp? And also did you leave your can set up on the second day and pick when you came down?

[@johnnyaccardo8500]

Great work brother! Heading up there this weekend :)

[@triciatraci]

Hi great video! You have decent sound. How are you doing that?

[@dant3113]

This is awesome man. I want to do this in June after Haleakala.

[@andrestepec88]

Ill be moving to oregon next month. Do you think is a good idea to go in last week of april?

[@jakelazich7331]

Hey man... where do you park for this? If you're staying overnight, do you still park at the normal day-use area?

[@californiathroughmylens]

There should be an overnight hiker parking area but it is a little further pack. Often you can pay $5 to park in the lodge near the trailhead as well but I would call them to double check. I think it is called the Glacier Lodge

[@thomaswayneward]

No, there are parking places for back packers

[@foodtripla7361]

were heading there on mid Nov. Do we need a permit? Can we just park anywhere before hiking out? thanks.

[@californiathroughmylens]

You do need a permit for overnight. There is a designated parking area for day hiking and for overnight.

[@paulricci7696]

Temple crag via Darkstar is grade V 5.10b 18 pitches to summit! Climb Solid no one will rescue you here. Temple Crag is 12,999 Feet above sea level.

[@ripvantwinkle2629]

But did you die.....

[@lancestan3398]

Was that you coming down the trail last Wednesday Aug 22?

[@californiathroughmylens]

Nope, not me. I haven't been back since 2016 unfortunately.

[@trilbyarnold3341]

where do you get the permit for overnights?

[@mrtrixterathotmail]

Will there be some urban tracking too?

[@californiathroughmylens]

What do you mean?

[@mrtrixterathotmail]

California Through My Lens I would love to see some tracking in LA or some small town in California.

[@paulafoster8905]

Me and my bf r thinking of hiking all the way up to second lake and back. It'll be me, him and my kids, 5 and 9 year old. How hard is it?

[@californiathroughmylens]

That would be a relatively tough hike. It is about 8-10 miles and about 2000 feet of elevation gain, so it depends on how often you hike and such, as it is not an easy spot to tackle.

[@thomaswayneward]

Hard

[@danielkaranja7978]

Am not sure how 5 and 9-year-olds can handle anything remotely like this sort of a hike.

[@ASABIO623]

I'm thinking of doing this next week. Do you need a permit for a day hike? Do you think a day hike to third lake is too strenuous?

[@californiathroughmylens]

I don't think you need a permit for day hikes. Here is the site on it. www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/recarea/?recid=20328&actid=51 Whether it is too strenuous totally depends on the person and their hiking / altitude ability so it is hard for me to make a recommendation. Thanks for the comment!

[@HelpMeFindTheseSongs]

Out of curiosity, is swimming in First Lake and/or Second Lake permitted? And by the way, great video. Very well filmed, in high quality, and with lots of information. Thanks!

[@californiathroughmylens]

I actually have no idea about whether swimming is allowed but I have seen some photos of people doing it.

[@thomaswayneward]

If you like being turned into an ice cube, yes.

[@09Killerlp]

Quick question, I see you guys camped at "Second Lake". Do you need some sort or permit or reservations to camp there?

[@ThroughMyLens]

You do need an overnight permit for camping there and you will put where you are camping on the permit. As in "second lake." Once there, there are not numbered spots or anything

[@jbscrambler]

Where to get the camping permit to second lake?

[@09Killerlp]

Through My Lens thank you!

[@09Killerlp]

Jb Cabrera yes, where can I go by getting a permit?

[@californiathroughmylens]

Its the Big Pine North Fork Area so you should be able to get a permit here. www.recreation.gov/entranceDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72203&entranceId=315402