We have been battling storms for days, trying to make progress. There are so many passes that these thunderstorms are posing a really challenge for us. We have to wait for each storm to clear before trying to get over each pass safely.
After a good and solid soaking yesterday near Lake Italy, today has been dry, the sun even shown for a bit as we passed by Mt. Gab’s splendid rock glacier (a living Sierra glacier) and the fantastic morainal lakes in the second recess on Mills Creek.
The number of high quality swimmable lakes is astounding.
Jumping rocks over deep, clear water and clean sand shores dropping quickly to open depths are appearing all around us.
We try to jump in them all, but we are only two humans on a mission with a slightly flexible schedule. Return trips to some of these areas may be necessary.
Bear Lakes Basin, OMG thus place is one of the most incredibly beautiful and remote spots I’ve visited in the Sierra! The lakes are gorgeous. Everything is pristine. Seven Gables towers above us. It’s just magnificent!
The toughest High Route passes have some combination of 1. extremely steep slope angle, 2. loose earth, and 3. unstable, huge or endless, disheartening stretches of talus. Snow Tongue Pass scores a solid hat trick and looking down from the top took my breath away.
And Herve for that matter?
We were late meeting Dave and Herve at the Muir Hut because of storms in the high country. We were meant to meet them by 3pm yesturday but when we arrived at the hut at 6pm and they were gone and no note!
At first we thought they didn’t come out at all after seeing a weather forecast. But, then we heard tale of Dave at the hut looking for his friends from other hikers. The more people we talked to, it became clear that he was hiking out along the JMT. We decided to chase him even though he had at least a 2 hour and 6 mile head start on us.
Here we are, hiding in a cave while a wild Sierra monsoon storm crashes around us. Snow, hail, thunder, lightening a gust front that is blowing over trees.
We packed camp early today among crowds of JMTers at Palisades Lakes hoping to cover ground over three cross-country passes. Sadly we are in this case, half way up Cirque Pass, the first, waiting for the storm to pass. It is very cold but we are dry and happy. Soon the gentle wilderness that we know will return.
This morning we left Marion Lake and climbed through the fabled Lake Basin on our way to Frozen Lake Pass. It was amazing to imagine the largest ever Sierra Club Outing making there way to and through Lake Basin. What an in credible event that must have been.
Roper does not mince words in his descriptions of the challenges on the High Route. So, we knew that the descent to Marion Lake was going to be interesting. At first view the lake seems to be nestled below a sheer drop off.
100 Sierra Club members from the Bay Area made the descent with pack animals for an outing in the 1930s!
After following the High Sierra Trail for a couple of days we left it at Nine Lakes Basin for a few days of cross country travel. We worked our way up and over Lion Rock pass to outstanding Lion Lake and then over Lion Lake Pass to the Head of Cloud Canyon, a beautiful U-shaped valley carved out by the Roaring River.
The little unassuming hermit thrush sings to us everyday. This song is as much a part of our trip as the trail, the granite and the sound of water.