GCT the long way around

[Mpstaples]

I am going the long way around the GCT, through Glen Aulin down to Pate Valley, then up Piute to Rogers Canyon. At Pate the Pate Valley junction, I turn right. that takes me to the start of the climb to Benson Pass. I would like to turn right at the Pate Valley junction and camp at the base of the climb up to Roger's Canyon. does anyone know if there is a place to camp at the foot of that climb, and if there is access to water (Piute Creek)? If not, I'll have to camp at Pate Valley, but that adds an additional 1.5 miles before i hit the climb, and I would rather be fresh for that thing.

[Mpstaples]

No one seems to know. Just to be clear, I'm not asking if there will be water in the creek, just if anyone knows (1) if there is a place to camp there...just a flat place somewhere, and (2) is the creek accessible?

Has anyone been up that climb?

[balzaccom]

Sorry--but I can't help. Never hiked up Piute Creek. We've been to Benson lake, from the other direction, and we've been in the GCT, but never made the connecting hike

[Mpstaples]

Well, I might just take my chances. it looks on the map as though there might be some flat places to camp and it's pretty close to the creek. I really want to be fresh for the climb because its a 5000 ft ascent !!! That's the ascent from Pate Valley to White Wolf, PLUS the hike from the Valley up to little Yosemite. but I would sure rather go up it instead of down it.

[Dave_Ayers]

I haven't been to Benson Lake either. But there was a thread on Benson Lake at yosemitenews.info the other week. Try http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?17,78602 .