John Muir Trail

In any group I am always the least fit. I'm amazed that I could stand up to take this picture.

these two marmots were really, really into eating Andrea's pee-spot from the night before. they didn't at all mind how close we were getting to them. "watering the marmots" thus became our euphemism for the rest of the trip.

Palisade Lakes

Rae Lakes - Painted Lady

The hail finally lets off and we can take a first look outside the tent. It would still take a few hours to clear up enough to pack up and leave. First time we used our bear can lid to shovel snow off a tent in July. EXIF lens info si wrong - this was taken with the 20mm f/3.5 AI, 7 vertical frames. New stitch and process with Nik tools.

the low sun and clouds created some very dramatic scenery that I will not forget

I stopped for lunch at Upper Cathedral Lake just in time for a group to arrive nearby and start skinny dipping. It was not a pretty site.

Plant species like Erysimum capitatum that are common to the sagebrush steppe are also found in the summer-dry Sierra Nevada at high elevations in open dry and well drained sites. This site lies along Whitney Creek, north of Guitar Lake and just to the west of Mount Whitney. Note the scattered dolabriform hairs on the stem and some fruits.

Dawn from the W end of 1000 Island Lake. Mid July.

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This disftinctive unamed little peak (as far as I could find) rises abrubtly to the N side of Guitar Lake. Looking S from below Mirror Lake.

Woods Creek Bridge