12/ Hiked back out Sunday the same way I’d come in. Quiet day, sun and cloud, and a lot less climbing.
Posts
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land. -
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.11/ Tagged the summit after dusk with options to bivy back at JMT junction or Discovery pinnacle to catch sunrise on the east side.
A random southbound PCT hiker showed up, then a couple JMT hikers. No plans, so we all huddled in the hut waiting for morning while chatting, trading calories, and making hot chocolate. Sunrise was mellow.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.10.5/ Moving pictures version from a bunch of clips.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.10/ After vermilion, the color shifted into fuchsia before eventually fading away. Sat down and waited the last of it out then continued to the peak by dark.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.9/ The color transformed through shades of yellow to vermilion as the sun set through the remains of the Coffeepot wildfire smoke to the west. It was pretty overwhelming 🤯🫠
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.8/ I’ve got a knack for timing sunrise and sunset on trail crest from 15 visits over 2 decades making 30 individual crossings. I could tell something was brewing in the sky for sunset color but I had no idea what I was about to experience.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.7/ Hustled up to Discovery pinnacle where some of my favorite views of mount Hitchcock and Whitney open up. I was on pace for Whitney summit by dark so I started down to Trail Crest looking forward to sunset.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.6/ Flopped over Crabtree pass into the top of the Crabtree lakes basin then prepared for the chossy talus slope climb up mount Hitchcock’s east shoulder to get out. There’s an easy westward bench / slope I take, it’s not as bad as people say.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.5/ Continuing past the tarns and unnamed lakes above Sky Blue lake toward Crabtree pass, looking back to mount Langley and Cirque peak in the distance.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.4/ Moving overland up the Miter basin watershed with a nap and foot soak at Sky Blue lake.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.3/ Racing the setting moon up Army pass.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.2/ Bluebird Saturday morning cruising through Cottonwood lakes.
-
1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.1/ Everywhere you go, there you are, on native land.
A dozen times on this summit with zero summit selfies, but someone made this beautiful summit plaque with the mountain’s real name so I had to oblige.
-
1/ Wanted some big trail mile days so a High Sierra Trail yo-yo delivered. Cool to traverse the range from west to east then turn around and go back.6/ Day two began on the west rim of the Kern river canyon. The trail drops down, crosses the river, then follows it up 9 miles before climbing out the other side up to Crabtree meadow.
Overcast, non-photogenic day, but forecast showers didn’t transpire and I appreciated lower temps. Rewarded with some sunset glow on the eastern crest before the night hike up Mt Whitney.
-
1/ Wanted some big trail mile days so a High Sierra Trail yo-yo delivered. Cool to traverse the range from west to east then turn around and go back.5/ Continued with the trail over Kaweah gap after Precipice lake following Big Arroyo down toward the Kern river. Gorgeous sunset alpenglow on the slopes of the Kaweahs. Color was beautiful everywhere, great evening.
-
1/ Wanted some big trail mile days so a High Sierra Trail yo-yo delivered. Cool to traverse the range from west to east then turn around and go back.4/ Hamilton to Precipice lake is my favorite part of the trail itself. Saw a crew here last fall doing two 5 week rock work projects.
By now I’d met everyone who began within 3 days of me. My intention for my hike was to enjoy long mindless days following the trail, meeting people, and having simple conversations about where we slept last night and where we hope to sleep tonight. I was so content and looking forward to the evening hike
-
1/ Wanted some big trail mile days so a High Sierra Trail yo-yo delivered. Cool to traverse the range from west to east then turn around and go back.3/ Continuing west day one from Bearpaw to Hamilton lake. One of my favorite pieces of this trail. Dramatic light Friday from all the clouds while approaching Valhalla, Angel Wings, and the Cherubim dome below the lake.
-
1/ Wanted some big trail mile days so a High Sierra Trail yo-yo delivered. Cool to traverse the range from west to east then turn around and go back.2/ Starting from Crescent Meadow in the giant sequoia groves on the lower western front country going toward Bearpaw camp is a treat as the landscape opens up into the high country.
-
1/ Wanted some big trail mile days so a High Sierra Trail yo-yo delivered. Cool to traverse the range from west to east then turn around and go back.1/ Wanted some big trail mile days so a High Sierra Trail yo-yo delivered. Cool to traverse the range from west to east then turn around and go back.
I’m familiar with the areas on both sides, but never connect them. Fun crossing the Kern river canyon twice, summiting Whitney again, and experiencing the entire traverse both ways at different times of the day.
~ 120 miles / 26,000+ feet EG / 84 hours (solo unsupported, context and data corrections in alt).